Canal Road Business Park in Portarlington officially opened
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council unveiling the plaque at the official opening of Canal Road Business Park, Portarlington. Picture: Jeff Harvey
LAOIS County Council has officially opened the Canal Road Business Park in Portarlington. The development provides four fully serviced enterprise sites for businesses looking to expand or establish operations in Laois.
Located on a 6-acre site, the area previously housed the Avon Cosmetics factory, which employed 1,200 people before it closed in 2000. The site was purchased by Laois County Council for €500,000 in 2024.
The redevelopment was co-funded by the EU Just Transition Fund with €1 million offered to support the works. The site is expected to support employment generation and consolidation of Portarlington Town Centre.
Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said that this is “a hugely important occasion for Laois”.
She continued: “I know that everyone here today has the same goal - to ensure that Laois is a wonderful place to visit, live and work.
“There has been, and continues to be, a huge amount of work done to make Laois the place of choice for companies to build or even move their business.
“We are centrally located, we’re at the heart of the Irish transport network and we have an educated workforce in this county. I hope that many company’s stories start right here in Portarlington and it will be a proud moment for all of us to see those businesses thrive”.
The four enterprise sites have already been purchased by businesses; Fletchers Hardware, a Portarlington-based business, purchased one of the sites, while P McVey Building Systems, a Derry-based construction company, purchased two.
The final site was purchased by Priority Construction, a Dublin-based construction company, late last year.
Chief Executive of Laois County Council Michael Rainey said the council is “delighted” to see the development officially opened. He echoed Cllr Fitzgerald’s sentiments: “It offers great opportunity for businesses in one of the most well-connected regions in the country.
“Laois County Council remains committed to creating a business-friendly environment and delivering initiatives that support economic development, innovation, and employment throughout the county.
“We look forward to welcoming businesses to the sites and seeing the positive impact this development will have on Portarlington and the wider county”.
