Portlaoise

A limestop outcrop rearing up 45 m from the plain, with the ruins of Dunamase Castle. Ptolemy's map of 140 AD marks Dunum hereabouts, which may or may not indicate Dunamase, but it's an obvious spot for a stronghold. The first known settlement was a 9th century monastery, but it wasn't fortified nearly enough, as the Vikings made two murderous raids upon it. It may then have lain unoccupied for some decades before becoming a bastion of Diarmait Mac Murchada or MacMurrough, king of Leinster. He was deposed in 1167, and he’d obviously failed to read the stirring words of James Fintan Lalor, because his next bright idea was to bring over a large Anglo-Norman army to reclaim his throne. Norman eyes lit up at what they found, and centuries of occupation followed; among their many fortifications they built up Dunamase into the stone castle you see today. But the Irish successfully counter-attacked, and by 1350 the castle was derelict, though Cromwell smashed it some more in 1650.

This has a theatre, exhibition space and cafe.

Entertainment centre with ten-pin bowling, indoor soccer, mini golf, Laser Quest shooting game, bumper cars, roller skating disco, kiddy crafts, play area and arcade games.

25-m swimming pool, plus 10-m teaching pool and kiddy-pool. Plus gym, Astro turf pitches and a playground.

Parkland course, blue tees 5124 m, par 69.

18-hole golf course on heathland, so it's sometimes described as "inland links"; blue tees 6118 m, par 71. With pro shop, driving range, restaurant and other facilities.