Arles in County Laois: Church, Cemetery and Slieve Margy Way

Arles is in County Laois. The village brings together the Church of the Sacred Heart, the cemetery on its grounds, the Grace Mausoleum and the Slieve Margy Way. This gives your trip planning a clear focus: church architecture, grave monuments and a route that runs through the church grounds into the village. If you choose a destination based on historical themes, Arles offers several perspectives within the village.

Church and architectural history in Arles

The earliest chapel on the site dates from 1686; the present-day Church of the Sacred Heart in Arles was built in 1868. The dates refer to different buildings on the same site: 1686 marks the earliest chapel, while 1868 marks the present-day church. A particularly striking feature is the locally quarried limestone, worked by local craftsmen. Alongside the dates, the material draws attention to the local craftsmanship associated with the limestone.

Cemetery and Grace Mausoleum

The cemetery of the Sacred Heart Church is on the church grounds in Arles, County Laois. Gravestones dating from the 18th to the 21st century show the site's span across time. The Grace Mausoleum is also located there: the 1818 building replaced an original mausoleum dating from 1687. The mausoleum stands on the site of the south wing of Arles church. This makes it possible to understand several layers of building and remembrance within one church site: gravestones from different centuries and the two construction phases of the mausoleum. The cemetery has concrete and asphalt paths; a gravel access road and a gate provide the entrance. As access conditions can change and cemetery rules may apply, check the latest information before your visit.

The Slieve Margy Way

The Slieve Margy Way runs through the church grounds into the village of Arles. It is a circular route and can be started in either direction. This gives you a choice of which way to walk when planning your visit. Before setting out, check for current trail conditions and access regulations, which may change.

More cultural highlights in County Laois

The wider destination of County Laois offers other cultural highlights that provide a different perspective from Arles's church and cemetery history. The Timahoe Round Tower dates from the late 12th century and features an elaborately carved doorway; it is also part of the Ireland’s Ancient East visitor route. The Timahoe Heritage Centre is housed in a preserved 19th-century church and shares the history of the early Christian monastic settlement of Tigh Mochua. Here, the architecture of a round tower and the history of a monastic settlement are also in focus.

Emo Court offers a combination of architecture and landscape: the neoclassical mansion was designed by James Gandon in 1790; visitors can walk by the lake and through woodland. Heywood Gardens near Ballinakill is an 18th-century landscape estate with gardens, lakes and woodland. Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the formal gardens. In Mountmellick, the history of craftsmanship adds another dimension to these themes: Mountmellick Work is a form of whitework embroidery developed by Johanna Carter in the early 19th century. The Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum offers personal tours about the technique and the town's Quaker heritage.

Discover more destinations: Mountrath, Curragh, Mountmellick, Ballickmoyler, Portlaoise, Whitewell, Rathsallagh, Rathdowney

For the wider travel overview: County Laois.