Discover Emo: the Grand Canal and nearby Emo Court

Emo can be explored through two distinct aspects: the village, with the Grand Canal and St Paul’s Church, and nearby Emo Court. If you’re looking for a hotel in Emo, this distinction can help you fit visits to the village and the mansion into your travel plans.

Emo: the Grand Canal and St Paul’s Church

From the village of Emo, an extensive network of walking and cycling trails along the Grand Canal towpath is right on hand. It forms part of the Barrow Blueway. The Grand Canal National Heritage Area is considered a defining feature of the village and connects with the Stradbally River SAC at the Cormac Aqueduct. The canal and its paths therefore offer a focus for exploring the local landscape on foot or by bike.

St Paul’s Church also preserves a specific piece of local history. The Earl of Portarlington commissioned a monument there to his wife, Aline, Countess of Portarlington. It features a reclining effigy in Carrara marble by the sculptor Boehm. The monument offers a different way to experience Emo from the canal-side trail network: it focuses on one person and a work of art, while the towpath draws attention to moving through the landscape.

Emo Court: architecture and history

Emo Court is about 2.5 kilometres from the village of Emo. James Gandon designed the neoclassical mansion in 1790 for the Earls of Portarlington, and work began that year. The present building was not completed until about 70 years after work began. Its neoclassical design reflects the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. The design, construction period and architectural influence can therefore be considered as three distinct aspects of the house.

The estate was home to the Earls of Portarlington until the War of Independence. A few years later, Jesuits moved in; as the novitiate of the Irish Province, the mansion housed about 500 men preparing to join the order. Major Cholmeley-Harrison took over Emo Court in the 1960s, fully restored it, opened the gardens and parkland to the public, and handed the entire estate over to the people of Ireland in 1994.

Gardens, parkland and walks

The estate covers 250 acres and is managed by the Office of Public Works. This includes 100 acres of parkland, including the lake. Nursery Lake itself covers 25 acres; the arboretum is about 20 acres. The gardens and parkland were first laid out in the 18th century. The grounds include formal lawns, the lake and woodland paths with notable trees and shrubs. Visitors can walk by the lake, follow woodland paths and stroll through the gardens.

A lime avenue links the landscape’s history to the earlier building: it predates the mansion and recalls the original Dawson Court. Red squirrels live on the grounds. Together with the meadows, lake and woodland paths, this mix shapes the character of the estate, although the different areas need not all make the same impression: the avenue points to an earlier building history, while the paths and open spaces offer room for walks.

Statues and garden details

The artworks are also spread across different parts of the estate. The Four Seasons statues represent winter, spring, summer and autumn. Near the house is the bronze statue of Polyhymnia, surrounded by catmint (Nepeta). “The Huntsman and His Dog” stands in the area known as “the Clucker”, Bacchus in the “Grapery”, and Ceres at the end of the yew walk. Those interested in garden art will find several named works, each in its own location, alongside the layout of the paths.

Opening hours and visiting

The parkland is open year-round, except on Christmas Day. Seasonal conditions may affect access, so check before your visit. In 2026, the mansion is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, from 17 March to 4 November. If you’re travelling after 2026, check the schedule in effect at that time.

The guided tour includes restored historic rooms on the ground floor and in the basement. There, visitors can learn about the stories and working lives of the house’s servants. The house and park offer different experiences: the tour takes you inside to explore the rooms and their history, while walks take place by the lake, through the woodland and in the gardens. You can plan for each separately when deciding on your trip, and compare the house’s opening hours with the year-round access to the parkland.

Discover more destinations: Rathdowney, Mountmellick, Ballickmoyler, Stradbally, Donaghmore, Rathsallagh, Whitewell, Curragh

For the main travel overview: County Laois.