Emo Court

About this place

Emo Court, located near the village of Emo in County Laois, Ireland, is a large neo-classical mansion. Architectural features of the building include sash-style windows, pavilions, a balustrade, a hipped roof, and large dome. It was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for John Dawson, the first Earl of Portarlington. It is one of the few houses to have been designed by Gandon. Other buildings by Gandon include the Custom House and Kings Inns in Dublin. While construction commenced in the 1790s, the first Earl died in 1798, and work was not completed until the tenure of the third Earl of Portarlington in the 1860s. Passing through several owners through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the house and gardens were taken into ownership by the Irish state in the 1990s. Now managed by the Office of Public Works, the estate is open to visitors.

Visitor Information

Admission

Paid

Accessibility

Limited

Getting There & Parking

Emo Court is located in County Laois, roughly 87 km (1h 15m drive) from Dublin. The nearest public car park is 1111 m away. Nearby highlights within a short drive include Morett Castle (ruins) (3.3 km away).