Welcome To

Lea Castle Conservation Project

This sprawling medieval castle sits on the banks of the River Barrow in County Laois near Portarlington and has been of immense historical and architectural importance for nearly 800 years.

However, history and time has taken its toll on this structure and the castle is only a shadow of what it once was. Slowly disappearing into the landscape, action had to be taken. In 2014 the Portarlington Arts and Heritage committee successfully applied for funding from the Heritage Council and €8000 was granted for the creation of a conservation report with a view to saving this castle from further destruction. A further €6000 was granted in 2015 and the development of a conservation report continues.

On this website you will find information on the castle’s history and architecture along with aerial videos of the site and photos from our photographic survey of the castle. Also you will be able to keep up to date with all the developments of the conservation project. Use the tabs above the navigate the site and please get in touch if you have any questions. Most importantly please donate to the project as, although we have received funding, it barely scratches the surface of the enormous costs involved in protecting such a valuable structure.

Lea Field Names Project

The Lea Field Names Project was established in October 2016 to record and publish the ‘Field Names’ of the Lea Castle area along with their history, features, name origin and folklore.

castle

Please Donate

No matter how small your donation it will be used wisely to further the aims of the overall project. We thank you for your support.

Copies of our Preliminary Report are also available to purchase, please click here.

DONATE

Who We Are

The Lea Castle Working Group was formed by the coming together of several different interest groups.
Meet the members most involved in steering the project since its inception.

Get in Touch

If you need some more information about the Lea Castle Conservation Project or would like to help in any way, please let us know.