Borris-in-Ossory
| Borris-in-Ossory Gaelic: Buiríos Mór Osraí | |
| County Laois | |
|---|---|
 St Mark's Church of Ireland | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | S246878 |
| Location: | 52°56’20"N, 7°37’52"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 475 (2011) |
| Post town: | Borris-in-Ossory |
| Postcode: | R32 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Laois |
Borris-in-Ossory is a village in western County Laois. Bypassed by the M7 motorway on 28 May, 2010, the village is situated on the R445 road close to the County Tipperary border between the towns of Mountrath and Roscrea.
Features
The village contains facilities such as a school, churches, community hall and convenience retail outlets and low to medium order services. Recent development includes the construction of new residential estates to the north-west of the village and to the south of Main Street. The village centre comprises Main Street and includes retail, commercial, institutional, educational and residential functions. Landmark buildings include St Canice's Church (Roman Catholic), the Ossory of Borris-in-Ossory, and former courthouse. The renovated O’Brien Hall has a communal and recreational role within the local community. As of 2011, the O'Brien Hall is now used as a meeting place for the town's revived Youth Club, among other activities.
Transport
The village is located on the R445 road with access to the M7 Limerick-Dublin motorway provided south of the village via junction 21. It is served by inter-urban bus links to Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Cork and Carlow and a town link service connects nearby towns and villages. Long-distance bus passengers are familiar with Borris-in-Ossory because it serves as a refreshment stop, typically 15 minutes at a time. Ballybrophy railway station and junction is located approximately three miles south of the village.[1] During 2009 a motorway junction was constructed at Borris-in-Ossory in preparation for the westward extension of the M7 motorway.
Education
Convent of Mercy National School currently has five classrooms and is currently preparing plans for a new eight classroom school extension.[1] The school was built in 1965.[2]
Religion
- St Canice's, Main Street (Roman Catholic)
- St Mark's, Main Street (Church of Ireland)
Sport
The local Gaelic Athletic Association club is Borris-in-Ossory GAA. The Gaelic playing fields are located a mile to the east of the village. The amenities include a playing pitch, dressing and meeting rooms.[1] In 2011, the town's G.A.A club team and the nearby Kilcotton team were amalgamated into one team.
Notable people
Borris-in-Ossory is the birthplace of concert pianist J.J. Sheridan. Now living in the United States, he has been honoured by President McAleese for his recording of the Complete Works of Turlough O'Carolan, In 2008 he was a recipient of the Top 100 award from Irish America Magazine. He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is President of Trigon Recordings.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Borris in Ossory Village Plan". Laois County Council, June 2007. http://www.laois.ie/media/Media,4024,en.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
- ↑ "Convent of Mercy, Borris-in-Ossory". Convent of Mercy website. http://www.iol.ie/~hyregan/borris/history.html. Retrieved 2008-06-28.