Description:

Four towns – Portlaoise, Rathdowney, Rosenallis and Durrow - were selected by Laois Co. Council for the 2003 Urban & Village Improvement Scheme. The measures required for improvement of the towns were outlined by the communities. Murray & Associates interpreted and designed the improvements which ranged from simple tree planting and provision of site furniture to the development of urban plaza spaces.

The largest scheme was in James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise. This route used to be on the N7 roadway – the main Dublin-Cork road. Here, the improvements included tree and hedge planting to define the avenue and the creation of new urban spaces. Two new plaza spaces are constructed at important nodes along the avenue – at the tourist information centre and the entrance to Laois Shopping Centre. These are designed to visually link the two sides of the existing roundabout. The spaces include lighting, paving and planting details to create comfortable urban spaces.

The scheme for Rathdowney involved the redesign of a car park on the Main Street. This involved paving, resurfacing, improvements to existing limestone wall and planting of trees and shrubs. In Rosenallis, improvements were made to paths and amenity area including creation of parking area and provision of site furniture. In Durrow, there were a number of measures, including tree planting and the creation of a wildlife area.