Country Ireland Time zone WET (UTC+0) Elevation 40 m Local time Friday 4:54 PM | County Waterford Irish Grid Reference S468154 Population 1,696 (2011) Province Munster | |
 | ||
Weather 12°C, Wind E at 14 km/h, 60% Humidity | ||
Portlaw (Irish: Port Cládach or Port Lách) is a town in County Waterford, Ireland. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore. It is situated some 19 km west-north-west of Waterford City, where the Clodiagh meets the Suir.
Contents
Map of Portlaw, Co. Waterford, Ireland
History
It was once the home of a very successful cotton mill employing most of the town's population. The mill was built by the Malcomson family. The Malcomsons were a Quaker family, and their religious ideals impacted greatly on the town, with industrial houses and social networks built as part of the planned town still forming a central part of the streetscape today. The Malcomsons were one of the most influential families connected to Irish planned industrial towns, through marriage they became connected to Quakers who designed Bessbrook in Northern Ireland, with Portlaw truss roofs being built into Bessbrook houses as a result.
Attractions and facilities
The town's Main Street has a bakery, butcher, grocery, bars, a Heritage Centre and Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland churches. The town's main attraction is Curraghmore House, a manor sitting on the outskirts which has around 40 ha of land, is open for visits at all times, due to the new Lord Waterford, with annual events such as the Bluebell festival, attracting visits from local families and many different parishes. Some of these events, including the Bluebell festival are in aid of various charities
Transport
Suirway operate a bus route linking Portlaw to Waterford. Until 1963 there was a railway station at Fiddown on the Waterford to Limerick railway line which was also known as Fiddown & Portlaw.