Roads:Portlaoise is on the junction of the M7 Dublin/Limerick and N8 Dublin/Cork national primary routes which bypass the town.

A €50 million ring-road is also under construction. Dublin centre (52 miles); Red Cow roundabout (46); Limerick (70); Athlone (44); Kilkenny (30); Tullamore (21).

Trains:There are frequent weekday trains (about 12 daily) to and from Dublin Heuston station via Portarlington, Monasterevin, Kildare and Newbridge. The earliest departure is at 6.51am arriving in Dublin at 8am. Last train out of Dublin departs at 9pm and arrives in Portlaoise at 9.56pm. Bus Éireann and various private bus companies operate hourly services to and from central Dublin. A day return ticket costs as little as €10. Dublin Airport (60 miles).