Mountrath is a town in County Laois. Bypassed by the M7 motorway in 2010, the town lies on the R445 midway between Dublin and Limerick, exactly 96.5 km (60 mi) from both cities. In 2006 it had a population of 1,435. The river that flows through the town is called the Whitehorse and gets it name from the white colouring that was present in its water from the whiskey distillery that used to be in the centre of the town.

Understand

Mountrath is an anglicisation of the Irish name Maighean Rátha, which roughly means "precinct of the ringfort". Older anglicisations include Moyenrath, Moynrath, Monrath, Moyenrae, Moynrae and Moenra

Get in

M7 Dublin to Limerick/Cork/Shannon Airport motorway

Get around

Walk/Cycle

See

• Deformed Tree. Near Mountrath on the R445 towards Portlaoise is a shapeless old Wish Tree in the form of a Sycamore tree called St Fintan's Well. The original well was filled in, but the water re-appeared in the centre of the tree. Hundreds of Irish pennies have been beaten into the bark as good luck offerings, until they eventually killed the tree. 

Buy

• Mountrath Service Station. For refreshments. 

Eat

Phelan's Take away and Restaurant. Brilliant Royal Chinese Restaurant and Take away.

Sleep

• 1 Roundwood House, Mountrath R32 TK79, ☏ +353 57 873 2120. Upscale hotel in Georgian mansion with excellent dining. No dogs. B&B double from €170. (updated May 2020)