
Apartment, McEvoy's Restaurant, Abbeyleix, LaoisR32P29R
€260,000
2 Bed~1 Bath~97 m²
What you'll like:
- Generous floor area: Extending to approximately 97.15 square metres, this top-floor apartment offers significantly more interior space than typical two-bedroom units, providing excellent long-term comfort for occupants.
- Private entrance access: The property features its own dedicated entrance, ensuring complete separation and privacy from the commercial restaurant premises operating directly below on the ground level.
- Open plan living: The expansive kitchen, dining, and living area measures an impressive size, creating a versatile and highly sociable central space ideal for modern daily routines and entertaining guests.
- Integrated kitchen storage: The fitted kitchen includes a generous range of built-in storage units and worktop surfaces alongside integrated appliances, helping buyers reduce immediate furnishing and setup expenditures.
- Dedicated utility room: A separate utility space provides a convenient area for laundry facilities and extra household storage, keeping the main open-plan living zones uncluttered and cleanly organized.
- Unfinished en-suite potential: One bedroom includes an en-suite area that is already plumbed and ready for completion, allowing the new owner to customize the finishes to their exact personal taste.
- Heritage town location: Positioned right in the heart of Abbeyleix, residents enjoy immediate walking access to local shops, welcoming cafes, traditional pubs, and essential everyday community services.
- Historic local amenities: The property sits near famous local outdoor attractions like Abbeyleix Bog and the Lord's Walk, offering buyers exceptional recreational walking routes right on their doorstep.
- Strong commuter connectivity: Portlaoise is located just fifteen minutes away by car, while Kilkenny City can be reached in approximately thirty minutes, supporting convenient regional employment commuting options.
- Major city access: Dublin and Limerick are both reachable within roughly one hour and fifteen minutes by car, making the location surprisingly viable for occasional long-distance commuters.
- First time buyer appeal: The spacious layout and competitive asking price make this apartment an attractive acquisition target for young professionals entering the property market for the first time.
- Investor rental potential: Given the high demand for rental accommodation in heritage towns, the generous square footage should appeal strongly to local landlords seeking high-yielding portfolio additions.
- Oil fired central heating: The property is equipped with an independent oil-fired central heating system, giving occupants direct control over their winter thermal comfort and energy consumption habits.
- Well proportioned bedrooms: Both bedrooms offer large dimensions with ample space for double beds and storage furniture, avoiding the cramped feeling common in many modern apartment developments.
- Stable asking price: The tracked listing history shows a steady asking price of 260,000 euros without erratic fluctuations, suggesting a motivated vendor with a realistic and fixed valuation approach.
- Active local market: Abbeyleix maintains a steady housing demand due to its architectural heritage and scenic appeal, helping safeguard long-term real estate value appreciation for future owners.
- Natural light opportunities: As a top-floor apartment, the property benefits from elevated sightlines and reduced overhead obstructions, which helps maximize natural daylight penetration across the living areas.
- Manageable entry cost: Priced at 260,000 euros for nearly 97 square metres, the cost per square metre offers favorable value compared to newer developments in nearby larger regional urban centres.
- Recreational sporting facilities: The immediate surrounding area features various active local sports clubs and community facilities, supporting an active and healthy lifestyle for new residents.
- Distinctive architectural setting: Situated above a landmark building in a heritage-designated town, the apartment offers a unique character that differentiates it sharply from standard suburban developments.
But keep in mind:
- Commercial building proximity: Situated directly above an active restaurant, residents should investigate potential noise, cooking odours, and delivery traffic disturbances originating from the ground-floor commercial operation.
- Exempt BER status: The energy rating is listed as exempt, requiring the buyer to independently verify insulation levels and heating efficiency to anticipate potential future utility and retrofit costs.
- On street parking only: The property relies entirely on public on-street parking, which may create daily convenience challenges, limited vehicle security, and availability issues during peak business hours.
- Incomplete en-suite bathroom: While plumbed, the unfinished en-suite requires additional capital expenditure and contractor coordination before it can be fully utilized as a functional second bathroom.
- Top floor stair access: Being a top-floor apartment without elevator provision, daily grocery carriage and moving heavy furniture will require navigating multiple flights of stairs exclusively.
- Missing property type: Official listing data omits the formal property title classification, meaning buyers must verify leasehold versus freehold legal structures and associated management responsibilities carefully.
- Management company unknowns: Because the unit sits within a mixed-use commercial building, buyers must investigate the existence, transparency, and annual costs of a formal owners' management company.
- Service charge liabilities: Mixed-use buildings often entail complex shared maintenance liabilities for roofs and structural elements, which purchasers should clarify through their legal representative before signing.
- Oil heating maintenance: Unlike modern gas or heat pump systems, oil-fired central heating requires managing an external fuel storage supply and scheduling regular boiler servicing appointments.
- Single bathroom constraint: Despite having two large bedrooms, the property currently features only one completed bathroom, which may create morning congestion for multiple occupants or guests.
- Lack of private outdoor space: The property does not feature a private balcony, terrace, or garden area, limiting opportunities for private outdoor relaxation or container gardening.
- Acoustic insulation uncertainty: Shared structural ties with a bustling commercial restaurant mean buyers should commission a thorough acoustic assessment to ensure adequate soundproofing between floors.
- Waste management logistics: On-street apartment living often complicates household waste and recycling storage, requiring buyers to verify designated bin locations and collection schedules locally.
- Commercial insurance implications: Mortgages on properties situated above commercial food businesses can sometimes face stricter underwriting scrutiny from lenders regarding fire safety and liability.
- Limited price history depth: Recorded price history tracking is brief and lacks historical transaction context, making it harder to gauge historical market sentiment or previous discounting trends.
- Roof space responsibility: Top-floor positioning places the apartment directly beneath the main roof structure, making it vital to inspect roof integrity and check who funds future repairs.
- Ventilation and moisture risks: Large open-plan kitchen and living zones require effective mechanical extraction systems to prevent cooking condensation buildup in the absence of multiple windows.
- Town centre traffic congestion: Central heritage town locations can experience localized traffic bottlenecks during peak tourist seasons, school drop-off times, and busy weekend dining hours.
- Fire safety compliance: Mixed-use structures require strict fire separation barriers between commercial kitchens and residential units, which buyers should verify via recent fire officer inspection reports.
- Resale liquidity factors: Niche properties such as overhead town-centre apartments can sometimes have a specialized buyer pool, potentially resulting in longer selling periods during market downturns.
Price positioning
?
- The asking price of €260,000 appears notably elevated relative to verified broader area transactions in Abbeyleix, where similarly scaled properties and flats frequently register at substantially lower price points across recent property registers.
- Upward valuation signals stem from the exceptionally large floor area of over 97 square meters, a private dedicated entrance, and an open-plan layout that exceeds standard apartment dimensions found locally.
- Potential factors that could undermine this ambitious valuation include the absence of a BER rating, lack of dedicated parking beyond on-street facilities, and an unfinished en-suite bathroom requiring capital investment.
- Supporting factors involve the highly central heritage town location above a landmark restaurant, alongside strong commuter connectivity to regional employment hubs like Portlaoise and Kilkenny City.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property is a top-floor apartment positioned above a commercial restaurant premises, which may involve shared structural elements or party wall considerations that a buyer should investigate.
- A private entrance provides separation from the commercial unit below, though title and access rights should be verified by legal representation.
- One of the bedrooms includes an en-suite area that is plumbed and ready for completion, allowing a buyer to finish it to their own taste but requiring verification of compliance for any plumbing or electrical work.
- The BER is listed as Exempt, which is common for certain older or protected structures in heritage towns, and buyers should verify the energy efficiency and insulation standards.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost is approximately €1,200 to €1,600
- The property features oil-fired central heating and covers a floor area of approximately 97.15 square metres, meaning actual heating expenses will vary based on individual lifestyle, fuel price fluctuations, and the property's energy efficiency since a BER rating was not provided.
Pollution Safe
9/10Environmental situation to investigate
Flood Safe
8/10Water overflow reports to follow up
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estate
No verified results were found for this group in the previous five years.
Recent sales in the wider Abbeyleix area
FLAT 1 THE HORSE SHOE INN, MARKET SQUARE, ABBEYLEIX
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €175,000.00
GRAIGUE, ABBEYLEIX, LAOIS
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €230,000.00
PORTLAOISE ROAD, ABBEYLEIX, CO LAOIS
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €170,000.00
RIVA, THE WELL RD, ABBEYLEIX
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €452,000.00
SANCTA MARIA, FOUNTAINSIDE, ABBEYLEIX
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €410,000.00
Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR). Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.
Last Sale
A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property
No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.
Buyer fees*
Associated expenses guide
- Stamp duty: approximately €2,600 based on 1 percent of the asking price for residential property under €1 million
- Solicitor legal fees: estimated between €1,500 and €3,000 plus VAT and outlays
- Land registration fees: around €175 to €700 depending on the property value and registration type
- Property valuation fees: approximately €150 to €300 for mortgage purposes
- Surveyor fees: estimated between €500 and €1,000 depending on the level of detail required for the apartment
- Annual home insurance: approximately €350 to €700 depending on the policy coverage and provider
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Locals frequently discuss the charm and appeal of Abbeyleix as a designated heritage town with a strong sense of community.
- Residents often highlight the convenience of local amenities, including cafes, shops, and scenic walking trails like Abbeyleix Bog and the Lord's Walk.
- Community forums often mention the town's strategic commuting position, with good road links to Portlaoise, Kilkenny, and Dublin.
- Parking and traffic flow along the main streets are occasional topics of discussion among residents and visitors in the town centre.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children5/10
The top-floor apartment offers generous square footage of 97.15 m2, but being an apartment without a private garden and located above a commercial premises may be less ideal for young children requiring safe, immediate outdoor play space.
- Teenagers6/10
With two well-proportioned bedrooms and a central location in Abbeyleix close to local amenities, teenagers will appreciate the independence, though storage for sports equipment and shared living space might feel slightly compact.
- Multi-generational Living2/10
A single-bathroom, two-bedroom top-floor layout with stairs access and no ground-floor bedroom or separate annex makes this unsuitable for multi-generational living arrangements.
- Single Buyers9/10
Offering two bedrooms, a dedicated utility room, and an asking price of €260,000, this spacious top-floor apartment represents an attractive and manageable option for single buyers entering the market.
- Couples8/10
The expansive open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area provides plenty of space for couples, complemented by a private entrance and a convenient central location.
- Empty Nesters7/10
The apartment offers low-maintenance living with a generous layout, though buyers should note that access is via a top-floor stairwell rather than a ground-floor or lift-serviced setup.
- Retirees5/10
While the central heritage town location puts local services within easy reach, retirees should carefully consider that this is a top-floor apartment accessed by stairs, which may limit long-term ageing-in-place suitability.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working8/10
With 97.15 m2 of floor area, a dedicated utility room, and distinct living spaces, the apartment easily accommodates a home office setup, though broadband speeds should be verified by the buyer.
- Hybrid Commuting8/10
Abbeyleix is exceptionally well positioned with Portlaoise 15 minutes away, Dublin and Limerick accessible in about 1 hour 15 minutes, and Kilkenny 30 minutes away by car.
- Retired6/10
Convenient for retirees seeking low-maintenance living with local amenities close by, though stair access to the top floor should be factored in.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place3/10
Because this is a top-floor apartment accessed by a flight of stairs, it presents significant mobility challenges for long-term ageing in place.
- Low Maintenance8/10
Apartment living naturally reduces exterior upkeep, and the interior layout is straightforward, though oil-fired central heating and building management arrangements should be verified.
- Secure Gated Entry4/10
The property features its own private entrance separating it from the commercial premises below, but lacks a formal secure gated community entry.
- Minimalist Design7/10
The open-plan kitchen, dining, and living layout lends itself well to clean, modern, and minimalist interior styling.
- Flexible Floor Plans6/10
Features generous proportions and an uncompleted en-suite area that offers the new owner customization potential, though structural layout changes are limited by apartment guidelines.
- Heritage Home8/10
Located right in the heart of the historic heritage town of Abbeyleix, offering immense local character and architectural charm.
- Ecological Setup4/10
The property relies on oil-fired central heating and carries a designated BER exemption status, meaning buyers should investigate energy efficiency ratings and upgrade potentials.
- Outdoor areas3/10
The apartment does not feature a private balcony or garden, relying instead on proximity to nearby public parks and the scenic countryside of Abbeyleix.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening2/10
The property features no private garden or dedicated outdoor green space, limiting gardening to container planting.
- Walking9/10
Abbeyleix is renowned for its fantastic walking routes, including the Lord's Walk, Abbeyleix Demesne, and Abbeyleix Bog, all easily accessible from the town centre.
- Gym5/10
Local sporting facilities are available in the town, but specific fitness centres or commercial gyms would require investigation regarding proximity and membership options.
- Cycling7/10
The flat topography of the surrounding heritage town and nearby country estates offers pleasant cycling routes, though secure bicycle storage within the apartment building footprint should be verified.
- Golf6/10
The central location provides reasonable driving access to regional golf courses in County Laois and surrounding counties.
- Fishing6/10
The wider region offers various angling and river fishing opportunities typical of the Midlands, though buyers should verify exact local club memberships and access points.
- Horse Riding5/10
Equestrian facilities exist in the broader Laois area, but are not directly integrated into this town-centre apartment setting.
- Water Sports2/10
As an inland location, water sports opportunities are very limited compared to coastal or major lake regions.
- Entertaining8/10
The impressive open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area provides an exceptionally generous and versatile space for hosting guests and social gatherings.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living6/10
Positioned right above a restaurant in the heart of a heritage town, the property offers private internal access, but background town activity and commercial proximity mean it may not be completely silent.
- Rural Living3/10
This is strictly an in-town, heritage streetscape property rather than a rural retreat, though nearby Abbeyleix Bog and countryside walks provide close access to nature.
- Village Living9/10
Superbly positioned right in the heart of Abbeyleix, putting shops, cafés, and local community amenities directly on the doorstep.
- Coastal Living1/10
Abbeyleix is an inland heritage town in County Laois, far removed from any coastal environments.
- Urban Living6/10
Provides a convenient town-centre apartment lifestyle with great regional road connectivity, though on a much smaller scale than a major city.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement8/10
Abbeyleix is well known for its highly welcoming community, active heritage town associations, and local group involvement.
- Café Culture8/10
Being situated right in the town centre places local cafés, restaurants, and eateries within immediate walking distance.
- Nightlife5/10
Offers local pubs and restaurants suited to a heritage town, but lacks the extensive nightlife found in major urban centers.
- Health/Wellness groups6/10
Local community hubs and facilities support various wellness and sports groups, though specialized classes should be checked locally.
- Networking Opportunities5/10
Primarily a residential heritage town, meaning professional networking would likely lean towards nearby Portlaoise or remote connections.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity5/10
While regional road and transport links are strong, dedicated tech hubs are minimal locally, relying heavily on home broadband performance.
Listing information
- Agent
- CBPM Estate Agents and Letting Agents
- Phone
- 057 86 35824
- Published on HouseDelve
- 6 October 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-34BE5DHouseDelve · Republic of IrelandReport checks
Sources used: Public marketplace, Property Price Register, and grounded web research where available.
Automated quality checks: Passed
* Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.