Stradbally Hall, home of Tom, Gesa and their extended family is central to the story of the town. Built in the 19th century and as an enlargement in classical style of a Georgian house, which had been built in 1772 to replace an older residence. The Cosby ancestral home is located on 550 acres of 18th century parkland. It is home to the annual Electric Picnic, music and arts festival. It also has the oldest narrow gauge railway in Ireland, a fully functioning paintball alley and the Annual Irish Steam Rally, held every August. Featured is one of the estate cottages in Court Square, built by the Cosby family for their workers in the early 1880s and now home to Mary Hegarty and Brian Flanagan. Also on Court Square is the home of Christine and James Hewitt. Modern homes in the recently built housing estates of Cillbeg Manor belonging to Rita and Pat Scully and the Glebe, home to Siobhan and Sean Kane are included. Further examples of modern homes are those of John and Rachel Conway and Geraldine and Seán Delaney. Woodview, to the rear of the Laois Arthouse is home of Dick and Katie Dillon. We would like to thank the home owners for allowing us access to their homes and their generosity shown towards Everything is fluid and even in the short passage of time in which the Townscape project commenced we have had house moves and updating of decor. We would like to thank the home owners for allowing us access to their homes and their generosity shown towards the project. The Laois Arthouse was formerly the Courthouse and built in 1830 by the Cosby’s. Reopened as the Laois Arthouse and Library in 2011, it offers support to artists through a wide variety of means. It contains living and working accommodation for artists as well as a public gallery. 2