Ballylinan is a small village in south Laois, built around a church and the GAA pitch. The village year follows the football season — everything else is footnotes.
The Barrow Valley is to the east. There are two pubs. That is Ballylinan. It is not a tourist destination. It is a place where people live.
None of these are themed Irish pubs, because they don't need to be. A few that earn the trip:
The centre of the village on match days. Otherwise quiet.
If the first is full.
There is no bad time. There are different times.
GAA season starting, the village comes alive.
Championship season. Match days are the best days to be here.
Harvest and the end of the GAA year.
Very quiet. Off-season, the village is still.
South of Portlaoise via N77, about 25 km.
Limited service. Check Bus Éireann schedules.