Rosenallis isn't a stop—it's a starting point. William Edmundson brought the Quakers here in 1659, and the village grew around them. Still feels like it. The hills press in from the east.
What you come for: Glenbarrow. The car park is five minutes uphill—three looped walks in blue, green, red, ranging from an hour to a half-day. The yellow-marked Slieve Bloom Way starts here, 80 km around the whole range. Or just hike to the three-tiered waterfall—called the Clamp Hole Falls locally—and call it a morning.
Three things every local will eventually mention. Read these and you've already understood more than most day-trippers do.
Since 1659. Local name: the Friends' Sleeping Place. William Edmundson is buried here—he started it all. Anne Jellicoe is here too, the woman who founded Alexandra College.
Stories & lore → 02 GlenbarrowFive minutes uphill from the village. Three marked loops, colour-coded by difficulty. The Clamp Hole Falls is the three-tiered waterfall everyone comes for.
Walks & outings → 03 The Slieve Bloom WayStarts here at Glenbarrow. Yellow-marked. Three days if you do the whole thing. Most people do sections.
Walks & outings →The reason to come back. The things every local will eventually tell you about, usually after the second pint.
Wear waterproofs. Bring a sandwich. Tell someone where you're going if it's the mountain.
Rosenallis is on the R422 between Clonaslee and Mountmellick. From Portlaoise, take the R440 or R422 north. 30 minutes.
No direct buses. Nearest station is Portlaoise, then a taxi.
Portlaoise station, 40 minutes south. Then taxi or hire a car.