Emo Court was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for the Earls of Portarlington and is a magnificent example of the neo-classical style. During the middle of this century it was owned by the Jesuits and it was then acquired and extensively restored by Mr. Cholmeley-Harrison in the 1960s. Located in Emo, County Laois, the house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland which were first laid out in the 18th Century and contain formal lawns, a lake and woodland walks with fine trees and shrubs. The house and gardens were taken into state ownership in 1994. Admission to Office of Public Works sites is free on the first Wednesday of every month until the end of 2011.