Maryborough in Portlaoise in County Laois, Leinster, Ireland — Mid-East (and Dublin)

Fitzmaurice Place

— Portlaoise Heritage Trail / Slí Oidhreachta Port Laoise —

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 17, 2026

1. Fitzmaurice Place Marker

Inscription. This plaza commemorates a famous aviator Colonel James Fitzmaurice who was reared in Portlaoise and went to school in the local CBS. Near here he saw the first plane built in Ireland by the Aldritt family. Fitzmaurice was the co-pilot of the “Bremen”, the first aeroplane to successfully cross the North Atlantic from Europe to North America in 1928.

Erected by Laois Heritage Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 53° 2.125′ N, 7° 17.846′ W. Marker is in Portlaoise, Leinster, in County Laois. It is in Maryborough. It is on Church Avenue south of Millbrook, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7/8 Church Avenue, Portlaoise, Leinster, Ireland. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

on the Island of Ireland,

on the Celtic Fringe,

in the European Union,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cláirseoir ag seinm do thaoisigh na háite / A Harper Performs for the Local Chieftains (a few steps from this marker); SS Peter and Paul Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Odlums’ Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); Tá trodaire Gaelach timpeall an Dun / A Gaelic Fighter Surrounds the Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Dún Phort Laoise / The Fort of Portlaoise (within shouting distance of this marker); Cuidíonn siúinéir Sasanach leis an Dún a thógáil / An English Carpenter Helps to Build the Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort of Maryborough (within shouting distance of this marker); Presentation Convent (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portlaoise.

Also see . . . Fitzmaurice Place – Old Fort Quarter (Laois Tourism).

Today you can enjoy a walk around the Fort Protector walls and make time to stop in Fitzmaurice Place to imagine the tales of times gone by. The Plaza is also
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 17, 2026

2. Fitzmaurice Place Marker
The marker is affixed to the walls of the Old Fort next to Fitzmaurice Place.
named after the famous Col James Fitzmaurice, the first pilot to fly east-west across the Atlantic in a Bremen.

(Submitted on July 6, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 17, 2026

3. Fitzmaurice Place Marker

The southern end of the plaza. The marker can be seen on the right-hand side of the photo.

Fitzmaurice Plaza Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 17, 2026

4. Fitzmaurice Plaza Sculpture

The northern end of the plaza includes an abstract sculpture dedicated to James Fitzmaurice.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 6, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.