[1] The house was near the original Abbeyleix, that was built by the O'Mores near the River Nore where there was a Cistercian Monastery, founded in 1183.

On the dissolution of the monasteries, 1,500 acres (610 ha) of land were granted to the 10th Earl of Ormond.

In 1770, their grandson Thomas Vesey, 2nd Baron Knapton – later, in 1776, created Viscount de Vesci – commissioned the English architect James Wyatt to build him a new house in an elevated position.

[3][4] Recently owned and restored by the businessman Sir David Davies, Abbey Leix House and estate was placed on the market in 2019, continuing into 2020, for a region of €20 million.

[5] In June 2021, John Collison purchased the estate for a sum in the region of the advertised €11.5 million.