County Laois

"Laois" redirects here. For other uses, see Laois (disambiguation).

County Laois Contae Laoise
Coat of arms
Motto: I bpáirt leis an bpobal  (Irish) "In partnership with the community"
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
Dáil Éireann	Laois–Offaly
EU Parliament	Midlands–North-West
County town	Port Laoise
Government
• Type	County Council
Area
• Total	1,720 km2 (660 sq mi)
Area rank	23rd
Population (2011)	80,559
• Rank	23rd
Vehicle index mark code	LS
Website	www.laois.ie

County Laois (/ˈliːʃ/ LEESH; Irish: Contae Laoise) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster, and was formerly known as Queen's County. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medieval kingdom.

Laois County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 80,559, according to the 2011 census - 20% higher than it was in the 2006 census, which is the highest percentage population growth in the country.

History

Prehistoric

The first people in Laois were bands of hunters and gatherers who passed through the county about 8,500 years ago. They hunted in the forests that covered Laois and fished in its rivers, gathering nuts and berries to supplement their diets.

Next came Ireland’s first farmers. These people of the Neolithic period (4000 to 2500 BC) cleared forests and planted crops. Their burial mounds remain in Clonaslee and Cuffsborough.

Starting around 2500 BC, the people of the Bronze Age lived in Laois. They produced weapons, tools and golden objects. Visitors to the county can see a stone circle they left behind at Monamonry, as well as the remains of their hill forts at Clopook and Monelly. Skirk, near Borris-in-Ossory, has a Bronze Age standing stone and ring fort. The body of Cashel Man indicates that ritual killing took place around 2000 BC.

The next stage is known as the pre-Christian Celtic Iron Age. For the first time iron appeared in Ireland, as factions fought bloody battles for control of the land. At Ballydavis, archaeologists have discovered ring barrows that date from this time period.

The county name derives from Loígis, of which the modern county is only a part. In the 11th century, its dynastic rulers adopted the surname Ua/Ó Mórdha. They claimed descent from a member of the Red Branch Knights

By the first century AD, the western third of Laois was part of the Kingdom of Ossory. The eastern part was divided roughly into seven parts, which were ruled by the Seven Septs of Loígis: O’More (O’Moore), O’Lalor, O’Doran, O’Dowling, O’Devoy (O’Deevy), O’Kelly and McEvoy.

Map of Ireland around 900 AD. The western third of Laois was part of the Kingdom of Osraige.

Introduction of Christianity

When Ireland was Christianized, holy men and women founded religious communities in Loígis. St. Ciarán of Saighir (called "The Elder" to distinguish him from the younger St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise) founded his monastic habitation in the western Slieve Bloom Mountains as the first bishop of Ossory, reputedly before St. Patrick. His mother Liadán had an early convent nearby at what is now Killyon. Between 550 and 600, St. Canice founded Aghaboe Abbey and St. Mochua founded a religious community at Timahoe. An early Christian community lived at Dun Masc or Masc’s fort, on the Rock of Dunamase.

The Synod of Rathbreasail that established the Irish dioceses was held near Mountrath in 1111, moving the Church away from its monastic base. As religious orders with strong ties to Rome replaced older religious communities, the wooden buildings of the early Christian churches in Laois gave way to stone monasteries. The Augustinians and Dominicans established themselves at Aghaboe Abbey, while the Cistercians took over an older religious community at Abbeyleix.

Norman Invasion

The Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169-71 affected Laois as it was a part of the Kingdom of Leinster. In Laois, the fortress on the Rock of Dunamase was part of the dowry of the Irish princess Aoife, who was given in marriage in 1170 to the Norman warrior Strongbow. Advancing Normans surveyed the county from wooden towers built on top of earthen mounds, known as mottes. They also built stone fortresses, such as Lea Castle, just outside Portarlington. Several of the county’s towns were first established as Norman boroughs, including Castletown, Durrow and Timahoe.

From 1175 until about 1325, Normans controlled the best land in the county, while Gaelic society retreated to the bogs, forests and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The early 14th century saw a Gaelic revival, as the chieftains of Loígis caused the Normans to withdraw. The Dempseys seized Lea Castle, while Dunamase came into the ownership of the O’Mores. Examples of tower houses built by the Irish Mac Giolla Phádraig chieftains are found at Ballaghmore and Cullahill Castle, both decorated with Sheela na gigs.

In 1548, the English confiscated the lands of the O’Mores, and built "Campa," known as the Fort of Leix, today’s Portlaoise.

County status

A church in Emo

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1500	6,557	—
1510	8,378	+27.8%
1550	11,222	+33.9%
1580	15,301	+36.3%
1585	16,435	+7.4%
1600	6,828	−58.5%
1610	7,990	+17.0%
1653	9,915	+24.1%
1659	11,115	+12.1%
1672	13,589	+22.3%
1680	17,777	+30.8%
1690	21,255	+19.6%
1700	24,713	+16.3%
1710	27,689	+12.0%
1725	32,808	+18.5%
1735	41,577	+26.7%
1745	41,097	−1.2%
1755	40,888	−0.5%
1765	51,286	+25.4%
1771	58,411	+13.9%
1775	67,870	+16.2%
1788	76,903	+13.3%
1790	93,679	+21.8%
1801	95,820	+2.3%
1811	111,227	+16.1%
1813	108,950	−2.0%
1816	122,888	+12.8%
1821	134,275	+9.3%
1831	145,851	+8.6%
1841	153,930	+5.5%
1851	111,664	−27.5%
1861	90,650	−18.8%
1871	79,771	−12.0%
1881	73,124	−8.3%
1891	64,883	−11.3%
1901	57,417	−11.5%
1911	54,629	−4.9%
1926	51,540	−5.7%
1936	50,109	−2.8%
1946	49,697	−0.8%
1951	48,430	−2.5%
1956	47,087	−2.8%
1961	45,069	−4.3%
1966	44,595	−1.1%
1971	45,259	+1.5%
1979	49,936	+10.3%
1981	51,171	+2.5%
1986	53,284	+4.1%
1991	52,314	−1.8%
1996	52,945	+1.2%
2002	58,774	+11.0%
2006	67,059	+14.1%
2011	80,559	+20.1%

It was shired in 1556 by Queen Mary as Queen's County, covering the countries of Leix (Loígis), Slewmarge, Irry, and that part of Glimnaliry on the southwest side of the River Barrow. Laois received its present Irish language name following the Irish War of Independence. Laois was also sometimes spelt "Leix". Portlaoise (previously Maryborough) is the county town.

Loígis was the subject of two Plantations or colonisations by a mix of Scottish and English settlers. The first occurred in 1556, when Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex dispossessed the O'Moore clan and attempted to replace them with Scottish and English settlers. However, this only led to a long drawn-out guerilla war in the county and left a small Scottish and English community clustered around garrisons. There was a more successful plantation in the county in the 17th century, which expanded the existing Scottish and English settlement with more landowners and tenants from both Scotland and England. Neither plantation was fully successful due to a lack of tenants and because of continuous raids and attacks by the O'Moores.

In 1659, a group of Quakers settled in Mountmellick, while a group of Huguenots were given refuge in Portarlington in 1666 after their service to William of Orange in the Williamite War in Ireland.

What followed was a period of relative calm. Anglo-Irish landowners enclosed the land and built fine houses, including Durrow Castle, Heywood House and Emo Court. In 1836, a branch of the Grand Canal stretched to Mountmellick, further stimulating industry in that town.

The Great Famine of 1845-49 devastated the county. The county’s workhouses could not cope with the number of destitute people seeking shelter. By the time the workhouse opened at Donaghmore in 1853, many of the poorest had emigrated or died.

The county was formerly known as Queen's County (Irish: Contae na Banríona) until its name was informally changed on establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Despite the county's name being upheld as Laois through the 2001 Local Government Act, no legislation was ever enacted after independence explicitly changing the name from Queen's County, the name formally established under the 1898 Local Government Act which continued to have legal effect. When land is sold in the county the relevant title deeds are still updated as being in Queen's County.

Geography and political subdivisions

The M7 near Portlaoise

Laois is the 23rd largest of Ireland’s 32 counties in area and also 23rd largest in terms of population. It is the seventh largest of Leinster’s 12 counties in size and tenth largest in terms of population. The county is landlocked and, uniquely, does not border any other county which touches the coast. This is known as being doubly landlocked. It is therefore considered to be "the most landlocked county in Ireland".

Baronies

There are nine baronies in the county:

• Ballyadams
• Cullinagh
• Maryborough East
• Maryborough West
• Portnehinch
• Slievemargue
• Stradbally
• Tinnehinch
• Upper Ossory

Towns and villages

Countryside south of Portlaoise.

• Abbeyleix
• Aghaboe
• Arles
• Ballacolla
• Ballaghmore
• Ballickmoyler
• Ballinakill
• Ballybrittas
• Ballybrophy
• Ballyhide
• Ballyfin
• Ballylinan
• Ballyroan
• Barrowhouse
• Borris-in-Ossory
• Camross
• Castletown
• Clonaslee
• Coolrain
• Cullohill
• Donaghmore
• Durrow
• Emo
• Errill
• The Heath
• Jamestown
• Killeshin
• Mountmellick
• Mountrath
• Newtown
• Portarlington
• Portlaoise
• Rathdowney
• Rosenallis
• Shanahoe
• Stradbally
• The Swan
• Timahoe
• Vicarstown

Climate

For climatological information please visit: durrow.ie for averages and extremes.

The weather station at east Durrow was set up in May 2008. The equipment used is a Davis Vantage Pro II that measures temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall and barometric pressure. This data is transmitted every 2 seconds to a website where the data can be freely accessed. The station also reports to the Irish Weather Network which displays live weather data from similar stations all around Ireland.

In addition, a Met Éireann climatological station (Number: 472) was installed in September 2010 and the data collected is sent to headquarters in Glasnevin, Dublin on a monthly basis. The climatological station measures rainfall in a manual gauge, soil temperatures at 5 cm, 10 cm and 20 cm depths, air temperature including wet-bulb, daily maximum and daily minimum temperatures. The climatological station is a project that is envisaged to last thirty years and collect a climate profile for Durrow and Laois in general.

Local government

Main article: Laois County Council

Local matters are dealt with by Laois County Council which elects 25 members. For the purpose of elections it is divided into five local electoral: Borris-in-Ossory (6), Emo (4), Luggacurran (4), Mountmellick (4) and Portlaoise (7). Laois historically supported Fianna Fáil party in Irish elections. However, in the last local and general elections there was a sharp swing to Fine Gael and Sinn Féin. Due to major local government reform implemented by Minister Phil Hogan town councils in Mountmellick and Portlaoise are now abolished. Also there are now 19 seats in the new Laois council with 3 electoral areas: Portlaoise - Abbeyleix (7 seats), Borris-in-Ossory - Mountmellick (6 seats) and Portarlington - Graigecullen (6 seats). The results in the 2014 local election were 7 Fianna Fail, 6 Fine Gael, 2 Sinn Féin, 1 Labour and 3 Independents. Labour's success in Portlaoise is notable as it was their first victory in the town for 50 years. Laois is in the new three seat Laois constituency for elections to Dáil Éireann.

2009 Irish Local Elections
Laois County Council

Party	Seats	Change
Fine Gael	12	+ 3
Fianna Fáil	8	- 3
Sinn Féin	1	=
Labour Party	1	=
Independent	3	=

Places of interest

Rock of Dunamase

• Slieve Bloom Mountains
• Rock of Dunamase
• Heritage House, Abbeyleix
• Emo Court
• Castle Durrow
• Timahoe Round Tower
• Stradbally House
• Mountmellick Quaker Museum
• Ballyfin House
• Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise
• Portlaoise Leisure Centre
• 18-hole golf courses include: Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise; The Heritage in Killenard; The Heath; Abbeyleix and Rathdowney.

Demographics

The population of County Laois is expanding rapidly, given its easy commute to the employment centres of Kildare and Dublin, and affordable housing in pleasant surroundings. Laois’s population growth during the period 2002-2006 (14%) has been stronger than the National average (8.2%), as follows:

• 2002 ... 58,774
• 2006 ... 67,012 ... +14.01%
• 2011 ... 80,559

Economy

Over 1500 people work in the industrial sector in the county. Industrial parks are located in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick. The county receives EU funding as it is part of the cluster of three regions (Border, Midland and West), colloquially known as "BMW", that qualifies for special funding aid.

Agricultural activities occupy approximately 70% of the land area of the county (1,200 km² or 460 sq mi). However agriculture's share of income in the "BMW" region has declined sharply in the past decade, and represented only approximately 3.9% of annual income (GVA) in 2005 Central Statistics Office. There are over 230,000 cattle in the county - three for every person. The remaining area includes considerable stretches of raised bog and the Slieve Bloom mountains, which are partially covered by coniferous forest.

Railways

Iarnród Éireann train services along the Dublin-Cork line connects the county between Heuston station and Cork, Limerick, travel through the county, with railway stations at Portarlington, Portlaoise and Ballybrophy. From Portarlington trains run on the Dublin-Galway/Westport/Ballina line to Athlone as well as Galway, Westport and Ballina. From Ballybrophy trains run on the Ballybrophy line to Nenagh and Limerick direct.

Road Transport

The M7 road runs through County Laois. This is one of the busiest roadways in Ireland connecting Dublin and Limerick and acts as a trunk route for the M8 which connects Cork to Dublin. The M8 joins the M7 to the south of Portlaoise. Road infrastructure has improved greatly in the county over the past decade. Most major interurban routes through Laois have now been upgraded to motorway standard. All major traffic bottlenecks in Laois such as Abbeyleix and Mountrath have been bypassed following the opening of the M7/M8 tolled motorway project in May 2010. Both towns were major intercity bottlenecks for motorists especially Abbeyleix where delays of up to 30 minutes or more were common.

Bus Éireann provides regular intercity bus services in the county. The Dublin to Limerick service runs every hour through towns and villages on the old N7 road (now R445) while the Dublin to Cork inter city bus service runs every two hours through towns in the county.

People

• John George Adair (1823–1885), builder of Glenveagh Castle and financier of JA Ranch in the Texas Panhandle.
• Darina Allen (1953- ), TV chef.
• John Barrett (1753–1821), Vice Provost, Trinity College, 1807–1821.
• Sir Jonah Barrington (1760–1834).
• Elizabeth Barton of the Barton Family, Straffan and Lisduff
• Lisa Burke, Sky News weathercaster.
• Claire Byrne (1976- ), TV presenter/newscaster, best known for co-presenting RTÉ's The Daily Show
• Tony Byrne, former professional footballer who played for Ireland.
• William Cosby, governor of New York from 1732 to 1736.
• Evelyn Cusack Met Éireann meteorologist
• William Dargan (1799–1867), responsible for the Industrial Exhibition, 1853.
• Cecil Day-Lewis (1904–1972), British Poet-Laureate, 1967–1972.
• Dr. Daniel Delany (1747–1814), Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.
• Eileen Dunne (1958- ), TV newscaster.
• Denis Dynon, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Oliver J. Flanagan (1920–1987), Minister for Defence, 1976–1977.
• Stephen Hunt (1981-), professional footballer playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ireland.
• James Fintan Lalor (1807–1849), Young Irelander.
• Peter Lalor (1827–1889), leader of the Eureka Stockade miners revolt, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
• James Macauley (1889-1945), former Ireland soccer international player.
• Dr. Bartholomew Mosse (1712–1759), founder, Rotunda Maternity Hospital, Dublin.
• Valentine O'Hara (1875–1945), author and authority on Russia and the Baltic states.
• Kevin O'Higgins (1892–1927), Irish Free State Minister for Justice.
• Bernard O'Shea, comedian, best known for his roles on RTÉ's Republic of Telly.
• Brian Rigney, former Ireland rugby international.
• Robin Roe (1928-2010), 19 times capped Irish rugby international who also played for the British and Irish Lions.
• Hon. William Russell Grace (1832–1904), mayor of New York, 1880-1885.
• John Shaw (1773–1823), U.S. Naval Officer.
• Robert Sheehan (1988- ), best known for playing Nathan Young on E4's comedy drama, Misfits
• Kivas Tully (1820–1905), architect, Trinity College, Toronto, the Custom House and the Bank of Montreal.

Sport

See also: Laois GAA

Laois has a strong tradition of Gaelic games, enjoying success at both Gaelic football and hurling. Laois are one of few counties to contest an All-Ireland final in both Gaelic football and hurling. In recent times Laois have been more successful footballers than hurlers. Laois minors have had considerable success over the past two decades, and the Laois senior footballers reached the Leinster final in 2003 (victorious), 2004, and 2005. Laois hurlers currently compete in the Liam McCarthy Cup, a competition reserved for the premiere hurling counties while the footballers compete in the Sam Maguire Cup. Laois play home games at O'Moore Park, the county's largest sporting venue, which is often used for hurling Championship games because of its central location.

In Rugby football, Portlaoise RFC and Portarlington RFC compete in Division 2A of the Leinster League.

Twin Towns

County Laois is a participant in the Twin Towns program and has a relationship with the following municipalities:

Arlington, Massachusetts, United States

Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada (2008)

Coulounieix-Chamiers, France (1996)

Franklin, Tennessee, United States (2008)

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Laois)
• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• Lord Lieutenant of Queen's County
• High Sheriff of Queen's County

External links

• County Laois at DMOZ
• Laois Tourism Website
• Official website of Laois County Council
• Things to do in Laois - Tourist guide