Town of Durrow
This was initially a Norman borough town, and it was made part of Killkenny later by the Ormonds in the seventeenth century. This town was returned to the county in 1846 by Act of Parliament. A planned estate village, it had been developed under the patronage of the Viscounts Ashbrook. Its finest feature is the suite of buildings surrounding the Green under the gates and beautifully designed modern primary school and the important “castle” (1713-32) one of the last large pre-Palladian houses built in Ireland designed by its owner William Flower.
Laois may have the least defined of all county identities. The rich 
Laois was originally referred to as Queens County by the British. After Ireland gained its 
Laois (Holiday Homes, Laois, Ireland) history of human occupation goes back at least 8,500 years. Christianity was prominant in the 500s AD. Monastic settlements in the area were raided by the Vikings. The Anglo- Normans got hold of the territorys prime grounds in the early 14th century. From the later 14th century to the 16th century, the indigenous Gaelic people regained control under the leadership of the OMore clan. This ended when the British entered Laois and siezed rulership for themselves.
