Laois Ireland

Land Area: 1,719 km

County Town: Portlaoise

Code: LS

Population: 58,774 (2002)

Province: Leinster

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under County Facts. Tags: Land Area, Laois, Leinster, Population, Portlaoise. Comments: None

Laois may have the least defined of all county identities. The rich contrast in the landscape makes it easy to spend many an enjoyable hour in this county and good old country pubs are never far away. From the Slieve Bloom Mountains to the woods of Abbeyleix or Durrow, there are many beautiful walks in this midland county. Laois ( Self Catering, Laois, Ireland) has excellent local wildlife-chiefly in the pubs and friendly people who know how to enjoy them.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Entertainment. Tags: Abbeyleix, Black & White Leinster, Durrow, Grellan Delaney & Sons, Ireland, Irish pub culture, Laois, Morrisseys, National Heritage Pub, Pedigree Corner, Portlaoise, pubs, Slieve Bloom Mountains. Comments: None

Laois was originally referred to as Queens County by the British. After Ireland gained its independence, Queens county was renamed Laois (pronounced Leesh) after the Loigis, who were the professional Pict soldiers that assisted the Laigin (Welsh aggressors) in their conquest of Leinster.

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.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under History. Tags: Barrow, Central Plain, Cork, Dublin, Durrow, Ireland, Laois, Leinster, Mountrath, Mouutmellick, Nore, Portarlington, Queens County, Rathdowney, Slieve Bloom, Stradbally. Comments: None

Abbeyleix that lies 14 km to the south of Portlaoise is named after a Cistercian abbey founded here in 1183 by Conor O’ More. Today, with tree-lined streets, golf, tennis and game fishing, this town is a real attraction. The tomb of Malachi O’ More, a Laois chieftain situates in the grounds of the de Vesci demsne (which is not open to the public).

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Abbeyleix, Cistercian abbey, Conor O' More, de Vesci demsne, Laois, Portlaoise, Tomb of Malachi O' More. Comments: None

Laois (Accommodation, Laois, Ireland) also known as the “Queen’s County, a county of Ireland, bounded N and W by Offaly the King’s county, E by Kildare and part of Carlow, S by Kilkenny, and SW by Tipperary, 32 English m. long, and as many broad. Along the W boundary runs a range of high and steep mountains, and in the E the Dysart hills form a prominent and picturesque object. Its principle rivers are the Barrow and Nore. The principal mineral productions are coal and limestone. It sends 3 members to the British parliament. Also known as “Leix”, this region was part of the possessions of the O’Mores (or O’Moores) before the Norman invasion. As in so many cases, the Norman grant of the lands to the Fitzpatricks was largely unsuccessful and the native Irish remained a constant threat until the sixteenth century when, along with the neighbouring Offaly, Laois (Hotels, Laois, Ireland) was annexed to the English crown under Queen Mary and renamed “Queen’s county”. In case the Irish still hadn’t got the point, the principal town was also renamed Maryborough. The county was re-titled Laois (Bed and Breakfasts, Laois, Ireland) after Independence in 1922, and Maryborough became Portlaoise. The town is best known to most Irish people today as the home of the country’s only high-security prison.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Genealogy. Tags: Barrow, Chief Towns, Church records, Co. Offaly, Dysart hills, Fitzpatricks, Geashill Estate, Ireland, Laois, Maryborough, Nore, Norman invasion, O'Mores, Offaly, Queen Mary, Surnames, Tipperary. Comments: 1

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Accommodation. Tags: Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois, Coach House, Coolanowle, Coolanowle House, Emo, Ireland, Laois, Leisure Centre, Portlaoise. Comments: None

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Accommodation. Tags: Abbeyleix, Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, Belfast, Castle Arms Hotel, Castle Durrow, Co. Laois, Cork, Demesne, Dublin, Durrow, Ireland, Jessop Street, KBorris-In-Ossory, Killenard, Laois, Leix County Hotel, Maryborough, Portalington, Portlaoise, The Heritage, The Square. Comments: None

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Accommodation. Tags: Athlone, Brielle House, Coolbanagher, County Laois, Emo, Heritage Golf and Country Club, Hill View Farm, Irishtown, Kilkenny, Killenard, Laois, Mountmellick, Mountrath, museum, Roundwood House, Slieve Bloom Mountains, swimming pools, The Forge, theatre. Comments: 1

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Holiday Homes & Self Catering. Tags: 3 star, Athlone, Brielle House, Bungalow Laois, County Laois, Heritage Golf and Country Club, Irishtown, Kilkenny, Killenard, Laois, Mountmellick, Portlaoise. Comments: 1