County Laois
County Laois (), also spelt Laoighis or Leix (), is a county in the midlands of Ireland. Situated in the province of Leinster, this small county is the only one in Ireland not bordered by another county with a coastline. Area: 1719 km² (664 square miles).History
Created in 1556 by Mary I of England as Queen's County, Laois received its present Irish language name following the Irish War of Independence. Portlaoise (previously Maryborough) is the county town.
Laois was the subject of two Plantations or colonisations by English settlers. The first occurred in 1556, when the Earl of Sussex dispossessed the O'Moore clan from the area and attempted to replace them with English settlers. However, this only led to a long drawn out guerilla war in the county and left a small English community clustered around garrisons. There was a more successful plantation in the county in 17th century, which expanded the existing English settlement with more landowners and tenants from England. Finally, the county became home to a community of French Huguenots in the 1690s, who were settled in Ireland after their service to William of Orange in the Williamite war in Ireland. In addition to this, large numbers of Quakers settled in Mountmellick and developed the area.
The county was renamed in the early 1920s, following a competition.
Economy
Agriculture is the largest sector of the economy, with 70 % of the area (1,200 km²), farmed every year. The county is home to over 230,000 cattle, that is four cows for every person.
The county has a small industrial base, with industrial parks at Portlaoise and Mountmellick. Over 1500 people work in the industrial sector in County Laois.
However, unemployment is higher than other Irish counties in County Laois and annual income is lower than the national average, at about 88% of the average. The county makes up part of the Border Midlands and West region for the purposes of EU funding.
Politics
Laois tends to strongly support the Fianna Fáil party in Irish elections. In the last local elections, however, there was a sharp swing to the opposition Fine Gael party. Historically important Irish figures, such as Kevin O'Higgins and Oliver Flanagan were born in County Laois.
Population
The population of County Laois is expanding rapidly, given its easy commute to Dublin and affordable housing in pleasant surroundings. In the 2006 census the population had increased by 14% to 67,000 people.
Towns and villages
- Abbeyleix, Aghaboe, Arles
- Ballacolla, Ballaghmore, Ballickmoyler, Ballinakill, Ballybrittas, Ballybrophy, Ballyfin, Ballylinan, Ballyroan,Borris-in-Ossory
- Clonaslee, Clonenagh, Cullohill
- Donaghmore, Durrow
- Emo, Errill
- Graiguecullen
- Killeshin, Killeen, Killenard
- Mountmellick, Mountrath
- Newtown
- Portarlington, Portlaoise
- Raheen, Rathdowney, Rosenallis
- Stradbally
- Timahoe
- Vicarstown
Places of interest
- Slieve Bloom Mountains
- Rock of Dunamase
- Emo Court
- Castle Durrow
- Stradbally House
- Mountmellick Quaker Museum
- Ballyfin House
- Dunamase Arts Centre, Portlaoise
List of notable Laois people
- Darina Allen (1953- ), TV chef
- John Barrett (1753-1821), Vice Provost, Trinity College, 1807-1821
- Charles Beale (1850-1930), founding president of the Federated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia
- Joseph Beale (1770-1815), Quaker industrialist
- Joshua Bewley, tea merchant
- Lisa Burke, Sky News weathercaster
- Claire Byrne, TV3 News Anchor
- Rev. Dr. Patrick Collier (1882-1964), Bishop of Ossory, 1928-1964
- Evelyn Cusack, meteorologist
- William Dargan (1799-1867), responsible for the Industrial Exhibition, 1853
- Cecil Day-Lewis (1904-1972), British Poet-Laureate, 1967-1972
- Dr. Daniel Delaney (1747-1814), Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
- Eileen Dunne (1958- ), TV newscaster
- Oliver J. Flanagan (1920-1987), Minister for Defence, 1976-1977
- Hon. William Russell Grace (1832-1904), mayor of New York 1880-1885
- James A. Graves (1827-1910), Australian commissioner of trade and customs, 1881-1883
- Rt. Hon. Joseph Hutchinson (1852-1928), Lord Mayor of Dublin 1904-1906
- Peter Burrowes Kelly, (1811-1883), author "The Manor of Glenmore"
- James Fintan Lalor (1807-1849), Young Irelander
- Peter Lalor (1827-1889), leader of the Eureka Stockade miners revolt, Melbourne
- John Lalor-Fitzpatrick (1875-1949), Nationalist MP for Ossory, 1916-1818
- Dr. Bartholomew Mosse (1712-1759), founder, Rotunda Maternity Hospital, Dublin
- Kevin O'Higgins (1892-1927), former Irish Free State Minister for Justice
- James Pim, railway engineer, "Quaker father of Irish railways"
- Kivas Tully (1820-1905), architect, Trinity College, Toronto, the Custom House and the Bank of Montreal
- The rock group 79Cortinaz hail from both Laois, and Carlow Ireland.