All You Need to Know about County Laois

Updated On: April 06, 2024 by   Ciaran Connolly

History always stays in the places where incidents take place. Books help people learn about past countries. However, nothing beats the thrill of being somewhere that history happened. Ireland is one of the terrific countries that bears fantastic tales to tell. There are more than a few cities that are worth visiting. Laois is one of the counties that you should visit. Before heading there, you need to learn about the place. That is precisely why we are here. We will help you learn about the county’s history, culture, and tourist attractions.

The History of Laois

Well, the Irish language is not that easy. So, before we start about the history, let’s talk generally about the county. First, the pronunciation of Laois is actually “Leesh.” Yes, it is weird, but that is just how it is. The city lies in the southern part of the Midlands Region. It is also located in the province of Leinster. Before being named Laois, people referred to it as Queen’s County. There is a whole story behind that fact. However, after the medieval kingdom, Loigis, the county’s name became modern.

Let’s explore Laois County’s past long before Christianity arrived in Ireland. At that time, the country was known as Gaelic Ireland.

The Neolithic Period

The Neolithic Period of Laois started in 4000 BC and lasted until 2500 BC. It was the time when the first farmers of Ireland arrived. They used to live in the forests that covered most of the county. However, they managed to clear those heavy forests. Since they were actually farmers, they planted their own crops and harvested them. Well, if those farmers were the ones to clear the forests, how did people live before?

Well, the forests of Laois were heavy. There, hunters and gatherers resided long before the Neolithic Period. They are deemed the city’s first people, in fact. Hunters survived through those forests by gathering nuts and fishing through the rivers. Their diet was so essential that it consisted of nuts, berries, and fish.

The Bronze Age

The Bronze Age existed around 2500 BC, by the end of the Neolithic Period. During that age, most of Ireland’s population inhibited Laois County. People at that time produced golden objects, weapons, and other tools. You can find a standing stone and a ring fort dating back to the Bronze Age. Visitors still observe those monuments until those modern days. Besides there are also the remains of their hill forts at Skirk, Clopook, and Monelly. Legends and history profess that the country witnessed the ritual killing. However, that ritual took place several centuries before the Bronze Age. The body of Cashel Man is one of the popular things to observe there. It remains an indicator of the cruel rituals that once existed.

The Celtic Iron Age

The Celtic Iron Age is the period that people also refer to as the pre-Christian period. It was a few years before the arrival of Christianity. However, it is more accurate to be the Iron Age, for it was Ireland’s first to know iron. That metal entered the country through the bloody weapons that different groups used to win the lands over.

The Christian Age

Finally, Christianity was introduced to Ireland. At that time, religious communities started forming. It was the role of holy men and women to found those communities in Laois for the first time. Saints founded their monastic habitations as well. That included Ciaran of Saighir; people used to call him The Elder. The reason behind such a name was the existence of another Saint called Ciaran as well. However, the latter was younger, and he was the saint of Clonmacnoise. The Elder had founded his monastic in the western Slieve Bloom Mountains. He was known to be the first bishop of Ossory. St. Ciaran was also deemed Ireland’s first bishop even before St. Patrick, so they say.

Later, the Church’s monastic base was moved away. That was when the Synod of Rathbreasail started constructing new Irish districts in 1111. Unfortunately, the wooden buildings of the early Christian churches were gone for good. Strong ties to Rome escorted new religious orders that included replacing the wooden buildings with new stone monasteries.

The Norman Invasion of Ireland

One of the most significant events in Ireland’s history was the Norman invasion. The invasion started in 1169 and lasted until 1171. That unfortunate incident greatly affected Laois since it was essential to the Kingdom of Leinster. Thanks to the Normans, Laois had come to terms with mottes; they’re wooden towers that sit over earthen mounds. Over and beyond, they build more than a few stone castles. They were the reason that most of the county’s towns exist now. Those towns had started as Norman divisions. They now developed to become towns.

The Revival of the Gaelic Community

The Normans had seized almost everything in the county. Even the castle that sits on the Rock of Dunamase was taken by Strongbow, a Norman warrior. Before that, the castle belonged to Aoife, an Irish princess. She had the castle as part of her dowry during her marriage. The Normans stayed in Ireland for many years. They had power over most of the lands of Laois, even the best of them. On the other hand, the Gaelic community was limited to the forests and mountains. Most of them stayed in the Slieve Bloom Mountains throughout the years of the invasion. But that was only until the early 14th century. It was when the Gaelic society began to flourish again, thanks to the chieftains of Laois. They managed to force the Normans to withdraw and hand the lands over.

The Culture of the County

Laois is known always to have a festival to celebrate. There are so many festivals that take place throughout the year and on an annual basis. Let’s look at all the festivals held in the county every year.

The Rose of Tralee

This festival is famous all over Ireland, and most of the world’s Irish communities still celebrate it. Ireland holds this festival every year in the town of Tralee. The show is inspired by a ballad that belongs to the 19th century. Mary Ballad, that is what it was called. Mary was fantastic; legends claim that people called her the Rose of Tralee. The name was a sign of how beautiful she was. Moreover, the song’s words were produced art by William Pembroke Mulchinock. According to legends, he was a wealthy Protestant. He fell in love with Mary O’Connor, a humble maid serving his parents.

The Festival Practices

The Rose of Tralee takes place in August. Women from all over Ireland enter a contest in which one of them gets to be the Rose. Women do not get chosen according to their appearances. On the contrary, the factors that qualify a woman to be the Rose are based on personality. However, the chosen one should resemble the lyrics of the song. She also must be a great role model and Irish presenter worldwide. The woman who qualifies as the best one to serve as an ambassador for the festival wins. The festival takes place on two different levels, locally and internationally. All of the Irish counties participated, and only one Rose won. The same goes for the international one, except that she gets chosen worldwide.

Check out the lyrics to The Rose of Tralee Song.

Electric Picnic

One more arts festival in Laois is held every year: Electric Picnic. This festival is a musical one that includes more electric music than any other Irish festival. It all started in 2004 at Stradbally Hall in County Laois and has continued since then. The Festival Republic and Pod Concerts organize the event every year. People have been enjoying this festival so much, which has added significantly to the tourism industry in Ireland. The Electric Picnic Festival was one of the Best European Festivals in 2010 by Vote.

People also voted that the atmosphere at the festival is quite relaxing and positive. They enjoy the services provided, including food and sleep, throughout the long weekend. The festival used to take place only for a day, and that was it. However, in the festival’s second year, things have developed to be a long weekend instead. People want longer times to relax and enjoy the offers of the festival. These offers usually include a cinema tent, massages, bean bags for relaxation, and other fun activities. There is also the Comedy Tent, where Gerry Mallon usually performs.

B.A.R.E in the Woods

It is usually called the BARE Festival. The letters stand for Bringing Another Righteous Event. It is another music festival Ireland celebrates yearly at Garryhinch Woods in Laois, starting in 2014. This festival features acts from all over the world, nationally and internationally. It includes Moscow Metro, Sounds of System Breakdown, The Vincent, New Secret Weapon, Phantom, Corner Boy, Elastic Sleep and more. At the Irish Festival Awards, this festival, in particular, won the title of the Best One-Day Festival in 2017.

Top Places to Visit in Laois

Besides the fantastic festivals every year, the county has so many places of interest. Check out this list.

Ballyfin Demesne

Ballyfin Demesne is a 600-acre estate where several powerful families built their homes for several generations, one after another. The O’Mores, the Crosbys, the Poles, the Wellesley-Poles and the Cootes were among the families that resided there. Since the Cootes were the last owning family, the present standing building belonged to them. Sir Charles Coote built it with the help of some prevalent architects who designed it themselves. Those architects included William Vitruvius Morrison and Richard Morrison. The building served as a school for many years. In 2011, it was transformed into a country house hotel.

Many legends also claim that the warrior Finn MacCool, used to live on this site. MacCool is one of the most prominent warriors in Irish mythology. Even the name “Ballyfin” literally means the fair town or the town of Fionn. The latter is the older version of the warrior’s name. Over and beyond, the village consists of many hills and forests to walk around.

Castle Durrow

Castle Durrow is a country house in a town named Durrow, apparently in County Laois. It belongs to the 18^th century and owns formal gardens that were popular back then. Laois has more than a few country houses. However, this one is, in fact, one of the finest ones around. Colonel William Flower was the builder of the house. He built it in 1712 as a family home. The ownership of the house remained for the Flower family until 1922. They had to forcefully sell the house and leave Ireland to return to England for some reason.

Mr. Maher of Freshford was the house’s next owner until the Land Commission took over it. The house stayed empty for several years, but in 1929, the town transformed it into a school. In the late 90s, Peter and Shelley Stokes purchased the building and transformed it into a luxurious castle. It is now known as the Castle Durrow House Hotel. People from around the world usually visit the magnificent site in the county.

Emo Court

Emo Court is a large neo-classical mansion. It is found in a site close to the village of Emo in Laois. James Gandon was the architect who designed the mansion in 1790. He did that after John Dawson ordered him to. Dawson was the first Earl of Portarlington. The building includes a large dome, sash-style windows, a hipped roof, and pavilions. Gandon also designed other buildings in Dublin, including Kings Inns and Custom House. Emo Court remained inhabitable for many years, for Gandon was busy working on different projects. Now, it contains a house along with several gardens. During the 90s, the Irish state gained ownership over these properties, and the Office of Public Works managed them.

Rock of Dunamase

The Rock of Dunamase is a rocky ridge in the townland of Park in Laois. During excavations in the 90s, archaeologists stated that the Rock dates back to the 9th century. The first settlement of the rock was an early Christian one. That settlement was the one that the Vikings plundered back in 842. Some legends claim that the Vikings of Dublin attacked the site in 845. However, nothing was mentioned about whether they had taken over the site. It holds a defensive stronghold that dates back to the early Hiberno-Norman Period. This stronghold overlooks the Slieve Bloom Mountains. According to some archaeological excavations, the ruins belonged to the Dunamase Castle. The latter was constructed in the 12^th century.

The Arrival of the Normans

In the late 12^th century, the Normans arrived in Ireland and fortified Dunamase. Dunamase also happened to be the site in which the King of Leinster, Diarmuid MacMurrough, kidnapped O’Rouke’s wife. O’Rouke was the King of Breifne; with the assistance of his family and the O’Conner, they escorted MacMurrough to leave. At first, he left Dunamase, but then he left all of Ireland for good. MacMurrough had to hand Dunamase over to Strongbow, the Norman warrior. He also gifted him with his daughter, Aoife, for marriage.

The Marshal Family

The Marshal Family inherited the castle after Strongbow. Later, William Marshal managed to become the Regent of England. The Marshal family remained with the same status for years after the death of William. He had five sons, all of whom were his successors, so he had power for long years. However, he also had five daughters who received the lands in 1247. Eva was one of his daughters, she took Dunamase and later her daughter was the heir. Eva’s daughter, Maud, married Roger Mortimer, making the Mortimer the seizers of the castle for many years. However, the Mortimer inheritance was terminated after Roger was accused of disloyalty.

Roundwood House

Roundwood House is one of the most popular hotels in Laois. You will surely come across this name when booking Irish hotels. The hotel is set near the Slieve Bloom Mountains. This fantastic country house belongs to the 18th century. It is one of the most significant buildings in the history of Ireland. You will have a unique warm experience. The rooms are cosy with all the antique furniture presented. Besides, many bookshelves and paintings keep the rooms full of life and history. You can enjoy the incredible gardens around the house while reading an excellent book or grabbing something from the café.

The Slieve Bloom Mountains

We have already mentioned this place while reciting the county’s great history, right? Well, the Irish community used to stay in those mountains during the Norman invasion. Those mountains are almost 530 meters in height. This height is not considered high, but the hills are widespread and reasonably large. The mountains stretch from the Northwest, at Rosenallis, to the southwest, in Roscrea. They create a link between two Irish counties, Offaly and Laois.

Here comes the fun part. People visit those mountains not only for the magnificent scenery but also for the fun activities. The country established loop-shaped walking trails extending to about 85 kilometres through the years. There are different head trails as well. They are divided into Clonaslee, Forest Car Park, Glenafelly, Kinnitty, Slieve Blooms, Cadamstown, Glen Monicknew, and Glenbarrow. In those walking trails, you will realize that three different colours code the trails’ easiness. The red indicates the most challenging trails, the blue is moderate, and the green is the easiest. At the Rosenallis, you can enjoy the scenery along with the Glenbarrow waterfalls just a few miles away.

Stradbally Hall

Stradbally is located in County Laois. It possesses Stradbally Hall, a quite large house that the Cosby family owned. This Hall has always been a host for many Irish events, including the National Steam Rally. Besides, the Electric Picnic Arts and Music Festival has been held there since its beginning in 2004.

Timahoe Round Tower

Timahoe is a village that sits in a vast valley. There are several houses around the village and they are built around a large central green. People refer to those houses as Goosegreen. Moreover, the facilities that exist around the town include a community hall, a church, and a recycling area. In the 7th century, Saint Mochua built a monastery in the village. Legends claim the church was burnt several times until the O’Mores renovated it. Anyhow, here is the story of the Round Tower of Timahoe. It was built in the mid-12th century as one of Ireland’s finest towers. The tower is located near the centre of the village. It is around 30 meters tall, so it is easy to see from a distance.

Don’t forget to check out other places in Ireland that might interest you, such as County Kerry| County Cork| County Kilkenny| County Kerry| County Derry| County Armagh|