County Laois
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| County Laois | |
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| Area: | 1,719 km² |
| Capital: | Portlaoise |
| Code: | LS |
| Population: | 58,774 (2002) |
| Province: | Leinster |
Laois (pronounced Leash), 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).
Created in 1556 by Mary I of England as Queen's County, Laois received its present Irish language name following the War of Irish Independence. Portlaoise (previously Maryborough) is the county town.
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Laois was the subject of two Planations 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 clustere around garrisons. There was a more successful plantation in the county in 17th century, which expanded the exisitng 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.
As of early 2005, administration of the county was in the hands of a coalition formed by the Fine Gael, Labour and Progressive Democrat parties.
Towns and villages
- Abbeyleix, Aghaboe
- Ballaghmore, Ballickmoyler, Ballinakill, Ballyfin, Ballylynan, Ballyroan,Borris-in-ossory
- Clonenagh
- Donaghmore, Durrow
- Emo
- Mountmellick, Mountrath
- Portarlington, Portlaoise
- Raheen, Rathdowney, Rosenallis
- Stradbally
- Timahoe
- Vicarstown
Places of interest
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