County Laois

History

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.

Related Topics:
Mary I of England - Irish language - War of Irish Independence - Portlaoise

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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 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.

Related Topics:
Planations - Earl of Sussex - Huguenots - William of Orange - Williamite war in Ireland - Quakers - Mountmellick

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The county was renamed in the early 1920s, following a competition.

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