County Laois - Heritage/Historical<< Laois Homepage |
|
|
| Here's a selection of Laois Heritage/Historical.Click on the 'Go to ALL' link to get the full list. |
1. Homes (Historical) |
Go to ALL Homes (Historical) in Laois |
Emo CourtCo. LaoisA magnificent neo-classical house designed by James Gandon in 1790, on the same magnificent scale as his Custom House, for John Dawson 1st Earl of Portarlington. The construction begun in 1790 and additions were made at different stages. The fashionable English architect Lewis Vulliamy added the north front portico with four giant Ionic columns in 1834. The present owner Mr. Chomeley-Harrison has magnificently restored and refurbished Emo Court. | |
 | |
2. Museums |
Go to ALL Museums in Laois |
Donaghmore MuseumCo. LaoisDonaghmore Museum, is an old workhouse, built as a result of the Great Famine, about 1,200 people of 10 per cent of the population of the area were doomed to be paupers and forced to take refuge there. It has been restored by Avonmore and now houses an agricultural museum. The kitchen, dormitories and waiting hall have all been restored and the museum is open to the public during the Summer months. | |
| |
3. Towers (Round) |
Go to ALL Towers (Round) in Laois |
Timahoe round Tower and ChurchCo. LaoisThe only remnant of the early monastery founded by St. Mochua (died 657) is a very well-preserved Round Tower, 96 feet high. It is one of the fattest Round Towers in the country. It is unique in that it has a double Romanesque doorway with fine ornamentation including heads with intertwined hair. Bring a pair of binoculars with you to see the detail, as it is high up off the ground. There is also a Romanesque window in the their floor. The dearths of monks in the old monastery are reported between 880 and 1007, and reference is made to a church in 1069. But the Round Tower probably dates to the 12th century. The monastery was re-founded in later medieval times by the O'Mores. After the Suppression, the monastery and lands were granted to Sir Thomas Loftus and later (1609) to Richard Cosby. It was probably one of the Cosby family who transformed what was a medieval church into a castle; only the east wall of the castle, incorporating an arch of the 15th century church remains. The last friar of the monastery was killed in 1650. | |
| |
4. Heritage Centres |
Go to ALL Heritage Centres in Laois |
Mainistir Laoise - AbbeyleixCo. Laois | |
| |
5. Local Tours |
Go to ALL Local Tours in Laois |
John O'brien and SonsThe Manager , Knockmay Road, Co. Laois | |
| |
6. Archaeological |
Go to ALL Archaeological in Laois |
DunamaseCo. LaoisThe most celebrated and dramatic site in the county. It was purchased by the state from the estate of Lord Congleton about four years ago, and taken into its care and protection. Its name is from Dun Masg "the fort of Masg". An important fortress before the Normans, it was granted to Strongbow in 1170 by Diarmait Mac Murchada as part of his daughter Aoife's dowry, and became the Normans' most important fortification. Wiliam Earl Marshall, the most famous and honourable Norman, lived here in the early thirteenth century. In the fourteenth-century it was burned at least twice by the Irish. In 1609 the castle was granted to Donat O'Brien, Earl of Thomond. The violence of the 1640s enveloped it: In 1641 it was captured from O'Mordha | |
| |
7. Towers (Historical) |
Go to ALL Towers (Historical) in Laois |
The Round Tower of TimahoeCo. LaoisThe Round Tower of Timahoe looks spectacular at night as it is lit up. Situated on the edge of the attractive village of Timahoe, the round Tower is 30m tall and 17m in circumference, it is the biggest tower in Ireland and is situated on the site of a bronze age settlement. | |
| |
8. Castles (Historical) |
Go to ALL Castles (Historical) in Laois |
Ballaghmore CastleCo. LaoisBallaghmore Castle (1480) the Chief seat of the Mac Gillpatricks (Fitzpatricks) Lords of the Upper Ossory. Strategically placed on the Bealach Mor, the great road to Munster. Partially destroyed by Cromwellians in 1647 it came into possession of the Cootes who leased it to the Elys. Richard Ely, financed by a hoard of gold found on his land, partially restored it in the 1830s. Ely was murdered by a tenant, and the castle was neglected. It was bought by the present owners in 1990 and restored. It has many very interesting features including a rare devilish Sheila-na-gig on a quoin at the west angle, and outstanding views from the battlements. Visitors are given a guided tour, and are made very welcome. Nearby is a very small church, said to be a converted schoolhouse. It is open to the public all year. It is beautifully kept, with tiny galleries, and a sexton's house at the back. North of the castle on Kyle Hill is the legendary Brehon's Chair. | |
| |
9. Forts (Historical) |
Go to ALL Forts (Historical) in Laois |
DunamaseCo. LaoisThe most celebrated and dramatic site in the county. It was purchased by the state from the estate of Lord Congleton about four years ago, and taken into its care and protection. Its name is from Dun Masg "the fort of Masg". An important fortress before the Normans, it was granted to Strongbow in 1170 by Diarmait Mac Murchada as part of his daughter Aoife's dowry, and became the Normans' most important fortification. Wiliam Earl Marshall, the most famous and honourable Norman, lived here in the early thirteenth century. In the fourteenth-century it was burned at least twice by the Irish. In 1609 the castle was granted to Donat O'Brien, Earl of Thomond. The violence of the 1640s enveloped it: In 1641 it was captured from O'Mordha | |
| |
10. Crosses (Historical) |
Go to ALL Crosses (Historical) in Laois |
Durrow High CrossCo. LaoisDurrow High Cross Durrow High Cross belonged to a monastery founded by St. Columba in 553, made possible by the generosity of Aedh, son of the local Prince Brendan. The monastery was plundered and burned a number of times. There is no trace left of the Monastery, but in the churchyard is a holy well and a High Cross - a 9th century relic which shows on one face: the rising of Christ, the sacrifice of Isaac and Christ with David and his harp and Christ with David killing a lion on the right. The second face shows: the soldiers guarding the tomb of Christ: two passion scenes and the Crucifixion. the third face shows Adam and Eve, and their son Cain slaying Abel. The fourth face shows: Zacharius, Elizabeth and John the Baptist. Another relic from the monastery is the Book of Durrow, which was written about 700 A.D. and may be seen in Trinity College, Dublin. The Crozier of Durrow is now preserved in the National Museum. | |
| |
12. Monastic Sites |
Go to ALL Monastic Sites in Laois |
AghaboeCo. LaoisThe site of St. Cannice's Monastery in the sixth-century. Plundered in 913, rebuilt in 1052, burnt I 1116, rebuilt in 1234, and again burnt in 1346. The nineteenth-century church on the site of the Augustinian Priory church retains thirteenth-century pieces and pieces from the nearby fourteenth-century Dominican Abbey. To the east is Aghaboe House (private), a recently restored early eighteenth-century house. In a field to the north is Adam de Hereford's square motte. | |
| |
13. Historic Hotels |
Go to ALL Historic Hotels in Laois |
Sorry we have no Historic hotels listings for Laois | |
| |
14. Stones (Historical) |
Go to ALL Stones (Historical) in Laois |
Rock of DunamaiseCo. LaoisMajestically towering over the Laois countryside is the Rock of Dunamaise - the remains of a celtic fortification. This is one of Ireland's most famous landmarks and has a long and diverse history attached to it. Aoife, daughter of the King of Leinster received it as a part of her dowry on her marriage to Strongbow. The fort was also part of the O'Moore territory. It is a gathering point for the O'Lalor Clan Rally which takes place in October. | |
| |
16. Abbeys |
Go to ALL Abbeys in Laois |
AghaboeCo. LaoisThe site of St. Cannice's Monastery in the sixth-century. Plundered in 913, rebuilt in 1052, burnt I 1116, rebuilt in 1234, and again burnt in 1346. The nineteenth-century church on the site of the Augustinian Priory church retains thirteenth-century pieces and pieces from the nearby fourteenth-century Dominican Abbey. To the east is Aghaboe House (private), a recently restored early eighteenth-century house. In a field to the north is Adam de Hereford's square motte. | |
| |
15. Churches (Historical) |
Go to ALL Churches (Historical) in Laois |
Ballaghmore CastleCo. LaoisBallaghmore Castle (1480) the Chief seat of the Mac Gillpatricks (Fitzpatricks) Lords of the Upper Ossory. Strategically placed on the Bealach Mor, the great road to Munster. Partially destroyed by Cromwellians in 1647 it came into possession of the Cootes who leased it to the Elys. Richard Ely, financed by a hoard of gold found on his land, partially restored it in the 1830s. Ely was murdered by a tenant, and the castle was neglected. It was bought by the present owners in 1990 and restored. It has many very interesting features including a rare devilish Sheila-na-gig on a quoin at the west angle, and outstanding views from the battlements. Visitors are given a guided tour, and are made very welcome. Nearby is a very small church, said to be a converted schoolhouse. It is open to the public all year. It is beautifully kept, with tiny galleries, and a sexton's house at the back. North of the castle on Kyle Hill is the legendary Brehon's Chair. | |
| |
16. Town Information |
Go to ALL Town Information in Laois |
BalinakillCo. LaoisAn example of a seventeenth-century market town. The ruins of Ballinakill Castle are of a late seventeenth-century castle built by the Dunnes (but never inhabited) on the site of one destroyed by Cromwellian troops under Fairfax. The configuration of streets around the large rectangular square is eighteenth century. The town's entrance from Abbeyleix is marked by two trees known as Toll Trees where a toll was paid by visitors to the town. The town had important fairs, a brewery, woollen and tanning factories. | |
| |
| << Laois Homepage | |
Privacy policy / Disclaimer / FAQs / Links / Contact us
Contact Reservations Toll-Free now at:
GoIreland.com operated by Gulliver Ireland, FEXCO Center, Langford Street, Killorglin, Co.Kerry, Ireland |