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Courthouse in Portlaoise
The Courthouse hosted the inaugural meeting of the Queen's County Council in 1899.
Courtesy of the Family of the Late Terry Redmond
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Courthouse in Portlaoise -
Clonenagh, Mountrath
Clonenagh, originally called Cluainadnach, is a very remote antiquity. A monastery was founded here by St. Fintan, who became its first Abbot. He was succeeded by St. Columba, who died in 548.
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Clonenagh, Mountrath -
Dr. Bartholomew Mosse (1712 - 1759)
Dr. Bartholomew Mosse was born in Annefield House, Dublin Road, Portlaoise in 1712. He was the son of Rev. Thomas Mosse, Rector of Maryborough.
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Dr. Bartholomew Mosse (1712 - 1759) -
Ballyfin House Estate
The estate surrounding Ballyfin House has over 600 acres of park and woodland, with extensive pleasure grounds including a fountain and a lake. The lake was constucted in the mid-18th century, and covers nearly 30 acres.
Courtesy of Laois County Library
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Ballyfin House Estate -
Commemorative Plaque to Dr. Bartholomew Mosse
This commemorative plaque is situated at Annefield House, Portlaoise - the birthplace of Dr. Bartholomew Mosse. This plaque was erected by the Laois Heritage Society.
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Commemorative Plaque to Dr. Bartholomew Mosse -
Convent Garden, Portlaoise
Peter Brennan gave his daughter, Anna, who wished to join the Presentation Order, a house and the garden and field that went with it. These consequently became the property of the Order as a result of Anna's Act of Profession.
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Convent Garden, Portlaoise -
Drawing of Dunamase Castle from 1792
Dunamase (Dun Masc - "Fort of Masc") was an ideal location for a defensive stronghold, and was likely to have been a focus for settlement throughout pre-history. It is claimed by some sources to be the "Dunum" marked on Ptolemy's second century map of Ireland.
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Drawing of Dunamase Castle from 1792 -
Granstown Manor, Ballacolla
Granstown Manor in Ballacolla, near Rathdowney, was built in around 1800 by the Drought family, who named it Oldglass House. Granstown Manor later became the home of Lord Castletown.
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Granstown Manor, Ballacolla -
Donaghmore Workhouse, Rathdowney
The Donaghmore Workhouse was built to house the most desperate people of county Laois. Mandated by the Poor Law Relief Act of 1838, the Workhouse was paid for by a tax on local property owners.
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Donaghmore Workhouse, Rathdowney -
Mountmellick Lace Floral Design
It is believed that the flora and fauna on the banks of the Owenass river in Mountmellick acted as a great source of inspiration for the designs of the creator and developer of the craft - Joanna Carter.
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Mountmellick Lace Floral Design -
Grattan Street, Portlaoise
Grattan Street, Portlaoise was originally known as Quality Row.
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Grattan Street, Portlaoise -
French Church, Portarlington
The "Loome House," which was used for weaving, was the largest single room in Portarlington and was spacious enough to hold a congregation. This site was chosen for the "French Church."
Courtesy of Maeve Robinson
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French Church, Portarlington -
List of Huguenot Ministers of the French Church from 1696 to 1885
This is a list of the Huguenot Ministers who served the French Church in Portarlington between 1696 and 1885.
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List of Huguenot Ministers of the French Church from 1696 to 1885 -
Interior View of French Church, Portarlington
Until 1702 worship in the French Church followed Calvinist lines. The church elders were a powerful group here and participated in most decisions. It appears that Communion was only available 4 times a year in the early times. This was on Easter Sunday, the Sunday after Midsummer Day, the Sunday after Michelmas Day and the Sunday after Christmas Day. Records from the late-1700s show an increase in frequency with costs for bread and wine appearing more regularly.
Courtesy of Maeve Robinson
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Interior View of French Church, Portarlington -
Interior of Lea Castle
In 1650 Lea Castle was taken by Hewson and dismantled; the confused masses of towers and broken arches show the havoc made.
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Interior of Lea Castle -
Lord Galway
The Huguenot's patron was Henri Massue, Marquis de Ruvigny, was regarded as the leader of the French refugees in England and Ireland. He became Lord Galway, but also styled himself Baron Portarlington.
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Lord Galway -
Ms. Helen Roe (1895 - 1988)
Ms. Helen Roe was born in Mountrath in 1895. She was educated in Mountrath Primary School, the Preston School in Abbeyleix and later at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1929 she became the first County Librarian in Laois. She became a leading member of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland and in 1965 she had the honour of being the first woman to be elected President of this society. Helen Roe died in 1988 and is buried in Mountrath, Co. Laois.
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Ms. Helen Roe (1895 - 1988) -
Lea Castle, Portarlington
Lea Castle was built in about 1260; only one bastion of four now remains. The North side was protected by the river Barrow.
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Lea Castle, Portarlington -
List of Names of the Privates on the War Memorial in Portlaoise
List of names of the Privates on the War Memorial in Portlaoise.
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List of Names of the Privates on the War Memorial in Portlaoise -
Lower Main Street, Portlaoise
The picture was taken at the turn of the twentieth century. The chief business of Portlaoise took place on the Main Street.
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Lower Main Street, Portlaoise -
Mr. Thomas Prior (1680 - 1751)
Mr. Thomas Prior was born in Rathdowney in 1680 into a farming background. He decided to set up an organisation to promote agriculture and proper agrarian practices. This organisation later became the Royal Dublin Society. He died in 1751 and is buried in Rathdowney.
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Mr. Thomas Prior (1680 - 1751) -
Marian Shrine, Portlaoise
The Marian Shrine is situated on the site of the former Town Hall.
Courtesy of Michael Scully Portarlington
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Marian Shrine, Portlaoise -
Rock of Dunamase
This is one of the most superbly and strategically sighted castles in the country. It was originally used as a fort in early-Christian times.
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Rock of Dunamase -
Monument to Colonel James Fitzmaurice in Portlaoise
This monument depicts the tail of the Junkers W33 aircraft that was flown across the Atlantic Ocean with Colonel James Fitzmaurice as co-pilot.
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Monument to Colonel James Fitzmaurice in Portlaoise -
Panoramic View of the Rock of Dunamase
Dunamase is an insulated rock of limestone, rising from the centre of the great plain, or Heath of Maryborough, in county Laois. It is situated 4 miles East of the town of Portlaoise and was originally the residence of the O'Mores.
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Panoramic View of the Rock of Dunamase -
Plaque to the Very Rev. John Canon O'Hanlon, M.R.I.A
This plaque was erected to the memory of the Very Rev. John Canon O'Hanlon, Parish Priest of Sandymount, by his Parishioners and friends to record their sorrow for his loss.
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Plaque to the Very Rev. John Canon O'Hanlon, M.R.I.A -
Portlaoise Town Hall
Portlaoise Town Hall was built circa 1880 on the site of the old Market House, and stood in the Market Square. It was burned in 1945.
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Portlaoise Town Hall -
Portlaoise Courthouse Detail
The Courthouse in Portlaoise was built in 1782 and was designed by Sir Richard Morrison.
Courtesy of the Family of the Late Terry Redmond
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Portlaoise Courthouse Detail -
Portrait of the Very Rev. John Canon O'Hanlon
A beautiful portrait of a great priest and author, the Very Rev. John Canon O'Hanlon, who was born in Stradbally in 1821 and died in 1905.
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Portrait of the Very Rev. John Canon O'Hanlon -
Oakvale Monastery, Stradbally
Oakvale, or Oughval, Monastery is but a short distance outside the town of Stradbally on the Carlow Road.
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Oakvale Monastery, Stradbally -
Perry's Brewery, Rathdowney
Messrs Robert Perry & Son Limited were registered as a limited company in 1877, but the brewery in Rathdowney dates back to the early-1800s when it was started by the Perry family.
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Perry's Brewery, Rathdowney -
Portlaoise Railway Station Platform
Portlaoise (Maryborough) Railway Station became a Junction in 1867, when the Waterford & Kilkenny Railway extended its line northwards through Abbeyleix, following the route of the Kilkenny Junction Railway.
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Portlaoise Railway Station Platform