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Dunamase, County Laois
Photograph: Kent Clemmons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Leinster

County Laois

Laois

Known as The O'Moore County. For the O'Mores, lords of Laois, who fought the first plantation in Ireland for decades after their lands were confiscated in 1548 and the Fort of Leix was built where Portlaoise stands now.

Did you know? The Rock of Dunamase came to Strongbow as the dowry of Aoife MacMurrough — the marriage that opened Ireland to the Normans.
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Clans & surnames of Laois
Behan Ó Beacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Beachán — from beach, 'bee'” Brophy Ó Bróithe Gaelic sept · “descendant of Brothe” Delaney Ó Dubhshláine Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubhshláine, 'dark one of the Slaney'” Dempsey Ó Díomasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Díomasach, 'the proud'” Dooley Ó Dubhlaoich Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubhlaoch — dubh, 'dark', and laoch, 'warrior'” Doran Ó Deoráin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Deoradhán, 'the exile, the pilgrim'” Dowling Ó Dúnlaing Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dúnlang” Duff Ó Duibh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubh, 'the black' or 'dark'” Dunne Ó Doinn Gaelic sept · “descendant of Donn, 'the brown-haired' (or the god of the dead)” Fitzpatrick Mac Giolla Phádraig Gaelic dynasty (Norman-styled) · “son of the devotee of Patrick” Gorman Mac Gormáin Gaelic sept · “son of Gormán, 'the noble dark one'” Grace Grás Norman · “le gras — 'the stout'” Lalor Ó Leathlobhair Gaelic sept · “descendant of Leathlobhar” Moore Ó Mórdha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Mórdha, 'majestic'” Regan Ó Riagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Riagán, 'little king' (or 'impulsive')” Treacy Ó Treasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Treasach, 'the fierce, the warlike'”

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On the ground in Laois
  • Timahoe · round tower · complete · 29 m
  • 5 castles · Ballaghmore, County Laois, Cullahill Castle, Dunamase, Lea Castle, Tinnakill Castle

Every pin is placed by its documented coordinates. All the monuments of Ireland →

Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Laois?

Laois. Laois is one of the 12 counties of Leinster (Cúige Laighean).

Who ruled County Laois in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Kingdom of Leinster (Mac Murrough); by 1450, O'More & O'Connor Faly. The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Laois?

Names historically associated with Laois include Behan, Brophy, Delaney, Dempsey, Dooley, Doran, Dowling, Duff, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Laois

Free, from the holding institutions. How to begin: the six-step guide → · Spotted an error on this page? Suggest a correction.