Laois Folk Tales


Book Description

From miracle-working saints and shape-shifting witches to silent ghosts and wailing banshees, County Laois is teeming with folk tales and a selection of the best, drawn from historical sources and interviews, have been brought to life here by storyteller by Nuala Hayes. This book will take you on a journey through the county's varied landscape, from the rugged Slieve Bloom Mountains to its fertile plains, with tales of talking cats, bewitched butter, fairy changelings and holy fish. On the way you will meet characters like the great warrior Conall Cearnach, from whom the people of Laois are said to be descended; Moll Anthony, the wisewoman of the Red Hills; and the White Lady said to haunt Durrow Castle. Richly illustrated by internationally renowned artist Rita Duffy, these enchanting stories can be enjoyed and shared time and again.




The Archaeology of Prehistoric Burnt Mounds in Ireland


Book Description

This book details the archaeology of burnt mounds (fulachtaí fia) in Ireland, one of the most frequent and under researched prehistoric site types in the country. It presents a re-evaluation of the pyrolithic phenomenon in light of some 1000 excavated burnt mounds.




Laois


Book Description




Irish Elections 1948-77: Results and Analysis


Book Description

This book is the second in the series Sources for the Study of Irish Politics, which is produced by the Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI). The aim of the PSAI is to promote the professional study of politics in and of Ireland, and the aim of the series is to make more widely available material that is at present difficult to obtain. Building on its predecessor Irish Elections 1922-44: Results and Analysis (1993), this volume assembles the full results of all elections to Dáil Éireann from 1948 to 1977. The book also contains analysis of each election, summaries of votes, percentages and seats for each election, lists of TDs (members of parliament) elected at each election, information on defeated TDs and women TDs, analysis of tranfer patterns, members of govenrment appointed after each election, and the full results of all by-elections held in the period. It also provides summary results of the nine general elections of the period 1981-2007, along with a comprehensive list of TDs 1922-2008. Elections to Dáil Éireann are held under the PR-STV (single tranferable vote) electoral system, and this volume provides a fascinating account of PR-STV in operation as well as constituting an indispensble record of Irish political history over the middle years of the independent state.







Mapping Laois from the 16th to the 21st Century


Book Description

In 'Mapping Laois from the 16th to the 21st century', Arnold Horner reviews and seeks to provide context for the extraordinarily rich diversity of manuscript and printed maps that record the changing political, economic and social circumstances of an Irish county over nearly five centuries. The flavour of these varied, informative and often colourful maps is captured in over 400 illustrations, among which are reproductions of six early county maps and a unique assemblage of images from the Ordnance Survey ?fair plans? of c. 1838?40. 0With a map record that stretches back more than 450 years, County Laois (formerly Leix and Laoighis, and between 1556 and 1920 officially known as Queen?s County) has a distinguished place in the history of cartography in Ireland. This book explores that record, from the first map of c. 1560, covering the eastern part of the county, through to the present century. The aim here is to draw attention to the extent, variety and interest of the maps made during a period of major transformation across the county?a period when far-reaching changes in landownership and settlement were accompanied by significant environmental modifications.







Laois


Book Description

Laois is officially known as county Leix.




The Planters of Luggacurran, County Laois


Book Description

In late March 1922, a group of armed men forcibly evicted two protestant farmers from their homes at Luggacurran, Queen's County. The evictions marked the beginning of a month long campaign of violence targeting local protestant farmers, which was only brought to an end through the intervention of the provisional government. The events at Luggacurran are often seen as an example of the disorder and sectarian violence that characterised the Irish civil war, yet communal tensions had existed in the region for decades prior to the revolutionary period. This study considers the experiences of the Luggacurran protestants from their arrival in the area to the creation of the Irish Free State, focusing in particular on the issues of land and religion. As this study reveals, the relationship that existed between the protestants and the rest of the community was complex, and the violence that occurred at Luggacurran in the spring of 1922 was motivated by more than religious differences.




From Laois to Kerry


Book Description

Nilsson Heritage Prizewinner, Listowel Writers Week, May 2017 This book reviews the first English Plantation in Irish History, that of County Laois. It tells the story of how the Clans or Septs of Laois (Moores, Kellys, Lawlors, Dowlings, Dorans, McEvoys O'Devoys or Deevys or Dees) were transplanted to County Kerry and discusses the continued presence of their descendants in Kerry through the centuries to the present time. As well as those with an interest in Irish History the book will appeal to genealogists with an interest in Irish Clans. Book Review Extracts "From Laois to Kerry is a surprisingly engaging book and will appeal to those with an interest in the family names, in the history of Laois and Kerry and in Tudor Ireland" Archaeology Ireland, Summer 2017 "From Laois to Kerry is a lively insight into the largely unknown but fascinating story of the Seven Septs of Laois and their transplantation to Kerry" Paul Clements, Irish Times 22nd July 2017 "This study of the Crosbies and their tenants from Co. Laois is a valuable contribution to the local history of Kerry, and will be of particular interest to those bearing the surnames of the Seven Septs of O'Moore county (Laois)." J. Anthony Gaughan, The Irish Catholic, Nov. 2016 "Keane makes a strong case that this plantation (of Laois) was in fact a trial run for the eventual plantation of Ireland, in particular, of course, Ulster. One can't help but think that Keane's work could be turned into a popular seller" Bookworm, History Ireland, January/February 2017