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Oliver J. Flanagan by Michael Loughman
Oliver J. Flanagan was for many years a divisive, controversial and at times eccentric figure in Irish politics. He was amongst the longest-serving T.D.s in the history of the state serving continuously from 1943 until 1987 for the Laois-Offaly constituency and for most of this period he was a member of Fine Gael. During his tenure in Dáil Éireann, he was a champion of social conservatism and was well known for his disputable remarks. This was perhaps best reflected in his infamous assertion in 1967 that ‘there was no sex in Ireland before television’. But although comments such as this were the subject of ridicule, Flanagan’s comments in his maiden…
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Vicarstown Walk and Talk
Natural & Built Heritage Walk on the Grand Canal Laois Meeting at Crean’s Pub Vicarstown at 2 pm – 4.30pm on Saturday 31st. We will walk from the Grattan Aqueduct to the Camac Aqueduct approximately 3km. Along the way, we encourage people to take photographs of plants, wildlife and built heritage on your mobiles or bring a camera if you have one. Some of these photos will be digitally designed for our canal signage project in 2020. A walk and talk on the built, cultural and natural heritage of the Canal which was completed in 1791. We will examine some of the stories, architecture, and plants which we find along…
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THE GAS MEN OF MARYBOROUGH
THE GAS MEN OF MARYBOROUGH by John Dunne On the evening of Thursday, January 21, 1858, the town of Maryborough, for the very first time, was lit by gas. But why did this landmark event in the town’s history come as a surprise to the very Company set up to bring gas to the town? Let’s go back a few years to when, so to speak, the first flame was lit… The first piped-gas street lamps appeared in Dublin in 1825. Almost thirty years later, in November 1854, solicitor Thomas Turpin proposed the setting up of a joint stock company for the erection of a gasometer. The cost, including pipes…
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Cashel Man. A recent discovery of a Bog Body in Co. Laois. By Sean Murray
Cashel Man-A recent discovery of a Bog Body in Co. Laois by Sean Murray Remarkable Find On Wednesday 10th of August 2011, a remarkable find was uncovered on a bog in Co. Laois. A bog body was unearthed during peat milling at Cashel bog between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix by Jason Phelan, a Bord Na Mona worker. After over two years of analysis, it was revealed that the body was in fact over 4000 years old dating to the Early Bronze Age Period in Ireland. The news made national and international headlines, as it was clear that the find on this Laois Bog was the oldest fleshed bog body ever found…
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St. Fiacc of Sleaty, Co. Laois
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Mountmellick Lace. By Bridie Dunne
Mountmellick Lace By Bridie Dunne Since its establishment the M.D.A. has been involved in promoting and conserving the local heritage. Having received a Millennium Recognition Award funded through Area Development Management it was decided to build a museum. Further funding from Laois LEADER Rural Development Co. Ltd. was received and the Mountmellick Museum is now complete. The main focus of Mountmellick museum is to conserve and display original pieces of Mountmellick Work and to protect the memory of Mountmellick’s rich Quaker industrial past. The white embroidery characteristic of Mountmellick Work is the only form of embroidery in the nineteenth century, which can claim to be entirely Irish in origin and design. Its importance in social history cannot be overlooked. Training…
