Crime and Punishment in Queen’s County: Agrarian Crime of the 1830s and Famine Crime 1845 – 1849

Crime and Punishment in Queen’s County: Agrarian Crime of the 1830s and Famine Crime 1845–1849 During the famine, there was widespread fear that the suffering of famine victims would erupt into the violent crime that would threaten property and property owners. There was the widespread talk of insurrection and outrage among resident landlords, merchants and […]

Queen’s County 1919 – 1923: Attacks on Big Houses and Protestant Landowners

Queen’s County 1919 – 1923: Attacks on Big Houses and Protestant Landowners   Terence Dooley, in his book ‘The Decline of the Big House in Ireland’, wrote that between 1919 and 1923 ‘landlords, largely because of their socio-political, economic and religious backgrounds, were to suffer outrage and intimidation on a scale the like of which […]

The History of The Maltings, Portlaoise.

The History of The Maltings, Portlaoise. By Mervyn McGahey The Maltings in Portlaoise was established in 1866 by John Wrafter, Clonaslee, Licensed Maltster. This is according to the stone over one of the main entrances. The site is located at Coote Street, Portlaoise and encompasses approximately 6.5 statute acres. There are indications that malting had […]

St. Fiacc of Sleaty, Co. Laois

St. Fiacc of Sleaty, Co. Laois. By Seán Murray Nestled on a low hillock approximately 500m west of the River Barrow, near Carlow Town, is the site of St. Fiacc’s monastery, in the townland of Sleaty or Sleibtach (House near the mountains) County Laois. Fiacc was undoubtedly a highly influential figure during the period of […]

Laois Heritage Society 2019