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3 unusual facts about County Laois


Ashfield Gales

The Ashfield Gales consisted of six generations of a Gale family who owned the Ashfield estate in Killabban Parish, Queens County, Ireland (subsequently renamed County Laois) from the mid-17th Century until 1851.

Emo, Ontario

Emo's first reeve was Alexander Luttrell, an Irishman who named the town after a namesake village in Ireland near where he was born.

Odlums Group

In the early 20th century, the company operated as many as nine mills but consolidation reduced that number to the current three flour mills in Dublin, Cork, and Portarlington and an oatmeal mill in Sallins.


Abbán

He was associated, first and foremost, with Mag Arnaide (Moyarney or Adamstown, near New Ross, Co. Wexford) and with Cell Abbáin (Killabban, County Laois).

Billy Timmins

He was educated at Patrician College, Ballyfin, County Laois; and University College Galway where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Legal Science, and at the Military College, Curragh.

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh

In October 2013 she left her husband and is now seeing County Laois native Albert Reid, they are currently writing a new album based on the serial killer Jack the Ripper the album will be released in spring 2014 titled Saucy Jack.

Dublin–Westport/Galway railway line

The route to Westport and Galway branches away from the main line at Portarlington in County Laois and continues as far as Athlone in County Westmeath, where it splits again, with one branch to Westport and the other to Galway.

Gerald Fitzgerald, Lord of Offaly

In 1199, though receiving King John's letters of protection, he was ordered to "do right" to Maurice Fitzphilip for the lands of 'Gessil and Lega' (possibly Geashill; maybe 'Lega' is in County Laois), that he had taken from Maurice.

Poë-Domvile baronets

The Poë, later Poë-Domvile Baronetcy, of Heywood in the Parish of Ballinakill in Queen's County, was a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.

The Crumlin-Drimnagh feud

Gerard Eglington, 27, was shot dead in front of his 11 year old step-daughter and infant son in Portarlington,County Laois, on the 24th of September 2012 after a gunman entered his home.


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