Stradbally (Irish: An Sráidbhaile[1]) is a barony in County Laois (formerly called Queen's County or County Leix), Ireland.[2][3]
Stradbally
An Sráidbhaile (Irish) | |
|---|---|
 The ancient Magh Druchtain (plain of sweetness) | |
 Barony map of Queen's County, 1900; Stradbally is orange, in the east. | |
| Sovereign state | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Laois |
| Area | |
| • Total | 112.89 km2 (43.56 sq mi) |
Etymology edit
Stradbally barony is named after the town of Stradbally (literally meaning "one-street town").
Geography edit
Stradbally is located in eastern County Laois, bounded to the south by Luggacurren, to the east by the River Barrow and to the west by Dunamase.[4]
History edit
Stradbally barony was anciently known as Magh Druchtain ("plain of sweetness") and was ruled by a sept of the Ó Ceallaigh.[5] It was also called Farran-O'Kelly ("men of O'Kelly").[6] According to the Annals of the Four Masters, in 1394, James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond "mustered a force, and marched into Leinster to spoil it; and he burned and spoiled Gailine, and the territory of O'Kelly of Magh Druchtain, and then returned home."[7]
It is referred to in the topographical poem Tuilleadh feasa ar Éirinn óigh (Giolla na Naomh Ó hUidhrín, d. 1420):
Ós Muigh Drúchtain an dúin ghil
Ó Ceallaigh an chláir éignigh
as samhail mín an mhuighe
re Tír ttaraidh tTarrnguire.
("Over Magh-Druchtain of the fair fortress is Ó Ceallaigh of the salmon-full river, Similar is the smooth surface of the plain to the fruitful land of promise.")[8][9]
Ballyduff was the seat of the Cenél Crimthann, a branch of the Ó hIndreadhain (O'Hourihan).[10]
After the Laois-Offaly Plantation, Stradbally came to Francis Cosby and was for centuries owned by the Cosby family, including William Cosby and Dudley Cosby, 1st Baron Sydney.[citation needed]
List of settlements edit
Below is a list of settlements in Stradbally barony:
References edit
- ^ "An Sráidbhaile/Stradbally". Logainm.ie.
- ^ Commission, Irish Manuscripts; Simington, Robert C. (8 July 1961). "The Civil Survey. A.D. 1654-1656: Miscellanea". Stationery Office – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland: Adapted to the New Poor-law, Franchise, Municipal and Ecclesiastical Arrangements, and Compiled with a Special Reference to the Lines of Railroad and Canal Communication, as Existing in 1814-45". A. Fullarton and Company. 8 July 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Queen's County (Laois)". www.libraryireland.com.
- ^ "Holdings: Tales from Magh Druchtain". catalogue.nli.ie. Tony Scully. 2007. ISBN 9780955792700.
- ^ "Feranokelle - Google Search". www.google.ie.
- ^ "Part 3 of Annals of the Four Masters". celt.ucc.ie.
- ^ Woulfe, Patrick. "Ó Ceallaigh - Irish Names and Surnames". www.libraryireland.com.
- ^ "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla-na-naomh O'Huidhrin: Edited in the original Irish from MSS. in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, with translation, notes, and introductory dissertations, by John O'Donovan". A. Thom. 8 July 1862 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Duan - Duglas". Celtic Heritage. Rainbowfarms Australia. 12 March 2021. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Coote, Sir Charles (8 July 2018). "General View of the Agriculture and Manufactures of the Queen's County: With Observations on the Means of Their Improvement, Drawn Up in the Year 1801 : for the Consideration, and Under the Direction of the Dublin Society". Graisberry & Campbell – via Google Books.