Portarlington, Laois
Encyclopedia
The 1690s were marked by 15 or more Huguenot
families who were driven from France as religious refugees.Present day one of the Towns main thoroughfares is still named 'French Church Street', with its French church (1694) situated just off the market square.
The outskirts of the parish lies Lea Castle. The remnants of a great Norman castle built in 1260 by William de Vesey. It changed hands many times during its violent history, for example, it was burned by the O'Dempseys in 1284, rebuilt by de Vesey and given to the king, burned along with its town by the Scots army in 1315, burned by the O'Moores in 1346, captured by the O'Dempseys in 1422 and then lost to the Earl of Ormond in 1452, used by Silken Thomas Fitzgerald as a refuge in 1535, mortgaged to Sir Maurice Fitzgerald in 1556, and leased to Robert Bath in 1618. It was used by the confederates
as a mint in the 1640s rebellion until Cromwellians blew up the fortifications by stuffing the stairways with explosives. The castle was never used as a fortification again.
Trescon Mass Rock: Just outside the town in an area known as Trescon, a mass rock (Carraig an Aifrinn in Irish) can be found deep in a wooded area.
Trescon mass rock is a stone used in mid-seventeenth century Ireland as a location for Catholic worship. Isolated locations were sought to hold religious ceremony, as Catholic mass was a matter of difficulty and danger at the time as a result of both Cromwell's campaign against the Irish, and the Penal Laws of 1695, whereby discrimination and violence against Catholics was legal. Bishops were banished and priests had to register thereafter. In some cases priest hunters were used.
The rebellion of 1798 resulted in several local men from Lea castle, being apprehended and subsequently put to death by hanging in the town's market square.A memorial in the shape of a Celtic cross with the rebels details was commissioned and erected in 1976.The memorial stands close to the perimeter wall of the French church in the market square .
Imperial political democratic practices was responsible for turning Portarlington into a perfectly rotten Borough.The reason was to preserve the planters positions politically and economically. Below is an extract that shows that a corporation of 15 people were solely responsible for the persistent re-election of perfect strangers to parliament to represent the other 2800 people.
Prior to the legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland, this borough sent two Members to the Irish Parliament; since 1800 it has returned one to the Imperial Parliament, and so close has been this corporation, that for 50 years previous to the last general election, the nominee of the Dawson family, commonly a total stranger to the borough, was always returned without a contest. According to the Parliamentary Returns of May 1829 and June 1830, the number of electors, resident and non-resident, was 15; that is, all the members of the corporation. Inquiry held 21, 23, and 24 September 1833, before John Colhoun and Henry Baldwin.
Crossing the river northwards into Co Offaly ,the land becomes marshy and wet with extensive peat bogs.These peat bogs are broken by some glacial hills,one such hill is called 'Derryvilla' Hill.These hills have been used for gravel and sand production.
The southern end of the town is dominated visually by another glacial hill, know locally as 'Corrig'.
This hill is topped by a stone structure called the 'spire'. The spire was built the latter half of the 19th century. Next to the spire is the town's water supply reservoir. The reservoir uses the gravity afforded by the hill to supply water to the town below.
The land on the south side of town is well drained and rises slowly towards the hill of Corrig. This land is agriculturally productive and market farming is practiced here.
Views from all sides of Corrig can be impressive, with spectacular views of the midlands.
The County suffered badly during the Great Famine (1845–47); the county's population dropped from over 153,000 in 1841 to just over 73,000 in 1881.
Although figures for Portarlington are not readily available, it would be inconceivable to think that the town's population would have fared any better that those of the rest of the county.
Famine graveyards are known locally.
The population of Portarlington (and its environs) has risen by 50.1% from 2002 to 2006:
, being situated near a junction for services to the west (Galway
, Mayo
), the south (Cork
, Limerick
, Tralee) and the east (Dublin, Kildare
). Portarlington halt
opened on 26 June 1847.
Due to the excellent rail service there is a very limited road public transport system. Intercity buses are by private operators and only two to date (October 2007) operate some sort of limited service. There is a local-link town service linking Portarlington with Portlaoise and also with Tullamore
.
In recent years the towns location in relation to Dublin coupled with its railways services, assisted the town to grow, by attracting many people to relocate. This growth in population was a welcomed change from the near population stagnation suffered throughout Ireland for generations. However, recent developments locally and nationally has resulted in the unemployment levels rapidly rising, with ever lengthening dole queues , with recent reprts in The Leinster Express on th 11 August 2010, showing 3,406 people signing on the dole in Portarlington.
Major employers are a shadow of their former selves, Electricity generation at the local power station ended in the early 1990s.The cooling tower and turbine hall have since been demolished.
Industrialised peat production within the semi-state company 'Bord Na Mona' has been decimated.
The production of jewellery and cosmetics ended with the demise of 'Avon' Arlington on the Canal Road. The imposing redbrick Avon factory remains as an empty hulk.
Local Siac Butlers Steel located on the Lea Road is also undergoing serious decline, brought about by the demise of the construction industry.
Flour production still takes place in Odlum's mill.
Situated within the Catholic Club, Main Street Portarlington.
The museum is small but holds many different exhibits ranging from local memorabilia and including a Bronze Age Celtic dagger.
The town is probably most famous for its appearance in the 1993 Irish film 'Into the West
', a touching story about a family from Ireland's Travelling community. Portarlington, its Savoy cinema (now closed) and the nearby Lea Castle appear in the film. The town is also mentioned in Christy Moore's song Welcome to the cabaret, featured on his 1994 album 'Christy live at the Point'.
An annual French Festival (Festival Francais de Portarlington)is celebrated in Summertime July 15 - 17. Although this has been dormant for the last 7 years some locals have gotten together to revive the lost festival. The festival will be a weekend with a wide range of entertainment to suit all interests with music, dance, sport, history, food, a parade led by the festival Queen which includes local businesses, clubs, groups and schools. Festival goers can obtain many delights at the Town Market such as cheeses, pastries, soaps, accessories to name but a few. A famous French delicacy otherwise known as "Escargot" can be enjoyed by all who take part in the festivals National Snail Eating Championships or "Championnats d'escargots National Eating". Enjoy music and dance to celebrate the French heritage. Some more of the entertainment that will be provided over the weekend includes a carnival, arts & crafts, face painters, bouncing castles and much more.
Outdoor pursuits of angling and hunting are available.
Cuisine in the town is varied with pub grub, Chinese, Indian and several fast food restaurants .
The town has a nightclub and many bars, and live traditional music is performed by the Portarlington Comhaltas Ceoltóirí na nÓg.
Extensive architectural history ranging from the Middle Ages
to Huguenot
and Georgian
houses.
is sister city to: Arlington
, Massachusetts
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
families who were driven from France as religious refugees.Present day one of the Towns main thoroughfares is still named 'French Church Street', with its French church (1694) situated just off the market square.
The outskirts of the parish lies Lea Castle. The remnants of a great Norman castle built in 1260 by William de Vesey. It changed hands many times during its violent history, for example, it was burned by the O'Dempseys in 1284, rebuilt by de Vesey and given to the king, burned along with its town by the Scots army in 1315, burned by the O'Moores in 1346, captured by the O'Dempseys in 1422 and then lost to the Earl of Ormond in 1452, used by Silken Thomas Fitzgerald as a refuge in 1535, mortgaged to Sir Maurice Fitzgerald in 1556, and leased to Robert Bath in 1618. It was used by the confederates
Irish Confederation
The Irish Confederation was an Irish nationalist independence movement, established on 13 January 1847 by members of the Young Ireland movement who had seceded from Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association. Historian T. W...
as a mint in the 1640s rebellion until Cromwellians blew up the fortifications by stuffing the stairways with explosives. The castle was never used as a fortification again.
Trescon Mass Rock: Just outside the town in an area known as Trescon, a mass rock (Carraig an Aifrinn in Irish) can be found deep in a wooded area.
Trescon mass rock is a stone used in mid-seventeenth century Ireland as a location for Catholic worship. Isolated locations were sought to hold religious ceremony, as Catholic mass was a matter of difficulty and danger at the time as a result of both Cromwell's campaign against the Irish, and the Penal Laws of 1695, whereby discrimination and violence against Catholics was legal. Bishops were banished and priests had to register thereafter. In some cases priest hunters were used.
The rebellion of 1798 resulted in several local men from Lea castle, being apprehended and subsequently put to death by hanging in the town's market square.A memorial in the shape of a Celtic cross with the rebels details was commissioned and erected in 1976.The memorial stands close to the perimeter wall of the French church in the market square .
Imperial political democratic practices was responsible for turning Portarlington into a perfectly rotten Borough.The reason was to preserve the planters positions politically and economically. Below is an extract that shows that a corporation of 15 people were solely responsible for the persistent re-election of perfect strangers to parliament to represent the other 2800 people.
Prior to the legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland, this borough sent two Members to the Irish Parliament; since 1800 it has returned one to the Imperial Parliament, and so close has been this corporation, that for 50 years previous to the last general election, the nominee of the Dawson family, commonly a total stranger to the borough, was always returned without a contest. According to the Parliamentary Returns of May 1829 and June 1830, the number of electors, resident and non-resident, was 15; that is, all the members of the corporation. Inquiry held 21, 23, and 24 September 1833, before John Colhoun and Henry Baldwin.
Geography
Portarlington is split by the River Barrow, with County Offaly on the north bank and County Laois on the South Bank.The town is mostly flat, with some slight street undulations.The town was partially built on the river's flood plain. Better drainage recently has resulted in fewer floodings to areas close to the town.Crossing the river northwards into Co Offaly ,the land becomes marshy and wet with extensive peat bogs.These peat bogs are broken by some glacial hills,one such hill is called 'Derryvilla' Hill.These hills have been used for gravel and sand production.
The southern end of the town is dominated visually by another glacial hill, know locally as 'Corrig'.
This hill is topped by a stone structure called the 'spire'. The spire was built the latter half of the 19th century. Next to the spire is the town's water supply reservoir. The reservoir uses the gravity afforded by the hill to supply water to the town below.
The land on the south side of town is well drained and rises slowly towards the hill of Corrig. This land is agriculturally productive and market farming is practiced here.
Views from all sides of Corrig can be impressive, with spectacular views of the midlands.
Demographics
1841–1881, the population of Laoise, which was then called the Queens County halved from mass emigration and starvation, in spite of the fact that Co. Laoise and most other counties increased food production throughout the period.The County suffered badly during the Great Famine (1845–47); the county's population dropped from over 153,000 in 1841 to just over 73,000 in 1881.
Although figures for Portarlington are not readily available, it would be inconceivable to think that the town's population would have fared any better that those of the rest of the county.
Famine graveyards are known locally.
The population of Portarlington (and its environs) has risen by 50.1% from 2002 to 2006:
- 1821 ...2877
- 1831 ...3091
- 1991 ...3221
- 2002 ... 4001
- 2006 ...
Transport
Portarlington is a focal point of the Irish railway networkRail transport in Ireland
Rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...
, being situated near a junction for services to the west (Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
), the south (Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Tralee) and the east (Dublin, Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
). Portarlington halt
Portarlington halt
Portarlington station is a railway station situated just outside Portarlington, County Laois, Ireland on the Dublin-Cork Main Line. It is the branching-off point for services to Galway, Ballina, and Westport. The former GS&WR route to Athlone diverges as the west end of the station via a single...
opened on 26 June 1847.
Due to the excellent rail service there is a very limited road public transport system. Intercity buses are by private operators and only two to date (October 2007) operate some sort of limited service. There is a local-link town service linking Portarlington with Portlaoise and also with Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
.
Commerce
The local economy and commerce has been dominated by the agricultural sector for many generations.In recent years the towns location in relation to Dublin coupled with its railways services, assisted the town to grow, by attracting many people to relocate. This growth in population was a welcomed change from the near population stagnation suffered throughout Ireland for generations. However, recent developments locally and nationally has resulted in the unemployment levels rapidly rising, with ever lengthening dole queues , with recent reprts in The Leinster Express on th 11 August 2010, showing 3,406 people signing on the dole in Portarlington.
Major employers are a shadow of their former selves, Electricity generation at the local power station ended in the early 1990s.The cooling tower and turbine hall have since been demolished.
Industrialised peat production within the semi-state company 'Bord Na Mona' has been decimated.
The production of jewellery and cosmetics ended with the demise of 'Avon' Arlington on the Canal Road. The imposing redbrick Avon factory remains as an empty hulk.
Local Siac Butlers Steel located on the Lea Road is also undergoing serious decline, brought about by the demise of the construction industry.
Flour production still takes place in Odlum's mill.
Sport
| Club | Sport | League | Venue | Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gracefield | Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders... |
Senior Football Championship | Gracefield | 1920 |
| Portarlington Portarlington GAA Portarlington GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club in Portarlington, County Laois, Ireland.The club grounds are called McCann Park and club colours are maroon jerseys with a green sash and white shorts.... |
Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders... |
Senior Football Championship | McCann Park | 1893 |
| Portarlington Mud Dogs | American Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
[I.A.F.L.] | Dog Pound | 2007 |
| Gracefield FC | Soccer | [CCFL] | Botley Lane | 2009 |
| Portarlington RFC Portarlington RFC Portarlington RFC is an Irish rugby team based in Portarlington, County Laois. They play in Division Two of the Leinster League. The club colors are maroon and white.-References:*... |
Rugby Union Rugby union Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand... |
Leinster League Leinster League The Leinster League is the second tier of rugby in Leinster, behind the Leinster Senior League. It was previously known as the RE/MAX Leinster League and consists of three divisions.-History:... |
Lea Road | 1974 |
| Solent Kestrels | Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
Superleague Superleague (Ireland) The Superleague is the top tier men's basketball league in Ireland. 10 clubs compete in 2 conferences, North & South with 5 teams in each conference. The competition is currently sponsored by Nivea for men, having previously been sponsored by ESB. The current champions are UCC Demons who beat Dart... |
Killenard Hall | 1996 |
| Arlington F.C. | Soccer | CCFL | Castle Park | 967 |
| Portarlington Tennis Club | Tennis Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... |
Laois League Division 2 Tennis Ireland Tennis Ireland is the governing body for Tennis for the whole of Ireland with responsibilities for clubs and competitions. Tennis Ireland is divided into four Branches corresponding to the four Provinces of Ireland with its national headquarters located on the campus of Dublin City... |
Station Road | 1954 |
| Heritage Golf Club | Golf Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
Killenard | |
| Garryhinch Golf Club | Golf Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
Mountmellick | 1908 |
| Portarlington Tae Kwon Do Club | Tae Kwon Do | N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
Canal Road | |
| Port Coquitlam & District Club | Fishing Fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping.... & Hunting Hunting Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
Coast Meridian | 1956 |
Culture
The peoples Museum.Situated within the Catholic Club, Main Street Portarlington.
The museum is small but holds many different exhibits ranging from local memorabilia and including a Bronze Age Celtic dagger.
The town is probably most famous for its appearance in the 1993 Irish film 'Into the West
Into the West (film)
Into the West is a 1992 Irish fantasy film about Irish Travellers, directed by Mike Newell and written by Jim Sheridan.The film has received several awards for Best Film, Best European Film, and Outstanding Family Foreign Film.-Synopsis:...
', a touching story about a family from Ireland's Travelling community. Portarlington, its Savoy cinema (now closed) and the nearby Lea Castle appear in the film. The town is also mentioned in Christy Moore's song Welcome to the cabaret, featured on his 1994 album 'Christy live at the Point'.
An annual French Festival (Festival Francais de Portarlington)is celebrated in Summertime July 15 - 17. Although this has been dormant for the last 7 years some locals have gotten together to revive the lost festival. The festival will be a weekend with a wide range of entertainment to suit all interests with music, dance, sport, history, food, a parade led by the festival Queen which includes local businesses, clubs, groups and schools. Festival goers can obtain many delights at the Town Market such as cheeses, pastries, soaps, accessories to name but a few. A famous French delicacy otherwise known as "Escargot" can be enjoyed by all who take part in the festivals National Snail Eating Championships or "Championnats d'escargots National Eating". Enjoy music and dance to celebrate the French heritage. Some more of the entertainment that will be provided over the weekend includes a carnival, arts & crafts, face painters, bouncing castles and much more.
Outdoor pursuits of angling and hunting are available.
Cuisine in the town is varied with pub grub, Chinese, Indian and several fast food restaurants .
The town has a nightclub and many bars, and live traditional music is performed by the Portarlington Comhaltas Ceoltóirí na nÓg.
Extensive architectural history ranging from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
to Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
and Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
houses.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Portarlington, as designated by Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
is sister city to: Arlington
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, six miles northwest of Boston. The population was 42,844 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Market Houses in IrelandMarket Houses in the Republic of IrelandMarket houses are a notable feature of many Irish towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper floor was...