- William Bulfin (1864-1910) Born in Derrinlough, near Birr (then in Queen’s County, now Laois), Bulfin was a journalist and writer best known for Rambles in Éirinn (1907), a travelogue celebrating Ireland’s landscapes and culture. His nationalist writings, published in United Irishman and Sinn Féin, promoted Irish identity, reflecting his Laois roots and experiences in Argentina.
- John Keegan (1816-1849) Born in Killeaney, near Shanahoe, Keegan was a poet and storyteller whose works, like “Caoch the Piper” and “The Fairy Stricken,” captured rural Laois life and Irish folklore. Published in newspapers like the Nation, his poetry and prose reflected the Great Famine’s impact and local traditions, earning posthumous recognition.
- Edward Ledwidge (1887-1917) Born in Slane, County Meath (not Laois, but often mistakenly associated due to proximity; included here to clarify as some sources confuse his birthplace). Ledwidge was a poet known for pastoral works like Songs of the Fields (1915), but he is not Laois-born, so he is excluded from the final count.
- Darina Allen (1948-) Born in Cullohill, Allen is a food writer, chef, and TV personality who co-founded Ballymaloe Cookery School. Her books, like Irish Traditional Cooking (1995) and Forgotten Skills of Cooking (2009), preserve Irish culinary heritage, blending recipes with cultural narratives. Her work has global influence, rooted in Laois traditions.
- John W. Sexton (1958-) Born in Portlaoise, Sexton is a poet, children’s author, and broadcaster known for works like The Prince and the Pauper (1993) and Vortex (2005). His poetry blends myth, science fiction, and Irish folklore, while his children’s books, like The Johnny Coffin Diaries, are popular in Ireland. He hosts a radio show on RTÉ.
- Patrick Tuohy (1894-1930) Born in Portlaoise, Tuohy was primarily a painter but also a writer whose essays and letters on art and Irish culture appeared in Dublin journals. His writings, often unpublished during his lifetime, reflected his Laois background and artistic life in New York, where he died tragically young.
- Michael Scott (1959-) Born in Portlaoise, Scott is a novelist and screenwriter known for fantasy series like The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (2007-2012). His works, blending Irish mythology with international settings, have been translated into 20 languages, earning him a global following.
- Mary Mulholland (1863-1927) Born in Mountmellick, Mulholland was a novelist and children’s writer whose works, like The Wild Irish Girl (1906), explored Irish identity and rural life. Her stories, often published in Catholic magazines, reflected her Laois Quaker background and nationalist sentiments.
- Thomas Kelly (1809-1871) Born in Mountmellick, Kelly was a journalist and historian whose writings, including contributions to the Dublin Review, focused on Irish ecclesiastical history and local Laois lore. His work helped preserve regional historical narratives during the 19th century.
- James Fintan Lalor (1807-1849) Born in Tinakill, near Abbeyleix, Lalor was a journalist and political writer whose essays in the Nation advocated land reform and Irish independence. His Letters on the Condition of Ireland (1848) influenced the Young Ireland movement, reflecting his Laois agrarian roots.
Writers
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Laois:
Ireland’s county Laois offers a serene blend of historic sites and natural landscapes, with the Rock of Dunamase providing panoramic views from its ancient castle ruins. Emo Court’s elegant Georgian mansion and gardens offer a peaceful retreat, while the Slieve Bloom Mountains provide hiking trails through rolling hills. Laois is Ireland’s ninth smallest county by size (1,719 square km) and tenth smallest by population (91,877). Population peaked at 153,930 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 44,595 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Laois is Ireland’s 27th most visited tourist county with around 52,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
