Clarmallagh


Clarmallagh is a barony in County Laois, Republic of Ireland.

Etymology

Clarmallagh means "Flat land of Maigh Locha ", referring to Grantstown Lake.

Geography

Clarmallagh is located in south County Laois, to the south of the River Gully, and to the north of the County Kilkenny border. It contains the lower part of the Erkina River where it drains into the River Nore.

History

Clarmallagh barony was anciently the northernmost part of the Kingdom of Osraige.
In the early 12th century, Finn Ua Caellaide ruled Magh Locha separately from the rest of Ossory.
It was ruled by the Ó Faoláin.
It is referred to in the topographical poem Tuilleadh feasa ar Éirinn óigh :
I Muiġ Laċa na learg te
Ó Faoláin, fearḋa an fíne
Mór an dúthaiġ as díol dáiḃ
Do lín futha Ó Faoláin
was transferred from County Kilkenny to Clarmallagh and Queen's County.
Clarmallagh was formerly a part of the Upper Ossory barony, established by 1657; in 1842 it was divided into three cantreds: Upper Woods, Clandonagh and Clarmallagh.

List of settlements

Below is a list of settlements in Clarmallagh barony: