Stradbally (barony)


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

Etymology

Stradbally barony is named after the town of Stradbally.

Geography

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.

History

Stradbally barony was anciently known as Magh Druchtain and was ruled by a sept of the Ó Ceallaigh. It was also called Farran-O'Kelly. 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."
It is referred to in the topographical poem Tuilleadh feasa ar Éirinn óigh :
Ós Muigh Drúchtain an dúin ghil
Ó Ceallaigh an chláir éignigh
as samhail mín an mhuighe
re Tír ttaraidh tTarrnguire.''
Ballyduff was the seat of the Cenél Crimthann, a branch of the Ó hIndreadhain.
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.

List of settlements

Below is a list of settlements in Stradbally barony: