County Laois
Laois ( pronounced as timothy, Irish: Laois, Leix former English name ) is a county ( county ) in the Republic of Ireland.
Geography
To the east of Laois is the flat land of the ( river ) Barrow, in the north- west are the Slieve Bloom Mountains with the 527 meter high Arderin (jointly with the County Offaly ) as the highest elevation of the county. Approximately sixty percent of the area is pasture land, the rest is divided up into farmland and fells.
History
The former English name of the county was " Leix ". It was in the middle ages to the Kingdom of Leinster. In 1171, the area was conquered by the Anglo-Normans and fell in 1460 to England. 1556 the county under the name " Queen's County " was formed and operated the settlement of the country with English settlers.
Economy
Agriculture consists of sheep, pigs and poultry. Furthermore, there is wood and food industries.
Policy
Laois, together with the County Offaly a constituency that sends five deputies in the Irish Parliament; The last election took place in 2011.
The distribution of seats in the County Council after the local elections of June 5, 2009:
Cities
- Portlaoise
- Portarlington
- Mountmellick
- Abbeyleix
- Mountrath
- Stradbally
- Rathdowney
- Durrow
- Ballylynan
- Emo