This course is a four “day” virtual tour of the counties of Laois and Offaly in the midlands of Ireland.
The county name of Laois derives from Loígis, of which the modern county is only a part. In the 11th century, its dynastic rulers adopted the surname Ua/Ó Mórdha. By the first century AD, the western third of Laois was part of the Kingdom of Ossory. The eastern part was divided roughly into seven parts, which were ruled by the Seven Septs of Loígis: O’More (O’Moore), O’Lalor, O’Doran, O’Dowling, O’Devoy (O’Deevy), O’Kelly and McEvoy.
The Kingdom of Uí Failghe from which the name Offaly is derived, was ruled by the Ó Conchobhair Failghe (Anglicised as: O’Conor Faly) whose territory included the east of the county. The Kingdom of Firceall ruled by the O’Molloy clan constituted much of the centre of the county. Much of the south of the present day county was ruled by Ó Cearbhaill of Éile (Anglicized as: O’Carroll Ely).
The present day counties were formed following the Tudor plantations in an attempt by the English Crown to expand its sphere of influence in Ireland which had declined following the Norman Conquest of Ireland. All the clans from these counties had their lands confiscated after the Cromwellian Invasion. Some of the O’Carroll’s immigrated to the Americas. Charles Carroll is the only Catholic signatory to the Declaration of Independence. Charles Jnr. was the main contractor on the building of the White House. The White House and Washington city are built on lands owned by the O’Carroll’s.

This class meets in the Photography & Digital Arts Studio on the lower level of the Education Wing.