Introduction
County Laois or Queen's County as it is sometimes known has an interesting history. Within this history, there are plenty of people who have played a major role in the development of the county and of Ireland in general.
James Fintan Lalor
James Fintan Lalor was born in Tenakill, County Laois on March 10, 1807, the eldest of eleven sons. Sadly, he was born with an illness to the spine which stunted his growth. However, this did not prevent him from becoming one of the most passionate and hard working nationalists that Ireland has ever known.
Lalor was involved with Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association but was expelled in 1847 because of his links with the Young Irelanders movement. Lalor was a very intelligent man and as well as having articles and letters published in newspapers such as The Nation and The Irish Tribune, he also helped put together a journal called The Irish Felon.
James Fintan Lalor
The English translation of the Gaelic inscription on James Fintan Lalor's headstone: In loving memory of James Fintan Lalor. Born 10th March 1809, and died 27 Dec. 1849. A faithful (loyal) Irishman who gave his life seeking the freedom of our country and improving the state of the Irish people in their native land. May his soul be at God's right hand.
Image courtesy of the Ballarat Genealogical SocietyJames Fintan Lalor
Image courtesy of the Ballarat Genealogical Society
Image courtesy of the Ballarat Genealogical Society
James Fintan Lalor
The English translation of the Gaelic inscription on James Fintan Lalor's headstone: In loving memory of James Fintan Lalor. Born 10th March 1809, and died 27 Dec. 1849. A faithful (loyal) Irishman who gave his life seeking the freedom of our country and improving the state of the Irish people in their native land. May his soul be at God's right hand.
Image courtesy of the Ballarat Genealogical SocietyIn 1848, Lalor and his comrades felt that Britain was vulnerable to a rebellion, as it was planning to go to war with France . In June 1848, that rebellion went ahead but it was doomed to failure, not least because Ireland was still suffering the effects of the Great Famine. Lalor was arrested later that summer for treason and sent to prison in Nenagh Jail.
When he transferred to Newgate Prison in Dublin, his health was so bad that he was released from jail. He helped to organise another rebellion in Waterford and Tipperary but as before, the attack on the barracks in Cappoquin failed and he was arrested again. His health finally gave way on December 27th 1849 and a sign of how popular Lalor was that over 25,000 mourners came to his funeral.