Stradbally (Irish: An Sráidbhaile[1]) is a barony in County Laois (formerly called Queen's County or County Leix), Ireland.[2][3]
Stradbally barony is named after the town of Stradbally (literally meaning "one-street town").
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.[4]
Stradbally barony was anciently known as Magh Druchtain ("plain of sweetness") and was ruled by a sept of the Ó Ceallaigh.[5] It was also called Farran-O'Kelly ("men of O'Kelly").[6] 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."[7]
It is referred to in the topographical poem Tuilleadh feasa ar Éirinn óigh (Giolla na Naomh Ó hUidhrín, d. 1420):
Ós Muigh Drúchtain an dúin ghil
Ó Ceallaigh an chláir éignigh
as samhail mín an mhuighe
re Tír ttaraidh tTarrnguire.
("Over Magh-Druchtain of the fair fortress is Ó Ceallaigh of the salmon-full river, Similar is the smooth surface of the plain to the fruitful land of promise.")[8][9]
Ballyduff was the seat of the Cenél Crimthann, a branch of the Ó hIndreadhain (O'Hourihan).[10]
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.[citation needed]
Below is a list of settlements in Stradbally barony:
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