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  • Thumbnail for the post titled: The 6th Viscount de Vesci’s Struggle in WW2

    The 6th Viscount de Vesci’s Struggle in WW2

      John Eustace Vesey the 6th Viscount de Vesci of Abbeyleix was born in 1919, the only son of three children from the marriage of Colonel Hon. Thomas Eustace Vesey and Lady […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: Reason Crushed by the Infernal Dance: Bacon’s Study for a Bullfight No. 1 (c.1969).

    Reason Crushed by the Infernal Dance: Bacon’s Study for a Bullfight No. 1 (c.1969).

      In much of Bacon’s work, and certainly in the present painting, there seems to be an exemplification of the nineteenth-century French poet, Arthur Rimbaud’s advocacy of the deregulation of […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: Aengus the Culdee, a saint and church reformer 8th Century

    Aengus the Culdee, a saint and church reformer 8th Century

    Today March 11th marks the death of Aengus the Culdee or Aengus Céilí Dé (Aengus the servant of God), who lived, studied and died right here in Co. Laois. Aengus […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: Bacon, Expressionism and ‘Inexpressivity’.

    Bacon, Expressionism and ‘Inexpressivity’.

      Francis Bacon visited Weimar Berlin in 1927 at the age of 18 accompanied by a certain Harcourt-Smith at the behest of Francis’ father. At the time Germany had entered […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: A Monument to Countess Aline at Emo

    A Monument to Countess Aline at Emo

    Here we have a monument or effigy of Countess Aline Portarlington dedicated to her and unveiled in May 1875 by her dearly beloved husband the 3rd Earl of Portarlington; Henry […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: Bacon’s Three Studies for a Portrait of Henrietta Moraes(1963) A Laois Connection

    Bacon’s Three Studies for a Portrait of Henrietta Moraes(1963) A Laois Connection

    Undertaking a profane career that encompassed amphetamine-psychotic cat burglary in the ’60s for which she served prison time, Henrietta Moraes was the epitome of willful caprice and bohemianism throughout her […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: Building the Big House

    Building the Big House

    We have recently been lucky enough to come into possession of a fantastic document setting out the specification for the complete refurbishment of Donore House, Co Laois. The document dates to […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: The Goats Are Going Home

    The Goats Are Going Home

    This post is a follow on to one I wrote on my own blog about 2 years ago. To be honest it’s very difficult to believe that it’s that long […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: Mary O’Shea

    Mary O’Shea

    Mary was born on 16 August 1893 in Dublin City to Robert and Sarah McDonald. Her father was a ‘Shop meter collector’ and her mother was a nurse. When Mary was only […]

  • Thumbnail for the post titled: 100 Years On

    100 Years On

    Like every other county in Ireland, Laois has always kept Gaelic sports close to her heart but through the years since the GAA was founded in 1884 the county has […]