Editing County Laois (section)

===Norman invasion===
The [[Norman invasion of Ireland]] in 1169–71 affected Laois as it was a part of the [[List of Kings of Leinster|Kingdom of Leinster]]. In Laois, the fortress on the Rock of Dunamase was part of the dowry of the Irish princess Aoife, who was given in marriage in 1170 to the Norman warrior Strongbow. Advancing Normans surveyed the county from wooden towers built on top of earthen mounds, known as [[motte]]s. They also built stone fortresses, such as Lea Castle, just outside [[Portarlington, County Laois|Portarlington]]. Several of the county's towns were first established as Norman boroughs, including Castletown, Durrow and Timahoe.

From 1175 until about 1325, Normans controlled the best land in the county, while Gaelic society retreated to the bogs, forests and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The early 14th century saw a Gaelic revival, as the chieftains of [[Loígis]] caused the Normans to withdraw. The [[Dempsey]]s seized [[Lea Castle]], while Dunamase came into the ownership of the O’Mores. Examples of [[tower house]]s built by the Irish [[Mac Giolla Phádraig]] chieftains are found at [[Ballaghmore Castle|Ballaghmore]] and [[Cullahill Castle]], both decorated with [[Sheela na gig]]s.

In 1548, the English confiscated the lands of the O’Mores and built "Campa", known as the Fort of Leix, today's [[Portlaoise]].