Laois County Ireland Tartan Collection
Laois County Ireland Tartan Collection
Celebrate County Laois with an Irish district tartan — an inland county of quiet plains and the Slieve Bloom hills, guarded once from the great rock of Dunamase.
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About the County Laois Tartan
The Laois tartan is one of a complete set of thirty-two Irish county tartans designed by Polly Wittering for the House of Edgar of Perth in the 1990s. It is a district tartan — it belongs to the county rather than to any family, so anyone with a Laois connection may wear it.
These county setts are modern designs rather than ancient patterns, and are not formally sanctioned by the counties themselves; they have won their place through adoption by Irish families at home and across the diaspora.
Laois Tartan Pattern and Colours
The sett draws on warm golds and greens with darker lines — the gold of tillage and stubble on the midland plain, the green of pasture, and the heather tones of the Slieve Bloom slopes.
County Laois Heritage
Laois lies at the heart of Ireland, an inland county of good farming ground rising in the north-west to the Slieve Bloom Mountains, among the oldest hills in Europe. Above the plain stands the Rock of Dunamase, a natural fortress crowned with the ruins of a castle that commanded the road west for centuries.
This was the country of the O'Mores, lords of Laois, who held Dunamase and resisted long against the spread of English rule; the O'Regans of Meath were also driven west into this county after the Norman conquest. In the sixteenth century Laois and neighbouring Offaly were the first Irish counties to be planted with settlers, and were renamed Queen's and King's County, names they carried until independence.
Who Is This Collection For?
This collection is made for those born or descended in County Laois, O'More and midland families, Slieve Bloom and Dunamase connections and anyone who wants an Irish tartan that names their own county.
- ✓ County Laois families
- ✓ Slieve Bloom and midland roots
- ✓ Dunamase and O'More heritage
- ✓ Family gatherings and reunions
- ✓ Irish ancestry gifts
- ✓ Warm gold and green style
How to Wear Laois Tartan
Laois tartan works well across caps, shirts, hoodies, scarves, ties, jackets, blankets and keepsake gifts. Its warm, earthy palette is easy to pair for everyday wear, family gatherings and county occasions.
County Laois Tartan FAQ
Quick answers about the Laois county tartan, who may wear it and where it comes from.
Is the Laois tartan a clan tartan?
No — it is a district tartan for the county, so anyone with a Laois connection may wear it.
Who designed the Irish county tartans?
Polly Wittering, for the House of Edgar of Perth, who produced a complete set of thirty-two in the 1990s.
What is the Rock of Dunamase?
A natural fortress rising above the plain, crowned by castle ruins, long the stronghold of the O'Mores of Laois.
Was Laois once called Queen's County?
Yes — Laois and Offaly were renamed Queen's and King's County in the sixteenth century, and kept those names until independence.
What are the Slieve Bloom Mountains?
A range in the north-west of the county, reckoned among the oldest hills in Europe.
Who can wear the Laois tartan?
Anyone with roots in or affection for County Laois — it belongs to the place, not to a family.
Wear the County Laois Tartan
Discover Laois county tartan clothing, accessories and gifts — the gold of the midland plain and the green of the Slieve Bloom country.
View Laois Tartan Clothing