Lalor 2026 rally to take place in Laois this weekend
The Lalor Clan has been holding an annual gathering for over 30 years.
ONE of the longest-surviving clans in the country, the Lalor Clan, will be holding its annual gathering this weekend, from 10-12 July in the Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix. Delegates are expected from all over the country, as well as the UK, USA and further afield.
The Lalor Clan has been holding an annual gathering for over 30 years. One of the families in the Seven Septs of Laois, the clan includes historic figures such as Irish revolutionary James Fintan Lalor and Peter Lalor of the Australian Eureka Stockade Rebellion.
A programme of events will include entertainment, tours, talks on the history of the clan and some of its members who have impacted on the history of Ireland, Australia, America, and elsewhere.
This year, the Lalor clan received funding from Creative Laois and Laois County Council to grow their programme of events.
The evening of Friday, 10 July, will be a “meet and greet”, as delegates gather at the Manor Hotel. The annual general meeting will commence at 7.30pm and will be followed by music from local musician Joe Coogan.
The tour commences on Saturday, 11 July, at 11.00am. The first port of call will be Lalor’s Mills, a short distance from Abbeyleix. From Lalor’s Mills, the tour will then proceed to Dysart, the centre of the Lalor’s ancestral clan lands. The final stop of will be the historic Rock of Dunamase, which commands a majestic view of the surrounding countryside.
Later, an evening of storytelling with renowned storyteller Colum Sands will take place, followed by music from Adrian Ryan, at 9pm in The Abbeyleix Manor Hotel to celebrate the election of the new clan chieftain. The chieftain will be dressed in ceremonial robes and be given a ceremonial staff and represent the O'Leathlobhair clan for the following year.
