Chapter: The Town (Portarlington)

In the early 1900s Portarlington was a market town and formerly a Parliamentary Borough. It was situated partly in the parish of Ballykean and Clonyhurk, barony of Upper Philipstown, Kings County (Offaly), but chiefly in the parish of Lea, barony of Portnahinch, Queen's County (Laois). It was the head of a petty sessional division and dispensary district in Mountmellick Union.

Seated on the river Barrow, which is the boundary between Laois and Offaly at this point, it divided the town into two unequal parts -the larger being situated in Laois and the smaller in Offaly. This place was anciently named Coolletoodra, (Cuil an t-Sudaire). Its present appellation is derived from Sir Henry Bennett K.B., Earl of Arlington, Middlesex, England, to whom it was granted by Charles II, and its prefix from a landing place on the river. Previously the estates were granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Terence O'Dempsey, 1st Viscount. Clanmalier (Bally brittas) whose successor, Lewis O'Dempsey, 2nd Viscount, was attainted of treason and forfeited all his lands for his conduct in the rebellion of 1641.

The estates again became forfeited in the rebellion of 1688. In 1696 King William granted the lands to his Dutch followers. His favourite, Henry de Massue de Ruvigny, was created Earl of Galway in 1697. It was he who made leases of the town and estates for ever to a number of French Huguenots who came over with him.

The town was incorporated in 1667 by Charles II, but the corporation was dissolved under the provisions of the Act 3 and 4 Vict. C. 198 (1840). The municipal insignia included two silver gilt maces. One of these, made in Dublin and presented to the corporation in 1728 by William Handcock Esq., of Will brooke, was, after the sale of the insignia subsequent to 1840, acquired by Mr. T. A. H. Poynder who presented it to the Goldsmiths' Company of London. The companion mace is said to have been purchased by Messrs. Handcock.

Portarlington returned two members to the Irish parliament from 1692 until the Union in 1800, and subsequently one member only to the imperial Parliament. But under the provisions of the "Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885", (48 and 49 Vict. C 63) its representation was merged into that of the County.

The town has, at several periods, afforded peerage titles. In 1692 William III created Henry de Massue de Ruvingy Baron of Portarlington. He was created Earl of Galway in 1697. On his death in 1729 these titles became extinct. In 1724, Joseph Micklethwaite, commander of the British forces in Spain, was created Baron Micklethwaite of Port arlington and afterwards Viscount Micklethwaite of Longford. On his death in 1733 both honours expired.

In 1720, William Henry Dawson, sometime M.P. for Portarlington, was created Baron Dawson and in 1776, advanced to the dignity of Viscount Carlow. His son, John, 2nd Viscount, was created Earl of
Port arlington in 1785. The last of these titles was held by Lionel-Arthur-Henry-Seymour Dawson, Viscount Carlow, born 1883.

In 1901 the area was 455 acres and the population 1,943.