placenamesRosenallis
Ros Fhionnghlaise
Lewis distinguishes stone being quarried from iron ore no longer being raised in 1837.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Ros Fhionnghlaise · Irish · main form · non-validated name
- Rosenallis · English · main form
Place & story
Stone that hardened in the air
In his Rosenallis parish account, Samuel Lewis described soft white sandstone quarried in the Slieve Bloom mountains which hardened on exposure to air and could take a high polish. It was sought for chimney pieces and hearthstones, while a coarser variety supplied flagstones. His description distinguishes different uses according to the stone’s qualities. [2]
Iron extraction had ceased
Lewis reported in 1837 that iron ore had formerly been raised but was no longer being worked. He also recorded extensive bog providing fuel. The account gives no closure date for the iron workings and does not connect their cessation with any stated shortage of fuel. [2]
Geographic information
- Place type
- Civil parish
- County
- Laois
- Barony
- Tinnahinch
- Coordinates
- 53.11982, -7.39255
- Mapped area
- 57.15 km²
- Logainm ID
- 1456 ↗
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Rosenallis. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Rosenallis or Oregan: A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) · Samuel Lewis
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.