Stradbally is a small town in a scenic valley on the banks of the River Bauteogue about 60 miles from Dublin. Its history dates back to the 7th century when St. Colman (Mac Ua Laoighse) established a monastery in Ougheval nearby. A Franciscan Abbey was also founded by the King of the O'Moores in 1447, a descendant of the founder of the Kingdom of Laois. In the vicinity there are a number of antiquities such as castles, cist burials and Druid remains.
The river attracted cotton manufacturing which once prevailed but then disappeared leaving two flour mills making malt, half of which was delivered to Guinness. There was a good supply of limestone and the stone cutting industry is still alive today. The stone cutting was in great demand at the turn of the 20th century and a hundred operative masons worked in the nearby quarry including sculptors, stonecutters and labourers.
The main street of Stradbally was wide and the river can be crossed by three arched bridges. In 1831 there were 306 houses together with some fine residences in the parish. The population was about 2,000.
At the turn of the 18th century, military associations of volunteers were formed and this movement flourished in Stradbally from 1779 until 1782. A second corps called the Stradbally Horse was formed in 1784.
The principles of the French Revolution found a powerful expression of sympathy in Ireland. Inspired by the Revolution, the Society of United Irishmen was founded in 1791. Due to the radicalism permeating the volunteer corps, they were suppressed by government proclamation in 1793.
The start of the 1800's were tumultuous times and Freemasonry was far from being a flourishing epoch in Ireland, but abroad the influence of the Grand Lodge was to make itself felt. The number of lodges in Ireland declined, but the Irish Craft was introduced into Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Gibraltar, Malta, India, China, Portugal and Peru.