In Ireland, Laurence, whose name may have been Laghair, a son of Maurice O'Tuathail, of Leinster, was archbishop of Dublin at the time of the conquest by the Norman adventurers, and was thus brought into close connection with Canterbury and with Rome, knitting the first of the links that have made the Irish so abject in their devotion to the Papal See.  It was probably on this account that he was canonized, but he was also memorable as one of the builders of St. Patrick's cathedral at Dublin, and for his charities during a terrible famine, when he supported as many as 300 destitute children. It was he who rendered Lanty and Larry so common among the Irish peasantry. (History of Christian Names, Yonge, 1884)