County Offaly
Encyclopedia
County Offaly is a county
in Ireland
. It is part of the Midlands Region
and is also located in the province
of Leinster
. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe
and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State
in 1922. Offaly County Council
is the local authority
for the county. The population of the county is 76,806 according to the 2011 census.
is the county town and largest town in Offaly and is the 30th largest in Ireland. Offaly borders seven counties, the second most of any county after Tipperary
, which borders eight. Offaly is bordered by Galway
, Roscommon
, Tipperary
, Laois
, Westmeath
, Kildare
and Meath
. The Slieve Bloom Mountains
are in the southern part of the county on the border with Laois
. Offaly has the 24th highest county peak in Ireland. The highest point is Arderin
in the Slieve Blooms at 527 metres (1,729 ft). The Slieve Bloom Mountains contain the county's highest points including Stillbrook Hill
and Wolftrap Mountain
which are the county's second and third highest peaks. Croghan Hill
rises from the Bog of Allen and is located in northern Offaly. Although only 234 metres high, it is known for its view over the surrounding area and it stands out by itself.
In the northwestern part of the county is the floodplain of the River Shannon
. The River Camcor
runs through the town of Birr
and is a Wild Trout Conservation Area. The River Brosna
runs across the county from Lough Owel
in Westmeath to Shannon Harbour
. Silver River
runs through several towns in the south of the county before joining Brosna
near the town of Ferbane
. The Grand Canal also runs across the county from Edenderry
on the north-east to Shannon Harbour before joining the Shannon
. The county contains many small lakes from Lake Boora to Pallas Lake and it also contains 42 hectares of swamp. There are a number Esker
s in the counties landscape including Esker Riada
.
Offaly largely comprises a flat landscape and is known for its extensive bog and peatlands. There are many large bogs in Offaly including the Bog of Allen
, Clara bog
, Boora bog
and Raheenmore Bog
which are spread out across the county with the Bog of Allen extending into four other counties. The county consists of approximately 42,000 hectares of peatlands which is 21% of Offaly's total land area.
Offaly contains approximately 9,000 hectares (22,239 acres) of forest and woodland area, which only amounts to 4.5% of the county's land area. This includes woodlands within the Slieve Blooms and the Lough Boora Parklands. Roughly 75% of Offaly's forested area is Conifer High Forest
.
which dates back to the Mesolithic era. Excavations here provides evidence of a temporary settlement as no structures were found at the site. Stone axes, arrow heads and blades were discovered which date to between 6.800 - 6,000 BCE.
The monastic complex of Clonmacnoise
was of the most important in Ireland. Located at the River Shannon
near Shannonbridge, it was the greatest centre of learning in Europe during the first millennium. It was regarded as the most important centre for learning, Arts and Crafts and Christianity in Europe and today tourists may see the famous Celtic Crosses of Clonmacnoise at the site.
Before the plantation of Offaly by English settlers, the territories it comprises were controlled principally by the Ó Conchubhair Fáilghe clan in the North/East of the county (anglicised as: O'Conor Faly) and the Ó Céarbhaill of Eile (anglicised as: O'Carroll Ely) in the south. In 1556 an Act of the Irish parliament created "King's County", named after the then King of Spain, England and Ireland Philip
. After the creation of the Irish Free State
in 1922 the name was changed to County Offaly.
is responsible for local services such as housing policy, social and cultural services, economic development and planning, motor taxation and infrastructural policy in the county. 21 councillors are elected from the 4 electoral areas of Tullamore (7 members), Ferbane (4 members), Edenderry (6 members) and Birr (4 members). Councillors are also elected to town councils in Birr
, Tullamore
and Edenderry. At national level Offaly is part of the Laois/Offaly constituency which elects 5 TDs to the Dail. In the 2011 Election parts of the south of County Offaly form part of the North Tipperary constituency.
The 2006 population figure for County Offaly is the highest for the county since 1881. The Central Statistics Office
estimates that the increase in population between 2002 and 2006 (7,205) comprised a natural increase of 2,026 people with the balance of 5,179 accounted for by net in-migration from within Ireland as well as abroad. Offaly’s population growth during the period 2002–2006 (11.3%) has been stronger than the National average (8.2%). This may be attributed to proximity to the Greater Dublin Area
, recent increased accessibility to Dublin (M6
, M7, and improved rail services) and the differential in house prices between Dublin and Offaly.
The population of many towns has risen dramatically over the period 1996 to 2006: Birr +21.5%, Tullamore +28.8% and Edenderry +53.9%. Portarlington has had a population increase of 50.1% from 2002 to 2006 alone.
In 2006 the age profile of the population is as follows:
are the most popular sports in the county with Gaelic Football
and Hurling
teams present in all parish communities throughout the county. Birr
is generally considered a Hurling
stronghold. The team have won 4 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
s. The county teams also have had national success in both Hurling and Gaelic Football, winning the Liam McCarthy Cup
4 times and the Sam Maguire Cup
3 times. The football team is perhaps best known for the Seamus Darby
goal in the dying minutes of the 1982 football final when Offaly took the title by one point denying Kerry
a historic 5 All-Ireland titles in a row.
Other popular sports in the county include Rugby
and Association Football where Tullamore Town F.C.
are in the A Championship
.
Traditionally, agriculture and industry have been the main driving force of the economy in the county. Offaly has extensive bogland particularly in the northern parts of the county that forms part of the Bog of Allen
. Bord na Móna
was founded in 1946 and provided employment to hundreds of people in Offaly by making peat briquettes (for home domestic use) and supplying peat to power stations operated by the ESB. Peat briquettes are currently made at the Bord na Móna factory at Derrinlough near Birr
. Consequently with vast reserves of peat the ESB has a number of power stations providing energy to the national grid. Today, power stations are operating at Shannonbridge
and Edenderry
. With the continuing depletion of the bogs a number of power stations have closed down in recent years. The ESB power station at lumcloon, Ferbane
was also a major employer in the midlands but closed in 2001. Rhode
power station also closed down soon afterwards. These were major landmarks in Offaly with large cooling tower
s that were visible for miles around Offaly and beyond, but were demolished soon after the power stations closed. Many bogs are now used as wildlife reserves or for tourism activities such as lough Boora.
The opening of the Grand Canal in the 18th century brought prosperity to towns such as Banagher
and Tullamore
. Both towns were important stops on the Dublin to Limerick
navigation which supported a number of industries and brought cheap and efficient water transport to the county in that era.
The Celtic Tiger
also brought an increase in economic activity to Offaly with business enterprise and industrial parks opening in Birr
, Edenderry and Tullamore
. Many people particularly in the east of the county are within an easy commuting distance to Dublin where many find employment.
, Clara railway station
and Portarlington railway station. Tullamore and Clara railway stations are on the main Dublin to Ballina
/Galway
/Westport
railway line with regular trains serving the area especially for Dublin commuters. All trains to the south and west of Ireland pass through Portarlington railway station from Heuston Railway Station in Dublin. Birr railway station closed in the 1960s.
passes from Kilbeggan
to Tullamore
and Birr
which then continues to Nenagh
where it intersects with the M7. The N62
from Athlone passes through Ferbane
and Birr
and continues onto Roscrea
and Thurles
. The N80
route starts in Tullamore and continues to the south east passing through Portlaoise and Carlow
. There are no main national primary routes in the county, however, the M6
skirts the county to the north and the M7 skirts the county to the south through Moneygall
. Road infrastructure has improved with the completion of the Tullamore bypass in 2009 and improved access to regional citys following completion of the intercity motorway network.
provide public transport services throughout the county with regular bus services to Limerick
and Waterford
from Athlone bus station. Other private bus coach services provide direct bus services from Birr
to Dublin such as Kearns bus service who run several services daily. Slieve Bloom Coaches run services from Tullamore and Portarlington to Dublin.
. Traditionally this was an important route for transport, communication and trade between Dublin, Limerick and the midlands of Ireland. The route fell into decline as road transport became more popular. Much of the route is now used for boating
and leisure activities.
(originally Midlands Radio 3) which broadcasts to Laois, Offaly and Westmeath is based in Tullamore and has studios across the midlands.
RTE's medium wave transmitter broadcasting RTE Radio 1
was also located in Tullamore but transmission stopped in 2008.
Print
A number of local newspapers are published in Offaly. The Offaly Express
, Offaly Independent
and Tullamore Tribune are based in Tullamore. The Midland Tribune based in Birr covers local news in the west and south of the county as well as parts of North Tipperary including the towns of Birr
, Roscrea
and Nenagh
and surrounding areas.
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is part of the Midlands Region
Midlands Region, Ireland
The Midlands Region is a NUTS Level III region of Ireland and is governed by the Midland Regional Authority. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath. The Midlands region spans 6,524 km2, 9.5% of the total area of the state...
and is also located in the province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe
Kingdom of Uí Failghe
Uí Failghe was a Gaelic-Irish kingdom, which is preserved in the name of County Offaly, Ireland.-Background:Uí Failghe may have existed as a kingdom since the early historic era, and successfully fought off encroachments by the Uí Néill, the Eóganachta, and the Normans.From the mid eleventh century...
and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
in 1922. Offaly County Council
Offaly County Council
Offaly County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Offaly in Ireland. The Council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach...
is the local authority
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
Local government functions in the Republic of Ireland are mostly exercised by thirty-four local authorities, termed county or city councils, which cover the entire territory of the state. The area under the jurisdiction of each of these authorities corresponds to the area of each of the 34 LAU I...
for the county. The population of the county is 76,806 according to the 2011 census.
Geography and political subdivisions
Offaly is the 18th largest of Ireland’s 32 counties by area and the 23rd largest in terms of population. It is the fifth largest of Leinster’s 12 counties by size and the 9th largest by population. It is the largest county by area and the second largest by population in the Midlands.Towns and villages
- BallinagarBallinagarBallinagar is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies on the R402 regional road, roughly midway between Daingean and Tullamore....
- BallyboyBallyboyBallyboy or Ballaboy is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is about two kilometres east of Kilcormac.Although now a small village of several houses, a pub and a primary school, it was an important and thriving hub in the Middle Ages. During this era, the town had a hat and glove factory, a...
- BanagherBanagherBanagher is a town in Ireland, located in the midlands on the western edge of County Offaly in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. The name Banagher comes from its Irish name which translates to English as "the place of the pointed rocks on the Shannon"...
- BirrBirrBirr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
- CadamstownCadamstownCadamstown, historically called Ballymacadam , is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies on the R421 regional road, just north of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It is about 20 km from Tullamore and 6 km from Kinnitty.-Features:...
- ClaraClaraClara is a town on the River Brosna in County Offaly and is the 10th largest town in the midlands of Ireland. The town has a population of 3001 , however a number of well populated housing estates lie outside the town boundary making the actual population higher...
- Cloghan
- ClonygowanClonygowanClonygowan is a village in County Offaly, Ireland, on the R420 regional road between Tullamore to Portarlington road.-Places of interest:*Clonygowan House no longer exists, but a dovecote, designed in the manner of a folly, survives as a reminder of the former estate and house. It was built about...
- Clonbullogue
- ClonmacnoiseClonmacnoiseThe monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
- CoolderryCoolderryCoolderry is a small roadside village in southern County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 8 kilometres north of Roscrea and 11 kilometres south of Birr...
- CrinkillCrinkillCrinkill is a village in County Offaly, Ireland, close to Birr.-History:The village originally grew up around a British Army military barracks, Crinkill Barracks, which was constructed around 1805. However, the barracks was abandoned by the British army around the time of Irish independence, and...
- CroghanCroghan (village), County OffalyCroghan is a village in County Offaly in Ireland. It is situated near Croghan Hill,on an "island" of high ground surrounded by an expanse of raised bog which forms part of the Bog of Allen.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
- DaingeanDaingeanDaingean , formerly Philipstown, is a small town in east County Offaly, Ireland. It is situated midway between the towns of Tullamore and Edenderry on the R402 regional road. The town or townland of Daingean has a population of 777 while the District Electoral Division has a total population of...
- EdenderryEdenderry, County OffalyEdenderry is a town in the north of County Offaly, Ireland. It is near the borders with Counties Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. The Grand Canal passes immediately south of the town through the Bog of Allen and there is a short spur to the town centre....
- FerbaneFerbaneFerbane is a small town on the north bank of the River Brosna in County Offaly, Ireland, between Birr and Athlone at the junction of the N62 National secondary road and the R436 regional road...
- GeashillGeashillGeashill is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is situated between the towns of Tullamore and Portarlington on the R420 regional road. Geashill has a Church of Ireland church, a shop, a petrol station, post office, primary school, a Gaelic Athletic Association and two pubs, .-History:The...
- HorseleapHorseleapHorseleap is a town situated upon the Offaly, Westmeath county border in Ireland, along the R446, formerly the main Dublin to Galway road. The village itself possesses a church, primary school, a garden centre, a pub, and a petrol station...
- KilcormacKilcormacKilcormac is a village in County Offaly, Ireland, located on the N52 at its junction with the R437 regional road, between the towns of Tullamore and Birr....
- KilleighKilleighKilleigh ) is a village in County Offaly, Ireland, located south of Tullamore on the N80 national secondary road. The Slieve Bloom Mountains lie a similar distance further south.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
- KillougheyKillougheyKilloughey, officially Killoughy and historically "Killaghy" or "Killahy ", is the name of a townland and civil parish south-west of Tullamore in County Offaly, Ireland.Before 1784 there were two distinct parishes of Killoughey and Ballyboy...
- KinnittyKinnittyKinnitty is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 13 km east of Birr on the R440 and R421 regional roads.The village derives its name from the myth that the head of an ancient princess is buried beneath the village, Ceann being Irish for head and Eitigh being the name of the...
- MoneygallMoneygallMoneygall is a small village on the border of counties Offaly and North Tipperary, in Ireland. It is situated on the R445 road between Dublin and Limerick. At the time of the 2006 census, the village had a population of 298. Moneygall has a Catholic church, five shops, a post office, a national...
- MountbolusMountbolusMountbolus is a small village in the parish of Killoughey situated at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Offaly, Ireland. It has a Church, a National School, a Shop/Post Office and two public houses. It also has a small GAA club called Kilcormac-Killoughey...
- Portarlington
- RahanRahan, County OffalyRahan is a parish/village, associated with Mochuda , which is located on the banks of the river Clodagh approximately 5 miles from Tullamore, in County Offaly, Ireland.St...
- RhodeRhode, County OffalyRhode is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is situated on the R400 at its junction with the R441 which leads to Edenderry, the nearest town, located 12 km east of Rhode....
- ShannonbridgeShannonbridgeShannonbridge is a village located on the River Shannon, at the junction of the R444 and R357 regional roads in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies within the townland of Raghra , at the borders of counties Offaly, Galway and Roscommon, with the majority of the population living east of the bridge in...
- Shannon HarbourShannon HarbourShannon Harbour older name Cluain Uaine Bheag)is a small village on the banks of the Grand Canal of Ireland. There are facilities for boats to park up on the edge of the canal. There are two pubs in the village, McIntyre's and the Canal Bar....
- ShinroneShinroneShinrone is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies at the junction of the R491 regional road between Cloughjordan and Roscrea where it is joined by the R492...
- TullamoreTullamoreTullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
- Walsh IslandWalsh IslandWalsh Island is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland. It takes its name from the surrounding hinterland which is a fertile area of land on a hill located in a vast area of bogland known as the Bog of Allen,...
Physical geography
TullamoreTullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
is the county town and largest town in Offaly and is the 30th largest in Ireland. Offaly borders seven counties, the second most of any county after Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, which borders eight. Offaly is bordered by Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
and Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The Slieve Bloom Mountains
Slieve Bloom Mountains
Situated close to the geographical centre of Ireland The Slieve Bloom Mountains rise from the central plain of Ireland to a height of 527 metres. While not very high, they are extensive by local standards...
are in the southern part of the county on the border with Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
. Offaly has the 24th highest county peak in Ireland. The highest point is Arderin
Arderin
Arderin is a mountain on the border between counties Laois and Offaly in Ireland. With a height of 527 metres it is the highest point in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 399th highest summit in Ireland. Uniquely it is the highest point in County Laois and County Offaly.-References:* *...
in the Slieve Blooms at 527 metres (1,729 ft). The Slieve Bloom Mountains contain the county's highest points including Stillbrook Hill
Stillbrook Hill
Stillbrook Hill is a mountain in Offaly, Ireland. With a height of 514 metres it is the second highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains after Arderin and the 428th highest summit in Ireland. It is the second highest mountain in Offaly....
and Wolftrap Mountain
Wolftrap Mountain
Wolftrap Mountain is a mountain in Offaly, Ireland. The mountain is 514 metres high making it the third highest summit in Offaly, the fourth highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 495th highest summit in Ireland. It is the most northerly summit of the Slieve Bloom range.-References:...
which are the county's second and third highest peaks. Croghan Hill
Croghan Hill
Croghan Hill is the remains of an extinct volcano and rises from the Bog of Allen in the midlands of Ireland in County Offaly. Though only 234 m high it commands extensive views of the surrounding midland counties, across the flat, low-lying expanse of the Bog of Allen...
rises from the Bog of Allen and is located in northern Offaly. Although only 234 metres high, it is known for its view over the surrounding area and it stands out by itself.
In the northwestern part of the county is the floodplain of the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
. The River Camcor
River Camcor
The River Camcor is a tributary of the River Little Brosna in central Ireland. It joins the Little Brosna at the town of Birr in County Offaly which in turn joins the River Shannon close to Victoria Lock at Meelick.-References:...
runs through the town of Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
and is a Wild Trout Conservation Area. The River Brosna
River Brosna
The River Brosna is a river in Ireland, flowing through County Westmeath and County Offaly.The river rises in Lough Owel north of Mullingar and is a tributary of the River Shannon. It meets the Shannon at Shannon Harbour.-Course:...
runs across the county from Lough Owel
Lough Owel
Lough Owel is a lough in the Midlands of Ireland, situated north of Mullingar, the county town of Westmeath. It is a deep lake, well known amongst anglers, and holds a few char along with brown trout. Water from Lough Owel feeds the Royal Canal, a canal crossing Ireland from Dublin to the River...
in Westmeath to Shannon Harbour
Shannon Harbour
Shannon Harbour older name Cluain Uaine Bheag)is a small village on the banks of the Grand Canal of Ireland. There are facilities for boats to park up on the edge of the canal. There are two pubs in the village, McIntyre's and the Canal Bar....
. Silver River
Silver River (Ireland)
The Silver River flows from the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the south of County Offaly in central Ireland. The village of Cadamstown, on the river, is home of The Silver River Geological Reserve.-Course:...
runs through several towns in the south of the county before joining Brosna
River Brosna
The River Brosna is a river in Ireland, flowing through County Westmeath and County Offaly.The river rises in Lough Owel north of Mullingar and is a tributary of the River Shannon. It meets the Shannon at Shannon Harbour.-Course:...
near the town of Ferbane
Ferbane
Ferbane is a small town on the north bank of the River Brosna in County Offaly, Ireland, between Birr and Athlone at the junction of the N62 National secondary road and the R436 regional road...
. The Grand Canal also runs across the county from Edenderry
Edenderry, County Offaly
Edenderry is a town in the north of County Offaly, Ireland. It is near the borders with Counties Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. The Grand Canal passes immediately south of the town through the Bog of Allen and there is a short spur to the town centre....
on the north-east to Shannon Harbour before joining the Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
. The county contains many small lakes from Lake Boora to Pallas Lake and it also contains 42 hectares of swamp. There are a number Esker
Esker
An esker is a long winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America...
s in the counties landscape including Esker Riada
Esker Riada
Esker Riada, , is a system of ridges that stretch across the middle of Ireland, between Dublin and Galway.-Geography:The Esker Riada is a collection of eskers, that passes through the counties of Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Westmeath, Offaly, Roscommon and Galway...
.
Offaly largely comprises a flat landscape and is known for its extensive bog and peatlands. There are many large bogs in Offaly including the Bog of Allen
Bog of Allen
The Bog of Allen is a large raised bog in the centre of Ireland between the rivers Liffey and Shannon.The bog's 958 square kilometers stretch into County Offaly, County Meath, County Kildare, County Laois, and County Westmeath. Peat is mechanically harvested on a large scale by Bórd na Móna,...
, Clara bog
Clara bog
Clara Bog is one of the largest relatively intact raised bogs remaining in Ireland. It lies southeast of the R436 regional road between the village of Ballycumber and the town of Clara, in County Offaly....
, Boora bog
Boora bog
Boora Bog is a cutaway peat bog situated in County Offaly, in the Republic of Ireland. One of the features of this bog is a lake, Lough Boora. Peat has been harvested for fuel between the 1950s and 1970s, and the land is now being reclaimed for agricultural and development use...
and Raheenmore Bog
Raheenmore Bog
Raheenmore Bog is a raised bog north-west of Daingean, County Offaly, in the Republic of Ireland. Since the 1980s the greater part of the bog has been maintained as a 162 hectare Nature Reserve, which is currently managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service...
which are spread out across the county with the Bog of Allen extending into four other counties. The county consists of approximately 42,000 hectares of peatlands which is 21% of Offaly's total land area.
Offaly contains approximately 9,000 hectares (22,239 acres) of forest and woodland area, which only amounts to 4.5% of the county's land area. This includes woodlands within the Slieve Blooms and the Lough Boora Parklands. Roughly 75% of Offaly's forested area is Conifer High Forest
Pinophyta
The conifers, division Pinophyta, also known as division Coniferophyta or Coniferae, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. Pinophytes are gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants, the great majority being...
.
History
One of the earliest known settlements in County Offaly is at Boora bogBoora bog
Boora Bog is a cutaway peat bog situated in County Offaly, in the Republic of Ireland. One of the features of this bog is a lake, Lough Boora. Peat has been harvested for fuel between the 1950s and 1970s, and the land is now being reclaimed for agricultural and development use...
which dates back to the Mesolithic era. Excavations here provides evidence of a temporary settlement as no structures were found at the site. Stone axes, arrow heads and blades were discovered which date to between 6.800 - 6,000 BCE.
The monastic complex of Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise
The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
was of the most important in Ireland. Located at the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
near Shannonbridge, it was the greatest centre of learning in Europe during the first millennium. It was regarded as the most important centre for learning, Arts and Crafts and Christianity in Europe and today tourists may see the famous Celtic Crosses of Clonmacnoise at the site.
Before the plantation of Offaly by English settlers, the territories it comprises were controlled principally by the Ó Conchubhair Fáilghe clan in the North/East of the county (anglicised as: O'Conor Faly) and the Ó Céarbhaill of Eile (anglicised as: O'Carroll Ely) in the south. In 1556 an Act of the Irish parliament created "King's County", named after the then King of Spain, England and Ireland Philip
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. After the creation of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
in 1922 the name was changed to County Offaly.
Local government and politics
Offaly County Council based in the county hall in TullamoreTullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
is responsible for local services such as housing policy, social and cultural services, economic development and planning, motor taxation and infrastructural policy in the county. 21 councillors are elected from the 4 electoral areas of Tullamore (7 members), Ferbane (4 members), Edenderry (6 members) and Birr (4 members). Councillors are also elected to town councils in Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
, Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
and Edenderry. At national level Offaly is part of the Laois/Offaly constituency which elects 5 TDs to the Dail. In the 2011 Election parts of the south of County Offaly form part of the North Tipperary constituency.
Demographics
Central Statistics Office (Ireland)
The Central Statistics Office is the statistical agency responsible for the gathering of "information relating to economic, social and general activities and conditions" in Ireland, in particular the National Census which is held every five years. The office is answerable to the Taoiseach and has...
estimates that the increase in population between 2002 and 2006 (7,205) comprised a natural increase of 2,026 people with the balance of 5,179 accounted for by net in-migration from within Ireland as well as abroad. Offaly’s population growth during the period 2002–2006 (11.3%) has been stronger than the National average (8.2%). This may be attributed to proximity to the Greater Dublin Area
Greater Dublin Area
Greater Dublin Area , or simply Greater Dublin, is a term which is used to describe the city of Dublin and various counties in the hinterland of the city in Ireland. The term has no basis in law and no local government, department of government or agency of the state is bound by the term...
, recent increased accessibility to Dublin (M6
M6 motorway (Ireland)
The M6 motorway is a motorway in Ireland, which runs from Dublin to Galway. The M6 extends from its junction with the M4 at Kinnegad all the way west to the outskirts of Galway City, but the Athlone bypass and the approach to Galway city - while of dual carriageway standard - have not been...
, M7, and improved rail services) and the differential in house prices between Dublin and Offaly.
The population of many towns has risen dramatically over the period 1996 to 2006: Birr +21.5%, Tullamore +28.8% and Edenderry +53.9%. Portarlington has had a population increase of 50.1% from 2002 to 2006 alone.
In 2006 the age profile of the population is as follows:
- <15 years ... 22.52%
- 15-64 yrs ... 66.54%
- >65 years ... 10.95%
Places of interest
- A notable tourist attraction is the narrow gauge Clonmacnoise and West Offaly RailwayClonmacnoise and West Offaly RailwayThe Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway is a narrow gauge railway and former tourist attraction in Ireland. Primarily built as an industrial line for hauling newly-cut peat, this 3 ft gauge railway was operated by Bord na Móna and conveys visitors over a 9 km rail journey through Blackwater Bog,...
in Blackwater Bog. - BirrBirrBirr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
in the south of the county is best known for its castle and gardens. Birr CastleBirr CastleBirr Castle is a large castle in the town of Birr in County Offaly, Ireland. It is the home of the seventh Earl of Rosse, and as such the residential areas of the castle are not open to the public, though the grounds and gardens of the demesne are publicly accessible.-Ireland's Historic Science...
is owned by the Parsons family, (the family bears the title: 'Earl of Rosse') and is best known for its 19th-century telescope. - Sculpture in the ParklandsSculpture in the ParklandsThe Sculpture in the Parklands is a land and environmental sculpture park located in Lough Boora, Co. Offaly, Ireland. The park is open to the public 365 days of the year and admission is free. Wheelchair access and disabled parking are available at the sculpture park. The Offaly Ways passes...
around Lough Boora in Boora Bog. - Charleville Castle located in Tullamore
- Ancient ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
monastic site at ClonmacnoiseClonmacnoiseThe monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
along with ancient examples of the Irish High crossHigh crossA high cross or standing cross is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. There was a unique Early Medieval tradition in Ireland and Britain of raising large sculpted stone crosses, usually outdoors...
such as the 'Cross of the Scriptures', the round towerIrish round towerIrish round towers , Cloigthithe – literally "bell house") are early medieval stone towers of a type found mainly in Ireland, with three in Scotland and one on the Isle of Man...
and visitors center. - Kinnitty CastleKinnitty CastleKinnitty Castle is a castle in Kinnitty , County Offaly, Ireland. It is located north of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R421 regional road between the villages of Kinnitty and Cadamstown....
- Slieve Bloom MountainsSlieve Bloom MountainsSituated close to the geographical centre of Ireland The Slieve Bloom Mountains rise from the central plain of Ireland to a height of 527 metres. While not very high, they are extensive by local standards...
with panoramic views of Counties Offaly and LaoisCounty LaoisCounty Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council... - BanagherBanagherBanagher is a town in Ireland, located in the midlands on the western edge of County Offaly in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. The name Banagher comes from its Irish name which translates to English as "the place of the pointed rocks on the Shannon"...
on the river ShannonRiver ShannonThe River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
for cruises along the river. - The Lough Boora Parklands are a haven for wildlife and most notably contain the last Irish population of the grey partridgeGrey PartridgeThe Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix, also known as the English Partridge, Hungarian Partridge, or Hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds...
.
Sport
Gaelic GamesGaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
are the most popular sports in the county with Gaelic Football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and Hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
teams present in all parish communities throughout the county. Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
is generally considered a Hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
stronghold. The team have won 4 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
s. The county teams also have had national success in both Hurling and Gaelic Football, winning the Liam McCarthy Cup
Liam McCarthy Cup
The MacCarthy Perpetual Challenge Cup is a trophy awarded annually by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the hurling team that wins the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.-The trophy:...
4 times and the Sam Maguire Cup
Sam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup, often called The Sam , is the name of the cup that is awarded to winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
3 times. The football team is perhaps best known for the Seamus Darby
Séamus Darby
Séamus Darby is an Irish former sportsperson who played Gaelic football for County Offaly in the 1970s and 1980s...
goal in the dying minutes of the 1982 football final when Offaly took the title by one point denying Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
a historic 5 All-Ireland titles in a row.
Other popular sports in the county include Rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
and Association Football where Tullamore Town F.C.
Tullamore Town F.C.
Tullamore Town F.C. is an Irish football club currently playing in the Newstalk A Championship in the Republic of Ireland. The club hails from Tullamore, Co Offaly in Ireland, and play their home matches at Leah Victoria Park. Club colours are Royal Blue and their current manager is Jimmy Greene...
are in the A Championship
A Championship
The A Championship was the third tier in the Republic of Ireland football league system. It was created in 2008 by the FAI to act as the first stop for clubs hoping to move into the League of Ireland, but cancelled at the end of the 2011 season...
.
Economy
Bog of Allen
The Bog of Allen is a large raised bog in the centre of Ireland between the rivers Liffey and Shannon.The bog's 958 square kilometers stretch into County Offaly, County Meath, County Kildare, County Laois, and County Westmeath. Peat is mechanically harvested on a large scale by Bórd na Móna,...
. Bord na Móna
Bord na Móna
Bord na Móna , abbreviated BNM, is a semi-state company in Ireland, created in 1946 by the Turf Development Act 1946. The company is responsible for the mechanised harvesting of peat, primarily in the Midlands of Ireland...
was founded in 1946 and provided employment to hundreds of people in Offaly by making peat briquettes (for home domestic use) and supplying peat to power stations operated by the ESB. Peat briquettes are currently made at the Bord na Móna factory at Derrinlough near Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
. Consequently with vast reserves of peat the ESB has a number of power stations providing energy to the national grid. Today, power stations are operating at Shannonbridge
Shannonbridge
Shannonbridge is a village located on the River Shannon, at the junction of the R444 and R357 regional roads in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies within the townland of Raghra , at the borders of counties Offaly, Galway and Roscommon, with the majority of the population living east of the bridge in...
and Edenderry
Edenderry, County Offaly
Edenderry is a town in the north of County Offaly, Ireland. It is near the borders with Counties Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. The Grand Canal passes immediately south of the town through the Bog of Allen and there is a short spur to the town centre....
. With the continuing depletion of the bogs a number of power stations have closed down in recent years. The ESB power station at lumcloon, Ferbane
Ferbane
Ferbane is a small town on the north bank of the River Brosna in County Offaly, Ireland, between Birr and Athlone at the junction of the N62 National secondary road and the R436 regional road...
was also a major employer in the midlands but closed in 2001. Rhode
Rhode, County Offaly
Rhode is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is situated on the R400 at its junction with the R441 which leads to Edenderry, the nearest town, located 12 km east of Rhode....
power station also closed down soon afterwards. These were major landmarks in Offaly with large cooling tower
Cooling tower
Cooling towers are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere. Cooling towers may either use the evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid to near the wet-bulb air temperature or in the case of closed circuit dry cooling towers rely...
s that were visible for miles around Offaly and beyond, but were demolished soon after the power stations closed. Many bogs are now used as wildlife reserves or for tourism activities such as lough Boora.
The opening of the Grand Canal in the 18th century brought prosperity to towns such as Banagher
Banagher
Banagher is a town in Ireland, located in the midlands on the western edge of County Offaly in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. The name Banagher comes from its Irish name which translates to English as "the place of the pointed rocks on the Shannon"...
and Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
. Both towns were important stops on the Dublin to Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
navigation which supported a number of industries and brought cheap and efficient water transport to the county in that era.
The Celtic Tiger
Celtic Tiger
Celtic Tiger is a term used to describe the economy of Ireland during a period of rapid economic growth between 1995 and 2007. The expansion underwent a dramatic reversal from 2008, with GDP contracting by 14% and unemployment levels rising to 14% by 2010...
also brought an increase in economic activity to Offaly with business enterprise and industrial parks opening in Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
, Edenderry and Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
. Many people particularly in the east of the county are within an easy commuting distance to Dublin where many find employment.
Rail
Offaly has a number of train stations, these including Tullamore railway stationTullamore railway station
Tullamore railway station serves the town of Tullamore in County Offaly, Ireland.The station first opened in Tullamore on 2 October 1854.- Awards :*2004 - 2nd Prize - Intercity Stations Category*2003 - 2nd Prize - Intercity Stations Category...
, Clara railway station
Clara railway station
Clara railway station serves the town of Clara in County Offaly.The station opened on 3 October 1859. It is on the main Dublin to Ballina / Westport / Galway railway line. Clara was once a railway junction, with a branch to Streamstown on the now disused Athlone–Mullingar link....
and Portarlington railway station. Tullamore and Clara railway stations are on the main Dublin to Ballina
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina is a large town in north County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west...
/Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
/Westport
Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean....
railway line with regular trains serving the area especially for Dublin commuters. All trains to the south and west of Ireland pass through Portarlington railway station from Heuston Railway Station in Dublin. Birr railway station closed in the 1960s.
Road
Three main national secondary routes pass through the county. The N52 roadN52 road (Ireland)
The N52 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It links the M7 motorway from just south of Nenagh, County Tipperary to the M1 motorway north of Dundalk in County Louth.The road is long.-Quality of Road:...
passes from Kilbeggan
Kilbeggan
-Geography:Kilbeggan is situated on the River Brosna, in the south of County Westmeath. It lies southeast of Lough Ennell, north of the boundary with County Offaly, about 9 kilometres north of Tullamore. Kilbeggan is surrounded by the gently rolling Esker Riada, the linear sand hills that stretch...
to Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
and Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
which then continues to Nenagh
Nenagh
Nenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
where it intersects with the M7. The N62
N62 road (Ireland)
The N62 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It links the M6 motorway east of Athlone, County Westmeath with junction 6 of the M8 motorway south-east of Thurles in County Tipperary...
from Athlone passes through Ferbane
Ferbane
Ferbane is a small town on the north bank of the River Brosna in County Offaly, Ireland, between Birr and Athlone at the junction of the N62 National secondary road and the R436 regional road...
and Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
and continues onto Roscrea
Roscrea
Roscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin...
and Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
. The N80
N80 road (Ireland)
The N80 road is a national secondary road in Ireland that runs southeastwards from its junction with the N52 and R443 in the town of Tullamore in County Offaly, to the N11 at Ballynahallin, just north of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, a distance of 116 km...
route starts in Tullamore and continues to the south east passing through Portlaoise and Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
. There are no main national primary routes in the county, however, the M6
M6 motorway (Ireland)
The M6 motorway is a motorway in Ireland, which runs from Dublin to Galway. The M6 extends from its junction with the M4 at Kinnegad all the way west to the outskirts of Galway City, but the Athlone bypass and the approach to Galway city - while of dual carriageway standard - have not been...
skirts the county to the north and the M7 skirts the county to the south through Moneygall
Moneygall
Moneygall is a small village on the border of counties Offaly and North Tipperary, in Ireland. It is situated on the R445 road between Dublin and Limerick. At the time of the 2006 census, the village had a population of 298. Moneygall has a Catholic church, five shops, a post office, a national...
. Road infrastructure has improved with the completion of the Tullamore bypass in 2009 and improved access to regional citys following completion of the intercity motorway network.
Bus
Bus ÉireannBus Éireann
Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
provide public transport services throughout the county with regular bus services to Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
and Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
from Athlone bus station. Other private bus coach services provide direct bus services from Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
to Dublin such as Kearns bus service who run several services daily. Slieve Bloom Coaches run services from Tullamore and Portarlington to Dublin.
Waterway
The Grand Canal connecting Dublin to the river Shannon was constructed through the towns of Edenderry and Tullamore and joins the Shannon at Shannon HarbourShannon Harbour
Shannon Harbour older name Cluain Uaine Bheag)is a small village on the banks of the Grand Canal of Ireland. There are facilities for boats to park up on the edge of the canal. There are two pubs in the village, McIntyre's and the Canal Bar....
. Traditionally this was an important route for transport, communication and trade between Dublin, Limerick and the midlands of Ireland. The route fell into decline as road transport became more popular. Much of the route is now used for boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and leisure activities.
Radio
Midlands 103Midlands 103
Midlands 103 is an Irish local radio station broadcasting to Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.The station's headquarters is in Tullamore, and it also has studios in Athlone, Mullingar, and Portlaoise.- Presenters :*Aidan Barry...
(originally Midlands Radio 3) which broadcasts to Laois, Offaly and Westmeath is based in Tullamore and has studios across the midlands.
RTE's medium wave transmitter broadcasting RTE Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
was also located in Tullamore but transmission stopped in 2008.
Offaly Express
The Offaly Express is a regional newspapers in Ireland that serves County Offaly. The paper was part of the Leinster Leader Group, which was sold to Johnston Press in late 2005 and are now operated by...
, Offaly Independent
Offaly Independent
The Offaly Independent is a newspaper that covers Tullamore, Ireland and the surrounding area. It is published by Celtic Media Group.The newspaper temporarily changed its name to the Obama Independent for its June 20, 2011, edition to commemorate U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Moneygall...
and Tullamore Tribune are based in Tullamore. The Midland Tribune based in Birr covers local news in the west and south of the county as well as parts of North Tipperary including the towns of Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
, Roscrea
Roscrea
Roscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin...
and Nenagh
Nenagh
Nenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
and surrounding areas.
People
- The former TaoiseachTaoiseachThe Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, Brian CowenBrian CowenBrian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
, was born in Clara, County Offaly on 10 January 1960. He now lives on the outskirts of Tullamore. - The short story writer, novelist and playwright William TrevorWilliam TrevorWilliam Trevor, KBE is an Irish author and playwright. He is considered one of the elder statesman of the Irish literary world and widely regarded as the greatest contemporary writer of short stories in the English language....
(KBE) was born in County Offaly, and raised in County CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. - The world-famous scientist John JolyJohn JolyJohn Joly FRS was an Irish physicist, famous for his development of radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer...
was born at BracknaghBracknaghBracknagh or Bracnagh is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is at the junction of the R442 and R419 regional roads, half way between Portarlington and Rathangan ....
in 1857. - The current Irish Open champion, golfer Shane LowryShane Lowry (golfer)Shane Lowry is an Irish professional golfer.-Amateur career:Lowry was born in Clara, County Offaly, the son of Offaly 1982 All-Ireland winning footballer Brendan Lowry. He attended Athlone Institute of Technology as a scholarship student on the Higher Certificate in Sport and Recreation...
. - Ged CorcoranGed CorcoranGed Corcoran born 28 March 1983 is an Irish rugby league player for Toulouse Olympique. He plays as a prop and can play in the second-row. He is the elder brother of Rochdale Hornets player Wayne Corcoran....
, rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player, former Halifax RLFCHalifax RLFCHalifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
of Super LeagueSuper LeagueSuper League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
and currently playing for Toulouse OlympiqueToulouse OlympiqueToulouse Olympique are a French professional rugby league team from Toulouse, in the southwest of France. They were founded on 22 October, in 1937 two years after the founding of the French Rugby League Federation. Between 1995 and 2002 the club were known as Spacers de Toulouse, due to links with...
. - William ParsonsWilliam Parsons, 3rd Earl of RosseWilliam Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, Knight of the Order of St Patrick was an Irish astronomer who had several telescopes built. His 72-inch telescope "Leviathan", built 1845, was the world's largest telescope until the early 20th century.-Life:He was born in Yorkshire, England, in the city of...
, 3rd Earl of RosseEarl of RosseEarl of Rosse is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, both times for members of the Parsons family. It is not to be confused with the Scottish title of Earl of Ross. The Parsons family were originally an English family of which five brothers settled in Ireland during the...
, astronomer - Barry GlendenningBarry GlendenningBarry Glendenning is an Irish sports journalist who currently holds the position of deputy sports editor on the Guardian Unlimited website run by the UK newspaper The Guardian. He is perhaps best known for his work on Guardian Unlimited's football podcast Football Weekly hosted by James Richardson...
, journalist - MundyMundyMundy is an Irish singer-songwriter. 'Mundy' is a nickname given to Enright, as it not only refers to his name Edmund, but it is how he pronounces the word "Monday".-Biography:...
, musician - Neil Delamere, comedian
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Offaly)
- Lord Lieutenant of King's CountyLord Lieutenant of King's CountyThis is a list of those who have served as Lord Lieutenant of King's County. The office was created on 23 August 1831.*William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse 7 October 1831 – 31 October 1867*Thomas Bernard 17 December 1867 – 13 December 1883...
- High Sheriff of King's CountyHigh Sheriff of King's CountyThe High Sheriff of King's County was the British Crown’s judicial representative in King's County , Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Offaly County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and...
External links
- Offaly County Council
- Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce
- Tullamore Life & Community
- The Offaly Express Newspaper
- Offaly Football and Hurling Club New York
- Athlone Cricket Club - County Offaly
- Ferbane Town Website - County Offaly
- Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society