Edenderry, County Offaly
Encyclopedia
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.
The R401 road
from Kinnegad
to the north and the R402
from Enfield
to the east join at the northeastern end of the Main St. At the Grand Canal they separate, with the R402 continuing westwards towards Tullamore
and the R401 heads south to Rathangan
and Kildare
Town.
Edenderry is close to the peat-burning Edenderry Power Station
- the first Independent Power Producer
(I.P.P) in Ireland, situated in Clonbullogue a few kilometres to the south.
The Town is also home many music acts ranging from traditional irish music to heavy metal out of which the most famous would be the Sean Norman Ceili Band (Seen below at the Grand Nevele Hotel
, Ellenville, New York, in November 2000.)
's rebellion. This subsequently passed by marriage to the Blundell
family and was sacked in 1691 by the army of James II
.
The Blundell's land passed subsequently to the Marquess of Downshire
who reversed the earlier opposition of the Blundell sisters to the establishment of a branch to the Grand Canal to Edenderry and paid for the £692 cost the project, which was completed in 1802.
By 1716 there was thriving woollen cloth manufacturing, established by Quakers, which employed around 1,000 people. By 1911 the town had grown to 2,204 people. Other industries included the factory of Daniel Alesbury who made a variety of woodwork as well as the first car manufactured in Ireland, the Alesbury
, in 1907.
A railway line connected Edenderry to nearby Enfield
until 1963. The line provided both passenger and goods service until 1931, and goods only until its final closure. In the years up to 1963 the line saw very infrequent service, and mostly carried livestock, sugar beet, and turf, as well as private excursions. Little remains of the line, except for occasional landmarks, such as the station house near the town centre which is now a commercial business known as Station House Enterprises which is also owned and run by Sean Norman. (See the gallery below for photos of the Old Station house)
County Offaly
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...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It is near the borders with Counties 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...
, 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...
and 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...
. The Grand Canal
Grand Canal of Ireland
The Grand Canal is the southernmost of a pair of canals that connect Dublin, in the east of Ireland, with the River Shannon in the west,via Tullamore and a number of other villages and towns, the two canals nearly encircling Dublin's inner city. Its sister canal on the Northside of Dublin is the...
passes immediately south of the town through 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,...
and there is a short spur to the town centre.
The R401 road
R401 road
The R401 road is a regional road in Ireland, linking Kildare, County Kildare to Kinnegad in County Meath.The route is long.-References:* – Department of Transport...
from Kinnegad
Kinnegad
Kinnegad or Kinagad is a town in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is near the border with County Meath, at the junction of the N6 and the N4 - two of Ireland's main east-west roads...
to the north and the R402
R402 road
The R402 road is a regional road in Ireland, linking the M4 at Enfield, County Meath to the R420 east of Tullamore in County Offaly.-Route:It starts in the centre of Enfield; crosses the R148 and M4 at a complex junction at the edge of the town.Immediately enters County Kildare at Johnstown...
from Enfield
Enfield, County Meath
Enfield or Innfield is a town in south County Meath, Ireland, situated between Kilcock and Kinnegad and very close to the border with County Kildare...
to the east join at the northeastern end of the Main St. At the Grand Canal they separate, with the R402 continuing westwards towards 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 the R401 heads south to Rathangan
Rathangan, County Kildare
Rathangan is a town in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, with a population of 1,718. It is located from the centre of Dublin, and from Kildare, at the intersection of the R401, R414, and R419 regional roads. The Slate River and the Grand Canal run through the town.Rathangan is situated beside...
and Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
Town.
Edenderry is close to the peat-burning Edenderry Power Station
Edenderry Power Station
Edenderry Power Station is a large peat-fired power station near Edenderry, in the Republic of Ireland. The station is capable of generating up to of power. Making it the second largest peat-fired power station in the country. It is owned by Bord na Mona since 2006 and is part of the Powergen...
- the first Independent Power Producer
Independent Power Producer
An Independent Power Producer is an entity, which is not a public utility, but which owns facilities to generate electric power for sale to utilities and end users...
(I.P.P) in Ireland, situated in Clonbullogue a few kilometres to the south.
The Town is also home many music acts ranging from traditional irish music to heavy metal out of which the most famous would be the Sean Norman Ceili Band (Seen below at the Grand Nevele Hotel
Nevele Grand Hotel
The Nevele Grande Hotel was a high rise resort hotel located in the Town of Wawarsing, just outside of Ellenville, New York, that closed its doors in 2009. The Nevele dated back to the days of the Borscht Belt, opening in 1903...
, Ellenville, New York, in November 2000.)
History
In the 16th century, it had the name of Coolestown, after the family of Cooley or Cowley, who had a castle here, defended in 1599 against the Earl of TyroneEarl of Tyrone
The Earl of Tyrone is a title created three times in the Peerage of Ireland.It was first created as part of the Tudor attempt to establish a uniform social structure in Ireland by converting the Gaelic kings and chiefs into hereditary nobles of the Kingdom of Ireland...
's rebellion. This subsequently passed by marriage to the Blundell
Viscount Blundell
Viscount Blundell was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1720 for Sir Montague Blundell, 4th Baronet, Member of Parliament for Haslemere between 1715 and 1722. He was made Baron Blundell, of Edenberry in the King's County, at the same time, also in the Peerage of Ireland. He had...
family and was sacked in 1691 by the army of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
.
The Blundell's land passed subsequently to the Marquess of Downshire
Marquess of Downshire
Marquess of Downshire is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1789 for Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough, a former Secretary of State....
who reversed the earlier opposition of the Blundell sisters to the establishment of a branch to the Grand Canal to Edenderry and paid for the £692 cost the project, which was completed in 1802.
By 1716 there was thriving woollen cloth manufacturing, established by Quakers, which employed around 1,000 people. By 1911 the town had grown to 2,204 people. Other industries included the factory of Daniel Alesbury who made a variety of woodwork as well as the first car manufactured in Ireland, the Alesbury
Alesbury
The Alesbury was an Irish automobile. It was powered by an 8/10hp Stevens-Duryea engine and had solid tires. The car was exhibited in Dublin in 1907, but manufacture lasted only from then until 1908.-References:...
, in 1907.
A railway line connected Edenderry to nearby Enfield
Enfield, County Meath
Enfield or Innfield is a town in south County Meath, Ireland, situated between Kilcock and Kinnegad and very close to the border with County Kildare...
until 1963. The line provided both passenger and goods service until 1931, and goods only until its final closure. In the years up to 1963 the line saw very infrequent service, and mostly carried livestock, sugar beet, and turf, as well as private excursions. Little remains of the line, except for occasional landmarks, such as the station house near the town centre which is now a commercial business known as Station House Enterprises which is also owned and run by Sean Norman. (See the gallery below for photos of the Old Station house)
Demographics
The population of Edenderry (and its environs) has risen by 53.9% from 1996 to 2006:- 1996 ... 3,825
- 2002 ... 4,559
- 2006 ... 5,888
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland