Shinrone is a village in County Offaly

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

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 lies at the junction of the R491

R491 road

The R491 is a regional road in Ireland linking Nenagh, County Tipperary via Cloughjordan to Roscrea, County Tipperary. The road is approximately long.-See also:* Roads in Ireland - * Secondary Roads* Regional Roads...

 regional road

Regional road

A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...

 between Cloughjordan

Cloughjordan

Cloughjordan, officially Cloghjordan , is a town in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is in the barony of Ormond Lower, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....

 and 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...

 where it is joined by the R492. According to the 2006 census the population is 591 persons.

People

American President Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

's earliest known relative Joseph Kearney, whose family subsequently moved to 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...

 who would be the Presidents 7th great-grandfather was from Shinrone where the Kearney family lived and died for four generations. Research from Trinity college show this to be the Presidents earliest known relatives.

Buildings of note

Whilst there are other buildings of architectural interest in and around Shinrone, the following are featured on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage website

• Gloster House, Glasderry More townland (C17th, remodeled c1730) Two storey over basement country house.
• Annaghbrook House (c1720) Previously derelict house with some features of architectural merit being renovated.
• Gloster Obelisk, Glasderry More townland. (c1730) Folly consisting of Arch with two flanking Obelisks. Believed to be the work of Edward Lovett Pearce.
• Range of outbuildings in Cloughmoyle townland (c1740) Attached to a much modified house these ranges of domestic outbuildings are mostly original.
• Tierney’s, Main St. (c1750 renovated c1860) Two storey house with pub. Steeply pitched roof with terracotta ridge tiles.
• Detached three storey house with disused shopfront, Main St (c1780) Well proportioned detached house with early C20th shopfront.
• Single storey Lodge, Glasderry More townland. (c1820) Lodge to Gloster House, Triple pile with some beautiful detailing.
• Bridge over Little Brosna
  Brosna, County Offaly
  Brosna is a hamlet in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies in the valley of the Little Brosna River less than one kilometer off the N62 national secondary road. The main street is lined by derelict and empty terraced houses.-See also:...
  
  , Main St (c1820) Double arch bridge. Eastern arch has been converted to a pedestrian underpass.
• St Mary’s Church of Ireland (1821) Commissioned by the Board of First Fruits
  Board of First Fruits
  The Board of First Fruits was an institution of the Church of Ireland that was established in 1711 by Anne, Queen of Great Britain in order to build and improve churches and glebe houses in Ireland. This was funded from taxes collected on clerical incomes which were in turn funded by tithes...
  
   this church has a wider nave than usual.
• Pair of semi-detached two storey houses, Main St. (c1850) Attractive pair of houses retaining many original features.

• Shinrone Roman Catholic Church (c1860 renovated c1980) T plan church with cross finials on gables.
• Two storey Lodge, Glasderry More townland. (1869) Another lodge to Gloster House again with interesting detailing.
• Former school, Main St (1874) Attractive L shaped building behind cast iron railings.
• Kilballyskea House, Lilballyskea townland. (c1880) Fine three bay, two storey country house with older outbuildings associated with previous house on this site.
• Remains of water hydrant (c1880) Cast iron, top missing.
• Building formerly Guest’s shop, Main St. (c1900) Disused single storey early C20th shop premises.

In Fiction

Arlo Guthrie

Arlo Guthrie

Arlo Davy Guthrie is an American folk singer. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo often sings songs of protest against social injustice...

's visit to Shinrone is mentioned in Tim Winton's novel The Riders

The Riders

The Riders is a novel by Australian author Tim Winton published in 1994. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1995.-Plot summary:The Riders tells the story of an Australian man, Fred Scully, and his 7 year old daughter Billie. Scully, as he is known, and his wife Jennifer have planned to move...

- shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1995. A character in the novel overhears locals in the small Irish town of Shinrone

Shinrone

Shinrone 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...

, recount the night Arlo Guthrie came to play.
The actual event occurred in February 1988, when Arlo played the local gymnasium in Shinrone, County Offaly. The concert was organised by a local postman, Tom Stapleton.

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland