Introduction to Offaly
Offaly is łThe Faithful County˛ it lies in Irelands midlands and parts of the county lie on the banks of the river Shannon while other parts are made up of the beautiful Slieve Bloom mountain range.
A Brief History of Offaly
Offaly is steeped in medieval history and the county still reflects this today.
Clonmacnoise is a medieval monastery founded by St. Ciaran in 545-548. Famous for its scholarship and piety, it thrived from the 7th to the 12th century. Many kings of Tara and of Connaught were buried there. Today, a group of stone churches, a cathedral, two round towers and three High Crosses remain.
Birr Castle and its one hundred acre demesne is an excellent example of early 17th century architecture. The demesne is a world famous garden, park and arboretum with more than 1000 different species of trees and shrubs and also boasts the giant 72-inch reflecting telescope built in 1845.
The town of Birr, a gentrified estate town, grew up in the shadow of the castle where the Earls of Rosse have lived for almost four centuries. Birr is famous for its authentic Georgian layout, with houses sporting original fanlights, door panelling and iron railings.
Before leaving Offaly, take a trip on the Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway. The 45-minute tour covers 6 miles of bogland and gives a fascinating insight into the history and development of the Blackwater raised bogs - an area of significant ecological importance.
Areas of Interest in Offaly
Lough Boora Parklands Nature And Wildlife Attraction
Lough Boora Parklands is located in County Offaly. On the area, at Turraun, 250 acres is being allowed to revert back to nature. Some of the area has been flooded to create a habitat for birds and nature.
Charleville Castle Historic Buildings
Charleville is Ireland's finest gothic revival castle. It is considered to be Francis Johnston's masterpiece, he also designed the G.P.O in Dublin. The castle was built between 1798 and 1810.
Clonmacnoise & West Offaly Railway
Take a unique journey into the heart of Blackwater bog Co.Offaly. Travel by rail for 9km in a specially designed rail coach. Learn about the past present and future uses of the area.
Blackwater Bog is an industrial bog where milled peat is harvested for the generation of electricity. Stop off along the route and see a demonstration of the tradition method of turf cutting. Learn about the flora, fauna and archaeology of the area. See if you can spot the insect eating sundew plant or some orchids as you journey through the bog. Pass through our wetlands that have attracted a variety of wild fowl. Discover more about the unique preservation powers of the bog and some of the more unusual archaeological finds.
Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
The Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre is located in the original 1897 Bonded warehouse. Start your tour with an Audio-visual presentation, (different languages available). Wander through the recreated working stations of the old distillery, such as the malting, boiling or cooperage areas. Throughout the tour, opportunities are there to interact with the artefacts. Indeed, not only can you learn about the whiskey making process, by experiencing how to shovel or grind the barley the old way, but also, you will find out why the distilling business was so important in Tullamore.
At the end of the tour enjoy a complimentary tasting of Tullamore Dew Whiskey/Irish Mist Liqueur.
Birr Castle Demesne & Historic Science Centre
Birr Castle Demesne and Ireland's Historic Science Centre is host to Ireland's largest gardens, offering a Winter Garden, Formal Garden, Terrace Garden a River Garden. The beautiful parkland features thousands of rare trees and plants collected from all over the world. The rivers, lakes and waterfalls are all memorable.
The Great Telescope constructed at Birr Castle in the 1840's, the largest in the world for 70 years, is now fully restored and looks and moves just as it did 150 years ago.
Ireland's Historic Science Centre features pioneering achievements in fields of astronomy, photography engineering and horticulture.
Traditional Music and Craic in Offaly
With Tullamore hosting the Fleadh this year you might want to get in the mood at one of Offaly's regular Irish Traditional Music Sessions...
Eugenes Bar, Tullamore 8pm free
Traditional Music Session, Every Thursday featuring a host of local musicians in the build up to Fleadh Fever
Kinnitty Castle 9.30pm free Traditional session every Friday in the dungeon bar featuring the best of local musicians,
The Slieve Bloom Sessions 9.30pm free
Regular weekly tradtional Irish night in the Slieve Bloom area, next Wednesday it is in Dempseys in Cadamstown