Offaly is located in the midlands and
is a county within the province of Leinster. It is bordered by seven
other counties namely Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare,
Laois, and Tipperary. The present county was shired in 1556 by Mary
I of England during one of the Plantations of Ireland, and at that
time was called King's County after King Philip II of Spain. The
county town of this era was Philipstown (now re-named as Daingean)
until the nineteenth century. The county town today is Tullamore.
However, the former county name of "King's County" is still in
partial use to this day and will be seen in the title deeds to a
property when they are transferred from a buyer to a seller.
Holiday Home Offaly
The north-western area of the county is a floodplain of the River
Shannon, whilst a large part of southern Offaly is covered by the
Slieve Bloom Mountains. The county also contains the numerous large
bogs, of which the Bog of Allen and Boora Bog are the most notable.
The county area measures at 1,999 km² and the population is 71,000.
Some towns in the east of Offaly have experienced rapid growth in
recent years due to their proximity to the Republic’s capital city
of Dublin via an improved road network. For example, Edenderry and
Portarlington (which is technically half in Laois as well as Offaly)
have seen population increases of over 50% between the years 2002
and 2006.
Clonmacnoise
An Early Christian site founded by St. Ciarán in the mid-6th century
on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. The site includes the
ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th -13th century), two round
towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early
Christian graveslabs in Western Europe. The original high crosses
and a selection of graveslabs are on display in the visitor centre.
The long and varied history of Clonmacnoise is recounted in an
audiovisual presentation shown in the visitor centre. There are also
exhibitions that deal with the flora, fauna and landscape of the
region. Location: 21km from Athlone signposted from the N62 or 20km
from Ballinasloe signposted from the R357.
Peatlands of the Shannon Region
‘Peat’ is the international term – in Ireland we call it ‘turf’ and
we call the peatlands ‘the bog’. Whatever the name may be, they are
a wonderful entity which cover one sixth of the Irish countryside.
The peatlands spread like a blanket over the greater part of the
mountains and hills of the west and they form immense areas of
almost level ground in the midlands, especially in the valley of the
River Shannon. Turf means different things to different people. For
thousands of years farmers who lived within walking distance of the
bog dug the sodden turf every summer, dried it in little stacks and
carried it home for fuel. Thousands of people still do this, while
hundreds of thousands in towns and suburbs buy ‘briquettes’, bales
of compressed and polished blocks of peat produced in factories in
the midlands. The briquettes burn to make a cosy fire – with smoke
which is renowned as free from pollutants. Conservationists point
out that, over the greater part of Europe, peat has been dug away to
such an extent that the bog has almost disappeared from many
countries. Ireland and Finland retain a greater proportion of it
than any other lands. This makes it a precious feature of our
heritage and great areas of peatland are now carefully preserved for
posterity. The bog has a unique assemblage of beautiful wild flowers
and is a haven for many species of birds and other creatures. At the
other extreme, the peat is a valuable industrial fuel. Excavated by
enormous machines, it is carried on miles and miles of special
railway track and fed to power stations, brought to briquette
factories or baled as a garden soil improver. Over the past fifty
years this has provided employment for thousands of people in
regions where there was very little other work.
Holiday Home Rental Offaly
Slieve Bloom Walks
Nature's beauty and diversity is part of the attraction of most
walks in rural Ireland, but the special EcoWalks in Slieve Bloom
draw the walker's attention to flora, fauna and geology in a much
more concentrated way; indeed, they will give you new eyes for
familiar places, and enrich the walking experience wherever you go!
Experienced friendly local guides will take you to their wilderness
areas, which are only accessible on foot and rarely frequented by
hill walkers. Choose from Self- Guided or Guided Walking holidays.
Special 2-7 day Walking Breaks to suit all levels of fitness.
For those who prefer to enjoy the countryside on two wheels choose
Self- Guided Cycling.Cycle quiet country roads. Enjoy cosy country
pubs. Visit ancient monastic sites, holy wells, haunted castles,
historic gardens. Relax in the evening in the welcoming comfort of a
charming Country House in front of a glowing turf fire. Enjoy
traditional Irish hospitality at its best. Small group size: max 10
provide the ideal opportunity to have great fun, and make lasting
friendships. We can tailor make multi activity breaks featuring a
combination of walking, cycling, horseriding, golf, falconry, garden
and heritage visits. Nature's beauty and diversity is part of the
attraction of most walks in rural Ireland, but the special EcoWalks
in Slieve Bloom draw the walker's attention to flora, fauna and
geology in a much more concentrated way; indeed, they will give you
new eyes for familiar places, and enrich the walking experience
wherever you go!
Leap Castle
Through turbulent centuries, Leap Castle kept watch for the lords of
Ely O'Carroll and still stands fortress-like on its perch
overlooking a vast stretch of the countryside. From here the
O'Carrolls set out for victory and defeat, here they brought their
brides and captives, within lurks Ireland's most intriguing
elemental presence - unique in that it is reputed to give off a
ghastly ghostly odour. Leap Castle, Ireland's most haunted castle is
open to visitors on request.
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.
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Cottages Offaly
Ballybrittan Castle
Ballybrittan Castle is an extended tower-house which takes its name
from the tower or a castle built in the late 15th Century as an
O’Connor stronghold in the townland of Ballybrittan, near Edenderry,
Co. Offaly. Although a major portion of the castle was taken down in
the 19th Century the overall suite of buildings is regarded as one
of the best surviving examples of this house type. It still
incorporates 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th century features reflecting
many extensions, renewals and rebuildings over hundreds of years.
While the O’Connor ownership ceased in the 16th Century Ballybrittan
is a rare Irish example of a house in continuous use for well over
five hundred years for its original purpose as a residence. The
Castle and the O’Connor lands in the area were granted to Henry
Warren, later Sir. Henry Warren, in the Tudor plantation of Offaly
in the late 1550’s. Sir Henry Warren, (subsequently Sheriff and then
MP for Kings County), as Ambassador from Queen Elizabeth I to
O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and O’Donnell, Prince of Tyrconnell, in
1594 detained hostages as his guests at Ballybrittan to bind the
Ulster Princes to the peace. Although twice married Warren produced
no children. One of his wives, Alicia, was the daughter of Adam
Loftus, Archbishop of Armagh, and first Provost of Dublin
University, Trinity College. Lady Alicia Warren’s burial place is at
the nearby medieval Churchyard. Warren was succeeded by his nephew
Anthony who by his marriage to Mary Preston, daughter of the fourth
Viscount Gormanston brought the property into that family. For their
support in the royalist cause the Prestons lost their lands,
including Ballybrittan, to the Parliamentarians but in 1661 they
successfully petitioned Charles II to be restored to their
possessions. By the late 17th Century Ballybrittan had passed into
the ownership of the Barnewall Family, Barons Trimleston and was
sold in 1867 by the 16th Baron Trimleston to Robert Elliot through
the landed Estates Courts. Today what remains of the tower-house is
just three stories compared with the original four or five stories.
The ground floor is barrel vaulted with mural staircases to the
first and second floors. Both in the barrel vaulted ground floor and
in the mural staircases it still retains the wattle and daub
centring. It also retains two attractively carved surrounds to Tudor
window mouldings probably inserted by Warren after he was granted
the tower and lands. The front of the house as it currently stands
is at right angles to the first extension from the tower. It now has
the appearance of a long five bay gable ended house, probably built
in the early 18th Century at right angles to an existing 17th
Century house. The interior of the house boasts attractive early
18th Century joinery all of which has been carefully restored over
the past five or six years.
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Lough Boora Parklands
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
native woodland. In 1919 they raised an embankment along the lower
side of the bog and closed off the gravity drainage system. Part of
the area flooded by rainwater and springs has become a haven for
birdlife. The turraun site is the breeding ground of the few
remaining grey partridge which need the unique habitat to survive.
For those who would like to watch the birds a special bird hut
commands a perfect view over the lake. The parkland commands six
lakes most of which are stocked with fish and all providing vital
habitat for native and wintering birds. The magnificent wetlands and
wildlife of Lough Boora now host some of the most innovative land
and environmental sculptures in Ireland. The artists, inspired by
the rich natural and industrial legacy of the boglands, have created
a series of large-scale sculptures that are now part of the
Parklands permanent collection. A paradise for outdoor enthusiasts
interested in its unique flora and fauna, now enhanced by innovative
works of art that change with the weather, through the seasons and
the years. Come visit the Parklands and stimulate all the senses as
you explore this expansive unencumbered landscape.
Towns and Villages in Offaly
Other towns of note within County Offaly include Ballycumber,
Banagher, Bellmount, Birr, Bracknagh, Clara, Cloghan, Clonbulloge,
Coolagary, Ferbane, Geashill, Kilcormac, Killeigh, Kinnitty,
Moneygall, Rhode, Shannonbridge and Shinrone.
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