County Offaly (; ga, Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a
county in
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. It is part of the
Eastern and Midland Region and the
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Leinster. It is named after the
ancient
Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history to as far as late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the Sumerian cuneiform script. Ancient history cov ...
Kingdom of Uí Failghe
The kingdom of Uí Fháilghe, ''Uí Failge'' (early spelling) or ''Uíbh Fhailí'' (modern spelling) () was a Gaelic-Irish kingdom which existed to 1550, the name of which (though not the territory) is preserved in the name of County Offaly ( Iris ...
. It was formerly known as King's County, in honour of
Philip II of Spain.
Offaly County Council
Offaly County Council ( ga, Comhairle Chontae Uíbh Fhailí) is the authority responsible for local government in County Offaly, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housi ...
is the
local authority for the county. The county population was 82,668 at the 2022 census.
Central Statistics Office figures
Geography and political subdivisions
Offaly is the 18th largest of Ireland's 32 counties by area and the 24th largest in terms of population. It is the fifth largest of Leinster's 12 counties by size and the 10th largest by population.
Physical geography
Tullamore is the county town and largest town in Offaly and is the
30th largest in Ireland. Offaly borders seven counties:
Galway
Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a city in the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay, and is the sixth most populous city on ...
,
Roscommon,
Tipperary
Tipperary is the name of:
Places
*County Tipperary, a county in Ireland
**North Tipperary, a former administrative county based in Nenagh
**South Tipperary, a former administrative county based in Clonmel
*Tipperary (town), County Tipperary's na ...
,
Laois,
Westmeath
"Noble above nobility"
, image_map = Island of Ireland location map Westmeath.svg
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Ireland
, subdivision_type1 = Province
, subdivision_name1 =
, subdivis ...
,
Kildare and
Meath. The
Slieve Bloom Mountains
The Slieve Bloom Mountains ( ga, Sliabh Bladhma; la, Bladinae montes) is a mountain range in Ireland. They rise from the central plain of Ireland to a height of 527 metres. While not very high, they are extensive by local standards. The high ...
are in the southern part of the county on the border with County Laois. Offaly has the
24th highest county peak in Ireland. The highest point is
Arderin () in the Slieve Blooms at . 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
Croghan Hill ( or ''Brí Éile'') is a hill with a height of in County Offaly, Ireland. The remains of an extinct volcano, it rises from the Bog of Allen and dominates the surrounding plains. Historically known as ''Brí Éile'', it is menti ...
rises from the Bog of Allen and is located in northern Offaly. Although only high, it is known for its view over the surrounding area and it stands out by itself.
The floodplain of the
River Shannon is in the north-western part of the county. The
River Camcor, a Wild Trout Conservation Area, runs through the town of
Birr where it joins the
Little Brosna River. The
River Brosna runs across the county from
Lough Owel
Lough Owel () is a mesotrophic lough in the Midlands of Ireland, situated north of Mullingar, the county town of Westmeath. It has a maximum depth of . Water from Lough Owel feeds the Royal Canal, a canal crossing Ireland from Dublin to the Ri ...
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
Lough Boora to
Pallas Lake and it also contains of swamp land. There are a number of
esker
An esker, eskar, eschar, or os, sometimes called an ''asar'', ''osar'', or ''serpent kame'', is a long, winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North Ame ...
s in the county's landscape including
Esker Riada
The Esker Riada ( ga, Eiscir Riada) is a system of eskers 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, Wes ...
.
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
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.
Much of the bog is state-owned and ma ...
,
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 of peatland which is 21% of Offaly's total land area.
Offaly contains approximately 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.
Baronies
The following are the historical baronies of County Offaly:
*
Ballyboy
*
Ballybritt
*
Ballycowan
In Ireland County, Counties are divided into Civil Parishes and Parishes are further divided into townlands. The following is a list of townlands in County Antrim, Northern Ireland:
__NOTOC__
A
Acravally, Aganlane (also known as Aganlane, Par ...
*
Clonlisk
Clonlisk () is a Barony (Ireland), barony in County Offaly (formerly King's County), Republic of Ireland.
Etymology
Clonlisk derives its name from Clonlisk Castle (near Dunkerrin) and the townland of Clonlisk (Irish ''Cluain Leisc'', "meadow of ...
*
Coolestown
*
Eglish
*
Garrycastle
*
Geashill
*
Kilcoursey
*
Lower Philipstown
*
Upper Philipstown
*
Warrenstown
Warrenstown () is a barony in County Offaly (formerly King's County), Republic of Ireland.
Etymology
Warrenstown takes its name from Ballybrittain Castle, also called Warrenstown Castle, located east of Rhode, a tower house held by the Warren ...
Towns and villages
*
Ballinagar
*
Ballyboy
*
Ballycumber
*
Banagher
*
Belmont
*
Birr
*
Bracknagh
*
Cadamstown
*
Clara
Clara may refer to:
Organizations
* CLARA, Latin American academic computer network organization
* Clara.Net, a European ISP
* Consolidated Land and Rail Australia, a property development consortium
People
* Clara (given name), a feminine gi ...
*
Clareen
*
Cloghan
*
Clonygowan
*
Clonbullogue
*
Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise ( Irish: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined monastery situated in County Offaly in Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone, founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán, a young man from Rathcroghan, County Roscommon. Until the 9th cen ...
*
Coolderry
*
Crinkill
*
Croghan
*
Daingean
Daingean (; or ), formerly Philipstown, named after King Philip II of Spain, 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 of Daingean ...
*
Dunkerrin
*
Edenderry
*
Ferbane
*
Geashill
*
Horseleap
*
Kilcormac
Kilcormac () is a small town in County Offaly, Ireland, located on the N52 at its junction with the R437 regional road, between the towns of Tullamore and Birr. It is a small town of 935 people (as of the 2016 census), many of whom were prev ...
*
Killeigh
*
*
Kinnitty
*
Lusmagh
*
Moneygall
Moneygall () is a small village on the border of counties Offaly and Tipperary, in Ireland. It is situated on the R445 road between Dublin and Limerick. There were 313 people living in the village as of the 2016 census. Moneygall has a Catholic ...
*
Mountbolus
*
Mucklagh
Mucklagh is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland.
Etymology
The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename ''Muclach'' which means 'A place where pigs feed'. The oldest surviving menti ...
*
Pullough
*
Portarlington
*
Rahan
*
Rath
*
Rhode
*
Shannonbridge
*
Shannon Harbour
*
Shinrone
*
Tullamore
*
Tubber
*
Walsh Island
Walsh Island or Walshisland () is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It takes its name from the surrounding hinterland which is a fertile area of land on a hill (104m) located in an area of bogland known as the Bog of Allen, (hence, "island") ...
Local government and politics
Offaly County Council
Offaly County Council ( ga, Comhairle Chontae Uíbh Fhailí) is the authority responsible for local government in County Offaly, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housi ...
is the
local authority for the county. The council 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.
Under the
Local Government Reform Act 2014 the number of councillors was reduced to 19 from 21. The reforms also reduced the number of electoral areas to three:
Tullamore (7 members),
Birr (6 members) and Edenderry (6 members)..
Until the
2011 general election Offaly was part of the
Laois–Offaly constituency which elected five
TDs to the Dáil. Between 1921 and 2011 this consisted of the full territory of both counties. For the 2011 general election, some electoral divisions in South Offaly were part of
Tipperary North.
The
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013 established a new constituency called Offaly for the
2016 general election.
The constituency incorporates all of Offaly from the previous
Laois–Offaly constituency, and 24 electoral divisions from
Tipperary North. This constituency elected 3 TDs to the Dáil. It was abolished in 2020
Since the
2020 general election, Laois–Offaly became a 5-seat constituency again.
History
One of the earliest known settlements in County Offaly is at
Boora Bog which dates back to the
Mesolithic era. Excavations here provide evidence of a temporary settlement as no structures were found at the site. Stone axes, arrowheads and blades were discovered which date to between 6,800 – 6,000 BCE.
The
Dowris Hoard
The Dowris Hoard is the name of an important Bronze Age hoard of over 200 objects found in Dowris, County Offaly, Ireland. Items from the deposit are currently split between two institutions: the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin and the Brit ...
dating from the
Late Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...
was found in a bog at Dowris, Whigsborough near Birr. It is the largest collection of
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...
objects ever found in Ireland.
After
Christianisation
Christianization ( or Christianisation) is to make Christian; to imbue with Christian principles; to become Christian. It can apply to the conversion of an individual, a practice, a place or a whole society. It began in the Roman Empire, conti ...
, the monastic complex of
Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise ( Irish: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined monastery situated in County Offaly in Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone, founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán, a young man from Rathcroghan, County Roscommon. Until the 9th cen ...
was erected at the
River Shannon near Shannonbridge. It is today a significant tourist destination.
The county itself was formed following the
Tudor plantations of Laois and Offaly in an attempt by the
English Crown to expand its sphere of influence in Ireland which had declined following the
Norman Conquest of Ireland. Both Laois (Leix) and Offaly (Uí Failghe) were
petty kingdoms in
Gaelic Ireland located just outside the
Pale (a region around Dublin and the mid-east of Ireland that remained loyal to the
English Crown following the
Norman Conquest). The older kingdoms of Leix and Uí Failghe are not coterminous with the present-day counties that were formed. The
Kingdom of Uí Failghe
The kingdom of Uí Fháilghe, ''Uí Failge'' (early spelling) or ''Uíbh Fhailí'' (modern spelling) () was a Gaelic-Irish kingdom which existed to 1550, the name of which (though not the territory) is preserved in the name of County Offaly ( Iris ...
, from which the name Offaly is derived, was ruled by the Ó Conchobhair Failghe (anglicised as O'Conor Faly) whose territory extended from the east of the county into north Kildare. The Kingdom of Firceall ruled by the O'Molloy clan constituted much of the centre of the county. The Kingdom of
Firceall was part of the
Kingdom of Meath while Uí Failghe was part of the
Kingdom of Leinster
Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ire ...
. Much of the south of the present-day county (as well as northern
County Tipperary) was ruled by Ó Cearbhaill of
Éile
Éile (; sga, Éle, ), commonly anglicised as Ely, was a medieval petty kingdom in the southern part of the modern county of Offaly and parts of North Tipperary in Ireland. The historic barony of Eliogarty was once a significant portion of the ki ...
(anglicised as O'Carroll Ely). Ely formed part of the
Kingdom of Munster. These
petty kingdoms were swept aside by the
Tudor plantations. In 1556, an
Act of the Parliament of Ireland created "King's County", named after
Philip, the then
king of Ireland. This replaced the old Kingdoms with
Baronies and the present day County System.
Despite the county's name being upheld as Offaly through the 2001 Local Government Act, no legislation was ever enacted after independence explicitly changing the name from King's County, the name formally established under the 1898 Local Government Act which continued to have legal effect. Legal transfers and assignments of
land
Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of the planet Earth that is not submerged by the ocean or other bodies of water. It makes up 29% of Earth's surface and includes the continents and various isla ...
in the county still refer to it as "King's County".
Places of interest
*
Birr in the south of the county is best known for its castle and gardens.
Birr Castle is owned by the Parsons family, (the family bears the title: 'Earl of Rosse') and is best known for its 19th-century telescope, the ''
Leviathan of Parsonstown
Leviathan of Parsonstown, or Rosse six-foot telescope, is a historic reflecting telescope of aperture, which was the largest telescope in the world from 1845 until the construction of the Hooker Telescope in California in 1917. The Rosse six-f ...
''.
*
Sculpture in the Parklands around Lough Boora in Boora Bog.
*
Charleville Castle
Charleville Castle is a Gothic-style castle located in County Offaly, Ireland, bordering the town of Tullamore, near the River Clodiagh. It is considered one of the finest of its type in the country.
History
The first mansion house to be buil ...
located in Tullamore
* Ancient Christian monastic site at
Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise ( Irish: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined monastery situated in County Offaly in Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone, founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán, a young man from Rathcroghan, County Roscommon. Until the 9th cen ...
along with ancient examples of the Irish
High cross such as the 'Cross of the Scriptures' and the
round tower and visitors centre.
*
Kinnitty Castle
Kinnitty Castle or Castle Bernard is a 19th-century gothic revival castle and hotel in Kinnitty (''Cionn Eitigh''), County Offaly, Ireland. It is located north of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R421 regional road between the villages of K ...
*
Slieve Bloom Mountains
The Slieve Bloom Mountains ( ga, Sliabh Bladhma; la, Bladinae montes) is a mountain range in Ireland. They rise from the central plain of Ireland to a height of 527 metres. While not very high, they are extensive by local standards. The high ...
with panoramic views of Counties Offaly and
Laois
*
Banagher and the
river Shannon for cruises along the river.
* The
Boora bog reserve is a haven for wildlife and most notably contains the last Irish population of the
grey partridge
The grey partridge (''Perdix perdix''), also known as the gray-legged partridge, English partridge, Hungarian partridge, or hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. The scientific name ...
.
*
Durrow Abbey and High Cross
*
Tullamore Dew
Tullamore Dew, rendered in most branding as Tullamore D.E.W. (typically with the dots de-emphasised using colour and font size), is a brand of Irish whiskey produced by William Grant & Sons. It is the second-largest-selling brand of Irish whi ...
Visitor Centre
*
Clara Bog Nature Reserve
*
Leap Castle
* The Old Churches of
Rahan and Lynally
*
Croghan Hill
Croghan Hill ( or ''Brí Éile'') is a hill with a height of in County Offaly, Ireland. The remains of an extinct volcano, it rises from the Bog of Allen and dominates the surrounding plains. Historically known as ''Brí Éile'', it is menti ...
, a 230-metre (750') high hill where an ancient mummy was discovered. It is known as the Croghan Bog Man. It is now found in the National History Museum.
*
Moneygall
Moneygall () is a small village on the border of counties Offaly and Tipperary, in Ireland. It is situated on the R445 road between Dublin and Limerick. There were 313 people living in the village as of the 2016 census. Moneygall has a Catholic ...
is the ancestral home of the former president of the United States,
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
. Located in the village, is a visitor centre and service station known as the Obama Plaza.
Demographics
The 2006 population figure for County Offaly was 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. The population increased by 11.3% between 2002 and 2006 which was a greater rate than the national average rate of 8.2%. This may be attributed to the county's proximity to the
Greater Dublin Area
The Greater Dublin Area (GDA; Irish: ''Mórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath''), or simply Greater Dublin, is an informal term that is taken to include the city of Dublin and its hinterland, with varying definitions as to its extent. As of 2022, its ...
, increased accessibility to
Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
(
M6,
M7, and improved rail services) and lower house prices than in Dublin.
The population of many towns rose during the period 1996 to 2006: Birr +21.5%, Tullamore +28.8% and Edenderry +53.9%. The population of
Portarlington increased by 50.1% between 2002 and 2006.
The population as of census 2016 was 77,961 people with 34.7% (27,085 people) under the age of 25 and 13.6% (10,951 people) over the age of 65.
[
]
Economy
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 ESB. Peat briquettes are currently made at the Bord na Móna factory at Derrinlough near Birr. 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 a major employer in the midlands but closed in 2001. Rhode power station closed down soon afterwards. These were major landmarks in Offaly with large cooling towers that were visible for miles around Offaly and beyond, but were demolished soon after the 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
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
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
The "Celtic Tiger" ( ga, An Tíogar Ceilteach) is a term referring to the economy of Ireland from the mid-1990s to the late 2000s, a period of rapid real economic growth fuelled by foreign direct investment. The boom was dampened by a subseque ...
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
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
where many find employment.
Infrastructure
Transport
Rail
Offaly is well served by rail transport. Railway stations are located at Tullamore and Clara
Clara may refer to:
Organizations
* CLARA, Latin American academic computer network organization
* Clara.Net, a European ISP
* Consolidated Land and Rail Australia, a property development consortium
People
* Clara (given name), a feminine gi ...
. Both stations are on the main Dublin-Westport/Galway railway line with regular trains serving the area, especially for Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
commuters. Portarlington railway station is located just over the County Laois border and is in a catchment area for the southeast of the county. Portarlington railway station is on the main Dublin-Cork railway line with regular commuter services to Heuston Station
Heuston Station ( ; ga, Stáisiún Heuston; formerly Kingsbridge Station) also known as Dublin Heuston, is one of Dublin's largest railway stations and links the capital with the south, southwest and west of Ireland. It is operated by Iar ...
, Dublin and intercity services to Cork, Limerick, Killarney
Killarney ( ; ga, Cill Airne , meaning 'church of sloes') is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, part of Killarney National Park, and is home to St Mary's Cathedral, Ross Cast ...
& Tralee
Tralee ( ; ga, Trá Lí, ; formerly , meaning 'strand of the Lee River') is the county town of County Kerry in the south-west of Ireland. The town is on the northern side of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula, and is the largest town in Count ...
.
The Limerick-Ballybrophy railway line travels through the south of the county however there are no railway stations on the line in County Offaly. The nearest stations are located at Cloughjordan
Cloughjordan, officially Cloghjordan ( , ), is a town in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is in the barony of Ormond Lower, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe.
The town is situated in the north-western part of T ...
and Roscrea
Roscrea () is a market town in County Tipperary, Ireland, which in 2016 had a population of 5,446. Roscrea is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, having developed around the 7th century monastery of Saint Crónán of Roscrea, parts of which rem ...
both just outside the county boundary. A railway line from Birr connected to the line at Roscrea until it was closed in the 1960s. A controversial railway line also connected Birr to Portumna
Portumna ( - meaning 'the landing place of the oak') is a market town in the south-east of County Galway, Ireland, on the border with and linked by a bridge to County Tipperary. The town is located to the west of the point where the River Shann ...
between 1868 and 1878 and became something of a folk legend.
Road
Three main national secondary routes pass through the county. The N52 road
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 route forms a connection between the north east of Ireland and th ...
passes from Kilbeggan to Tullamore and Birr which then continues to Nenagh
Nenagh (, ; or simply ''An tAonach'') meaning “The Fair of Ormond” or simply "The Fair", is the county town and second largest town in County Tipperary in Ireland. Nenagh used to be a market town, and the site of the East Munster Ormond ...
where it intersects with the M7. The N62 from Athlone passes through Ferbane and Birr and continues onto Roscrea
Roscrea () is a market town in County Tipperary, Ireland, which in 2016 had a population of 5,446. Roscrea is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, having developed around the 7th century monastery of Saint Crónán of Roscrea, parts of which rem ...
and Thurles. The N80 route starts in Tullamore and continues to the southeast 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
Moneygall () is a small village on the border of counties Offaly and Tipperary, in Ireland. It is situated on the R445 road between Dublin and Limerick. There were 313 people living in the village as of the 2016 census. Moneygall has a Catholic ...
. Road infrastructure has improved with the completion of the Tullamore bypass in 2009 and improved access to regional cities following the completion of the intercity motorway network.
Bus
Bus Éireann 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
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
such as Kearns bus service which 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 Harbour. 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.
Media
Radio
Midlands 103 (originally Midlands Radio 3) which broadcasts to Laois, Offaly and Westmeath is based in Tullamore and has studios across the midlands.
RTÉ's medium wave transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the ...
broadcasting RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 ( ga, RTÉ Raidió 1) is an Irish national radio station owned and operated by RTÉ and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926.
The total budget for th ...
was also located in Tullamore but transmission stopped in 2008.
Print
A number of local newspapers are published in Offaly. The '' 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 northern Tipperary including the towns of Birr, Roscrea
Roscrea () is a market town in County Tipperary, Ireland, which in 2016 had a population of 5,446. Roscrea is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, having developed around the 7th century monastery of Saint Crónán of Roscrea, parts of which rem ...
and Nenagh
Nenagh (, ; or simply ''An tAonach'') meaning “The Fair of Ormond” or simply "The Fair", is the county town and second largest town in County Tipperary in Ireland. Nenagh used to be a market town, and the site of the East Munster Ormond ...
and surrounding areas. The '' Offaly Express'' was a former newspaper based in Tullamore. It closed down in July 2012 after 29 years in operation. It is now an online news platform for the county at www.offalyexpress.ie
Sport
GAA
Gaelic games are popular in the county. Offaly GAA consists of some 44 clubs playing Gaelic football and hurling in communities throughout the county. Birr is generally considered a hurling stronghold with Birr GAA winning four All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championships. County teams have also had national success in both hurling and football, winning the Liam MacCarthy Cup
The Liam MacCarthy Cup is a trophy awarded annually by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to the team that wins the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the main competition in the prehistoric sport of hurling. Based on the design of a me ...
four times and the Sam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup ( ga, Chorn Sam Mhic Uidhir), often referred to as Sam or The Sam , is a trophy awarded annually by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to the team that wins the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the main competiti ...
three 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
Kerry or Kerri may refer to:
* Kerry (name), a given name and surname of Gaelic origin (including a list of people with the name)
Places
* Kerry, Queensland, Australia
* County Kerry, Ireland
** Kerry Airport, an international airport in Count ...
a historic five All-Ireland titles in a row.
Traditionally, west Offaly has been the hurling stronghold with clubs like Birr, Coolderry, And Kilcormac/Killoughey enjoying success in the Leinster and All-Ireland Championships
Famous hurlers from Offaly include:
*Brian Whelahan, Birr
*The Dooley Brothers, Clareen
*Brian Carroll, Coolderry
*Rory Hanniffy, Birr
*Shane Dooley, Tullamore
*Michael Duignan, Banagher
Famous Footballers from Offaly include:
*Matt Conor, Walsh Island
Walsh Island or Walshisland () is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It takes its name from the surrounding hinterland which is a fertile area of land on a hill (104m) located in an area of bogland known as the Bog of Allen, (hence, "island") ...
*Richie Conor, Walsh Island
Walsh Island or Walshisland () is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It takes its name from the surrounding hinterland which is a fertile area of land on a hill (104m) located in an area of bogland known as the Bog of Allen, (hence, "island") ...
*Ciarán McManus, Tubber
*Niall McNamee, Rhode
*Martin Furlong, Tullamore
*Seamus Darby, Rhode
*Mick Brady, Edenderry
*Finbarr Cullen, Edenderry
Association football
Tullamore Town F.C. play at Leah Victoria Park. Previously they played in the A Championship
The A Championship, also known as the Newstalk A Championship, was an association football league featuring League of Ireland reserve teams and emerging senior teams. It was a third level league in the Republic of Ireland football league system. ...
and League of Ireland B Division
The League of Ireland B Division is a former league within the Republic of Ireland football league system. Its debut season was 1964–65. It was originally a second level league. However following the emergence of the League of Ireland First Di ...
Other sports
Other popular sports in the county include rugby and golf. Birr Golf Club and Esker Hills Golf Club near Tullamore are popular. Irish golfer Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry (born 2 April 1987) is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. His notable achievements include winning the 2019 Open Championship, the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009, and the 2015 WGC-Bridg ...
is a member of Esker Hills. He is from the town of Clara outside Tullamore. As an amateur, he won the 2009 Irish Open. In 2019, Lowry won The Open Championship in Royal Portrush Golf Club, becoming the first Offaly man to win one of the golfing majors.
Culture
People
* George Brent, Hollywood actor
*Ged Corcoran
Ged Corcoran (born 28 March 1983) is an Irish professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of Ireland and a former professional rugby league footballer.
He played at international level for Ireland, and at club level for Halifax in ...
, Irish rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...
footballer
*Brian Cowen
Brian Bernard Cowen (born 10 January 1960) is an Irish former politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2008 to 2011.
Cowen was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1984, for the constituency of Laois–Offaly and served in a ...
, former Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legislature) and the o ...
, born in Clara, 10 January 1960 and now living on the outskirts of Tullamore
* Patrick Cronin, priest, Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro (1970–1988)
*Neil Delamere
Neil Delamere ( ; born 1979) is an Irish comedian. He is a regular on the BBC Northern Ireland television show '' The Blame Game'', and the reigning BBC Fighting Talk Champion of Champions.
Early life and education
Delamere is from Edenderry, ...
, comedian
*Alex Dunne
Alexander Dunne (born 11 November 2005) is an Irish racing driver currently competing in the Italian F4 Championship for US Racing. He won the 2022 F4 British Championship for Hitech Grand Prix.
Career
Karting
Dunne began karting at the ...
, racing driver
* Barry Glendenning, journalist
* Rex Ingram, Hollywood silent film director, born in Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
but lived in Kinnitty
*John Joly
John Joly FRS (1 November 1857 – 8 December 1933) was an Irish physicist and professor of geology at the University of Dublin, known for his development of radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer. He is also known for developing techniques to ...
, scientist, born at Bracknagh in 1857
*Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry (born 2 April 1987) is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. His notable achievements include winning the 2019 Open Championship, the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009, and the 2015 WGC-Bridg ...
, golfer
* Mundy, musician
* William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse
Earl of Rosse is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, both times for the Parsons family. "Rosse" refers to New Ross in County Wexford.
History
The Parsons were originally an English family from Dishworth ( Disewor ...
, astronomer; also the father of Charles Algernon Parsons
Sir Charles Algernon Parsons, (13 June 1854 – 11 February 1931) was an Anglo-Irish engineer, best known for his invention of the compound steam turbine, and as the eponym of C. A. Parsons and Company. He worked as an engineer on d ...
who invented the steam turbine.
* George Johnstone Stoney (1826–1911) Physicist. Born, Oakley Park, Clareen. He introduced the term ''electron
The electron ( or ) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary electric charge. Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family,
and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no ...
'' in 1891.
* Bindon Blood Stoney (1828–1909) Engineer and inventor. Born, Oakley Park, Clareen.
* Seán William McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye), popular YouTuber
A YouTuber is an online personality and/or influencer who produces videos on the video-sharing platform YouTube, typically posting to their personal YouTube channel. The term was first used in the English language in 2006.
Influence
Influe ...
known primarily for his Let's Plays
See also
* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Offaly)
* Lord Lieutenant of King's County
* High Sheriff of King's County
The High Sheriff of King's County was the British Crown's judicial representative in King's County (now County Offaly), Ireland, from 1556, when King's County was created, until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replac ...
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
*
*
Offaly Tourism
The Offaly Express Newspaper
Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Offaly, County
Counties of the Republic of Ireland
Leinster
Local government areas of the Republic of Ireland
States and territories established in 1556
1556 establishments in Ireland