Come and discover…
at your leisure
LAKELANDS AND
INLAND WATERWAYS
Contents
Towns and villages ................4
Tullamore ..................................4
Birr ...............................................5
A sense of place .....................7
Clonmacnoise .........................8
Offaly’s heritage ...................10
Birr Castle ..............................12
Castles & kingdoms...........13
Waterways ..............................14
The Slieve Blooms ..............16
Activities for everyone.......18
Lough Boora Parklands ...20
Staying & eating ..................22
Entertainment ......................23
Maps, getting there ............24
More information ................27
2
At your leisure
Offaly is a slice of old Ireland. Travel around
the unspoiled countryside with its traditional
hay meadows, and you will come across
ancient humped bridges, handsome square
towerhouses, elegant lock-keeper’s cottages
and curious-looking castles.
The visitor will notice an easy-going feel but its towns and
villages are vibrant 21st century places, humming with
activity and a warm sense of community where the people
have a down-to-earth approach. A genuine welcome
awaits you wherever you choose to visit, from the county
town of Tullamore, noted for the warmth of its hospitality,
to the historic delights of Birr, or the famed Slieve Bloom
village trinity of Kinnitty, Cadamstown and Clonaslee.
If you’re after quintessential small-town Ireland, then
Offaly can throw up many surprises.
History-sodden sites dot the landscape. Turn off the main
road between Edenderry and Tullamore, and the hill of
Croghan, an extinct volcano 796 ft (234m) high, which
was the location of Bronze Age burials, will be visible.
Archaeological and historic sites including a standing
stone, holy well and the remains of a deserted settlement
now cluster around it. The surrounding countryside is
pockmarked with farms, villages, country roads and
rolling fields filled with cattle and sheep. Magnificent
uninterrupted views across farm and bogland sweep for
miles stretching to the north as far away as south Ulster
and southwards deep into the high mountains of Munster.
It is the perfect place to tune into the Offaly landscape
providing a snapshot of past and present.
Clonony Castle
DID YOU KNOW?
Offaly has no fewer than 1,136 townlands. From Ballyburly
to Kilcloncorkry and from Pollaghgloss to Noggusboy
every place name has a story to tell. So don’t rush your
journey – take time to search the map and breathe in the
topographical and social history all around you.
3
TOWNS and VILLAGES
Tullamore
Tullamore has been described as Ireland’s friendliest town. Its name
means ‘Great Assembly Hill’ and it is a prosperous business centre.
After the Grand Canal from Dublin
reached the town in 1798 it became
a centre for brewing, flour-milling
and distilling. Tullamore Dew Irish
Whiskey can trace its roots to 1829,
when the Tullamore Distillery was
founded. It was expanded under the
aegis of Daniel E. Williams, and his
own initials, D-E-W, were added to
the whiskey’s name, inspiring the
slogan “Give every man his Dew”.
The Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
at Bury Quay is an elegantly restored
19th century bonded warehouse once
used for storing and maturing the
whiskey. Guided tours include a
complimentary tipple of Tullamore
Dew Whiskey or the popular Irish Mist
Liqueur.
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Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
Tullamore has its share of fine
buildings. St Catherine’s, a Gothic
Revival church of 1818, was designed
by Francis Johnston, the architect of
flamboyant Charleville Castle.
Surrounded by trees, the ivy-clad
Castle is set in a lyrical landscape on
the south western edge of town on
the road to Birr. It was built between
1800 and 1812 for Charles William
Bury, who later became Earl of
Charleville. The castle (open for guided
tours by appointment) has 55 rooms
including a superb gallery that runs the
whole width of the building. The castle
woods boast the country’s oldest oak tree.
The Grand Canal is popular with anglers
and walkers. Along your route you’ll meet
ducks, swans, canoeists, walkers and
cyclists and are likely to come across a
friendly bargemeister and the boating
fraternity enjoying the outdoor life.
For culture vultures Tullamore’s annual
Phoenix Arts Festival, held in May, and
the Castlepalooza music festival in
August draw in the crowds.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ireland’s biggest agricultural gathering – the Tullamore
Show – held in early August attracts 60,000 people
each year. They flock to see the largest assembly of
cattle anywhere in Ireland competing in 1,000 classes
for 42 national titles. There are also 650 trade stands
as well as events for horses and dogs.
TOWNS and VILLAGES
Birr
Main Street
Feel the past…touch the present
With its handsome ensemble of Georgian architecture, there’s a lot to like
about Birr. The tree-lined streets of elegant houses dating from the 1800s
tell a fascinating story. Landmark buildings – many with brightly coloured
doors and exquisite fanlights – line the streets giving off an air of a stately
European town. Heaving with history, Birr is one of Ireland’s premier
heritage towns and the visitor will find much of interest.
Oxmantown Mall
Pick up a Town Trail
leaflet outlining
several walking
routes and explore
the malls, streets
and historic
buildings. Birr Theatre & Arts
Centre on Oxmantown Mall dates from 1888
and has recently been restored. The theatre,
which seats 220, has a year-round programme
of events including music, drama and comedy
as well as hosting solo and group art
exhibitions. Birr Civic Offices and Library
are sited in a sympathetically renovated
Gothic Revival building formerly a
convent for the Sisters of Mercy.
John’s Mall
As you wander around, you will discover Birr
is a café goer’s delight with several places
in which to take a break from sightseeing and
while away an hour with a copy of the local
newspaper, the Midland Tribune.
Emmet Square
DID YOU KNOW?
Birr Castle is home to ‘The Leviathan’, a
72-inch-long reflecting telescope, built in 1845
which remained the largest in the world for 75
years. For more on Birr Castle see page 12.
5
TOWNS and VILLAGES
4
6
Killeen’s grocery and pub,
Shannonbridge
TOWNS and VILLAGES
Farmer’s Market, Birr
Thatched pub, Ferbane
Kinnitty village
Offaly is peppered with small towns and
villages where you can tune into the sense of
local identity. Small towns take civic pride in
their appearance and have retained a flavour
of their old personality through
traditional shop fronts. These
reflect a link with the past in such
trades as drapery or hardware and
sit comfortably alongside new craft
shops offering a selection of locally
made handcrafted products.
The spacious Georgian town of
Edenderry marks the eastern
boundary of the county. An important
trading centre on the Grand Canal that
linked Dublin to the Shannon, today it is a
bustling market town. Many parts of Offaly
are noted for extensive tracts of bogland.
Around the villages of Clara, Ferbane and
Kilcormac you will see miles and miles of
flat brown bog. The old image of dark
featureless bogs is a world away from what
you experience if you take time to observe
and look closely. Mongan Bog – known as a
raised bog – is internationally important
and has been studied by scientists from
many countries.
Belmont Mills
19th century postbox, Edenderry
A sense of place
DID YOU KNOW?
Moneygall with a population of 298 is firmly on the map with its new-found celebrity
status after the election of Barack Obama. The President’s great-great-great grandfather
came from Moneygall. President Obama’s late mother Ann Dunham was a descendant of
Fulmouth Kearney, a shoemaker who left Moneygall for New York in 1850. Researchers
have discovered Kearney’s birthplace – albeit substantially rebuilt, still standing just
yards from Ollie Hayes’s Bar in the main street.
Ollie Hayes’s Bar,
Moneygall, complete
with Presidential cut-out!
7
MONASTIC SITES
O’Brien’s Tower
Clonmacnoise
The county is rich in ecclesiastical remains and Clonmacnoise is a name with a unique resonance
in Irish monastic history. One of Ireland’s most important early religious settlements, it is a place
of outstanding heritage treasured throughout the country. Its crossroads location on a bend on
the River Shannon built on the Esker Riada – a prehistoric east-west traffic artery that allowed
people to move across the bog with ease – adds an element of topographical curiosity.
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MONASTIC SITES
For many visitors the big
attractions are the three
impressive and well-preserved
sandstone High Crosses: the
Cross of the Scriptures, the
South Cross, and the North
Cross. All three are now in the
interpretative centre to save
them from the elements.
Copies have replaced them
on the outdoor sites and their
original orientation is
retained in their new
location.
With a leap of the imagination, you can
picture life here in medieval times when
the nobles of Europe sent their sons to be
educated by the local monks. Spend some
time here and you will feel a powerful
continuity of history as well as a sense of
inner peace amongst the monastic calm and
inspiring ruins of this time-burnished place.
Nun’s Chapel
7
Esker Riada, Clonmacnoise
Detail from the Cross of the Scriptures
Cross of the Scriptures
Founded in AD 545 by St Ciarán, the monastery was
the burial place of the Kings of Connaught and Tara.
The last High King of Ireland, Rory O’Conor, was buried
here in 1198. The monastery flourished for 600 years
as a centre of learning and religious instruction as well
as providing much of Ireland’s finest Celtic art and
illuminated manuscripts. The remains of the older
surviving buildings are the shell of a small cathedral,
two round towers, the ruins of seven small churches
from the 10th to the 13th centuries and early Christian
grave markers.
DID YOU KNOW?
Eskers are mounds of sand or gravel left behind by streams
of melted ice after the last Ice Age 12,000 years ago,
and you will see these features of the landscape on your
travels. Many of these snake-like ridges can be seen
in the midlands. One of the best places to see them
is along the Pilgrim’s Road which starts at the
graveyard at the far end of Clonmacnoise.
This is now a marked cycle path to Ballycumber.
9
Bishop’s Castle, Clonmacnoise
MONASTIC SITES
Offaly’s heritage
Offaly’s heritage is reflected in many impressive sites throughout the county.
These atmospheric pockets of tranquillity are places for reflection filled with
sacred treasures that deserve time to be explored.
10
Harry Clarke
Studio designed
stained glass
window, Church of
the Assumption,
Tullamore
Kinnitty High Cross is decorated with
biblical scenes and contains a reference
to Maelsechnaill, (Maelsechlainn or
Malachy) King of Meath in the mid-9th
century. The sandstone cross depicts a
figured scene showing Eve handing the
apple to Adam. It stands to the side of
the front entrance in the grounds of
Kinnitty Castle. The Durrow High Cross,
near Tullamore, was commissioned by
the Kings of Meath in the 9th century.
Access to the cross is by prior
arrangement. Please ask at the tourist
information centre in Tullamore.
At the remains of the church buildings of Rahan, visitors
can still trace the ancient boundary of the monastic town
while a beautiful ancient wooden shrine with the bones of
St Manchan created during the 12th century is on display
in the parish church at Boher. There is a walkway marked
across the bog from Lemanaghan to Boher. Note also
the Harry Clarke Studio-designed windows in the church.
Windows from this famous studio can also be found in the
Church of the Assumption, Tullamore.
In the south of the county, at
Seir Kieran, near Clareen, you
can visit the monastery founded
by St Ciarán which became
one of the most important
religious communities in
Ireland and is the burial
place of the Kings of
Ossory.
St Manchan’s Shrine
Seir Kieran Monastic Site
MacRegol Gospel
Kinnitty High Cross
MONASTIC SITES
DID YOU KNOW?
A facsimile of the MacRegol Gospel, an
early Christian illuminated manuscript,
is on display in the restored Birr Library.
MacRegol was a scribe, bishop and
abbot in Birr. The original manuscript,
which is now in the Bodleian Library,
Oxford, was produced around 800 AD
and consists of 169 vellum folios
(leaves). It contains the four Gospels
with illuminated portraits of Mark,
Luke and John - the figure of Matthew
is thought to have been lost over time.
11
CASTLES
Birr Castle, built in Gothic Revival style, is still the home of the Earls of Rosse.
The castle is not open to the public, but you can visit the surrounding 120 acres
of landscaped gardens and parkland with five miles of walking paths.
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The formal gardens contain the tallest (32 ft.) box hedges
in the world. In spring, there is a dazzling display of flowering magnolias, cherries, crab apples, and naturalized
narcissi amongst the highlights; in autumn, the maples,
chestnuts, and weeping beeches blaze red and gold.
The grounds are laid out around a lake and along the
banks of two adjacent rivers. Walk around and you will be
enchanted by the surround-sound of birdsong and may
be lucky to catch a glimpse of a kingfisher or a dipper
flying low over the water. Birr Castle grounds also contain
Ireland’s Historic Science Centre, an exhibition on
astronomy, photography, botany, and engineering housed
in the stable block. Be sure not to miss the 72-inch-long
reflecting telescope, built in 1845 which remained the
largest in the world for 75 years.
Formal Garden, Birr Castle
Birr Castle Demesne
CASTLES
Kinnitty Castle
Castles and kingdoms
Castles galore
pepper the
countryside.
The better known
ones include Birr,
Charleville and
Kinnitty and
attract thousands
of visitors, although
some are not
accessible.
While Kinnitty and
Charleville are known as castles, they are
in fact castellated mansions. Turn a corner
on a back road and you rub shoulders with
history in buildings such as Clonony Castle
which is connected with Anne Boleyn’s
family, or nearby Cloghan Castle dating
from the 16th century. In the atmospheric
dungeon of the turreted Kinnitty Castle you
may stumble across music makers taking
part in an evening traditional music session.
Standing on a rock, Leap Castle in the south
of the county is said to be Ireland’s most
haunted house. It was once the principal
seat of the O’Carroll’s, the Princes of Ely.
The owner will take you on an entertaining
tour (visits are by appointment) and with a
little encouragement may strike up ‘The
Mist on the Meadow’ on his tin whistle, while
his daughter, an accomplished harpist, will
dazzle you with ‘The Tears of Colmcille’.
All around west Offaly you will come across
the legacy of ruins from the Cromwellian
and Williamite period. Some of this built
heritage – the Shannonbridge Fortifications
– has been re-purposed and given new life
in the 21st century as a restaurant.
Leap Castle
DID YOU KNOW?
Charleville Castle
Kinnitty, lying in the shadow of the Slieve
Bloom Mountains, has a pyramid which is
a replica of Cheops in Egypt. Built in 1830
by Lt.-Col. Richard Wesley Bernard after
he returned from Egypt, it is the only
tomb of its kind in Ireland. It contains
the remains of four members of the
Bernard family who were the owners
of Kinnitty Castle. The tomb is found
in the grounds of St. Finan's graveyard.
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WATERWAYS
Waterways
There are few greater pleasures than travelling on a slow boat down a river going nowhere
in particular. And although Offaly is a landlocked county, there’s still plenty of water. Rivers
such as the Barrow, the Mongach, the Boyne, Cushina, and the Brosna are just some that
mark the boundaries with neighbouring counties. But the great waterway of Irish history –
the River Shannon – steals the show.
14
River Shannon at Shannonbridge
WATERWAYS
Killeen’s, Shannonbridge
Canoeing on Offaly’s waterways
Ireland’s longest river bounds Offaly’s western edge from Shannonbridge
to Banagher and a boat journey along it is a gloriously peaceful way to
test the pulse of the countryside. You can start your leisurely nautical
journey by hiring a cruiser at Banagher, or board the River Queen from
Shannonbridge for the half-hour trip to Clonmacnoise. Look closely,
listen carefully and the air may be punctuated with the corncrake or
skylark as well as the whirr of an outboard motor.
The long sloping street of Banagher is made up of
appealing late-Georgian houses running up to the
river where a bridge links Offaly with Galway.
At the modern sleek marina pleasure cruisers sit
hugger-mugger alongside anglers and watersports
enthusiasts all enjoying the natural amenities.
Follow the course of the river a few miles north and
at Shannon Harbour the Grand Canal joins the
Shannon at the mouth of the Brosna. The Harbour
was built in 1830 and many people emigrating to
America travelled on the canal’s passenger barges.
Today, river tourists potter around in moored houseboats,
barges or cruisers creating a friendly sense of community while anglers
try their luck at coarse fishing, and walkers enjoy serene towpath strolls.
Farther north, at Shannonbridge, seek out Killeen’s
authentic grocery bar, a veritable Aladdin’s cave
where you can buy – all under one roof – everything
from coal, jam and cornflakes to Clonmacnoise
rhubarb as well as fishing tackle. It’s a place
where locals mix with visitors
in a spirit of wit and inquisitive
friendliness. In the bar,
it is worth sampling the
DID YOU KNOW?
house specialty of rum
Banagher has illustrious literary
and hot chocolate;
links. The novelist, Anthony Trollope
the toasted black
(1815–82) was appointed Post Office
pudding sandwich also
Surveyor from 1841–44 and completed the
comes highly recommended.
first two of his Victorian novels here, while
Charlotte Bronte honeymooned here in 1854.
Shannon Harbour
Banagher Marina
15
OFFALY OUTDOORS
Blooming marvellous
Made up of 60,000 acres the Slieve Blooms – Sliabh Bladhma or Bladma’s Mountain –
are a long frieze of mountains in the south of the county shared with neighbouring
Laois. The summit – Arderin – was once considered to be the highest point in Ireland.
16
Its name means ‘Height of Ireland’ and it is
1,734 ft (527m). If you’re feeling active, the
widescreen panorama from the top,
embracing much of the midlands, is well
worth the effort. Catch the right day and you
can see the highest points of each of Ireland’s
four provinces.
Rich in folklore, the Slieve Blooms are
storied mountains where pagan assemblies
were once held and the festival of Lughnasa
was celebrated. Each year, in mid-October
the annual Slieve Bloom Storytelling Festival
keeps alive this rich tradition that has been
handed down through the generations.
OFFALY OUTDOORS
Ready for action!
Crystal-clear freshwater streams, gushing waterfalls, lush
forests and no fewer than 27 glens are all part of the mountain
experience. Whether you come for serious hiking, a gentle short
stroll or even just to idle away a few hours and drink in the views
from one of many accessible vantage points, you will not be
disappointed. Plan your visit for the spring and you can join one of
the walking tours led by knowledgeable local guides during the
Slieve Bloom Walking Festival. Over the first weekend in May each
year several hundred walkers descend on the hills for a feast of
fun and hours of enjoyment. With just a hint of irony, some
visitors have labelled it: ‘A Blooming Marvellous Experience.’
Looped walks in the Slieve Blooms, ranging from 4km to 15km,
break down into three categories: easy (short walks suited to all
levels of fitness), moderate (suitable for a medium level of
fitness), and hard (for walkers with a high level of fitness). There
are also one-day circuits for both serious and leisure walking,
or you can follow the 48 miles (77km) long-distance Slieve
Bloom Way. Popular trailhead walks start from Kinnitty,
Cadamstown and Clonaslee.
So pull on your boots, grab your walking poles and
don’t forget your waterproof – just in case; pack
a map in your rucksack, take a flask, and you
too will experience a marvellous time.
For those who prefer a less energetic way
of touring the mountains, the Slieve
Blooms Drive is an attractive option.
There are two main scenic routes: the
Glendine Route which starts and ends in
Kinnitty is 25 miles, while the Glenbarrow/
Capard Route from Mountrath is 37 miles.
Get you to the Slieve Blooms…
“There is magic in this region, whether it be the magic of the full
blaze of summer’s colour, the wistful wizardry of the subdued but
unforgettable and endearing tints of autumn, the sterner browns and
deeper greens of winter, or the fragile promise of delicate loveliness
that comes in early spring, when every small mountain tree decks
itself like a bride and wild birds begin to send their hopeful songs
across the great solitude of the boglands. Get you to the Slieve
Blooms at any season and see whether I have spoken truth.”
Richard Hayward ‘Leinster and the city of Dublin’, 1949
OFFALY OUTDOORS
Activities for everyone
Visitors to Offaly have a host of outdoor activities to choose from and it doesn't
matter about your level of fitness. You can enjoy a meandering walk through a
heather covered bog, an adrenalin-charged aerial view from up in the clouds, or a
relaxing ride from the seat of a bike or horse. There are wonderful opportunities
too throughout the county for golfing and fishing. Come and enjoy - you'll be
amazed at the range of activities and at the stunning natural scenery.
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Clara Bog
DID YOU KNOW?
Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival
takes place every August and is one of the
highlights of the events calendar in Offaly.
Celebrating Birr’s heritage with parades,
exhibitions, vintage cars, fireworks, music and
street entertainment, it’s a week-long fiesta!
OFFALY OUTDOORS
Outdoor tonic
Apart from the Slieve Blooms, other top quality walking routes in the
county include the Offaly Way, the Grand Canal Way and, if you feel
like a walk into history, the Pilgrim Path. All trails are clearly marked
so you’ll not get lost. Nature and short walking trails also run
through forest parks with picnic and play areas for children.
Cyclists can enjoy some of the country’s best trails along level back
roads and bog tracks – and just occasionally an uphill struggle for
a testing challenge. Cycle paths worth checking out are The Pilgrim
Path from Ballycumber to Clonmacnoise and the Lough Boora
Parklands cycle paths. Bike hire is available at a number of locations
including Birr which is a cycling hub with destinations and trails for
all abilities.
There are activities throughout Offaly to suit all interests. Anglers can
choose from rivers, lakes and a canal. Little Brosna is a narrow slow
river which winds its way from Roscrea to Birr and is popular among
coarse fishermen. Golfers are catered for with excellent courses in
Tullamore, Birr, Esker Hills, and at Castle Barna near Daingean.
Horse-riding and trekking are available on farm and forest trails as
well as at equestrian centres such as Birr and Annaharvey Farm.
A SLICE OF HISTORY…
At Belmont Mill, visitors can relive some of the fascinating
industrial past on a tour of the imaginatively restored watermill
beside the Brosna River. Built in 1769, the original mill was
once one of Ireland’s most productive inland oat and flour mills.
Sitting cheek by jowl with the mill, studios in the stable yard
have been developed for art and craft workers and visitors are
welcome to watch them at work.
Like every county, Gaelic games are popular with football and
hurling especially prominent. For visitors who wish to try something
with an adventurous edge then have a go at sky-diving at Clonbollogue
near Edenderry.
Belmont Mill
craft studios
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P E AT L A N D S
Lough Boora Parklands
Two miles north of Kilcormac, Lough
Boora Parklands on a flat open expanse
of rehabilitated land is a magical place
to potter and ponder in an unhurried
way. The 5,000-acre site of cutaway bog
was developed by Bord Na Móna working
with the local community and scientists.
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Three main walks cover an entire perimeter
length of 14 miles (20km). The Farmlands
Walk, Mesolithic Walk and Sculpture Walk
consist of a series of loops attracting strollers,
ramblers, power walkers, dog walkers as well
as joggers and snoggers. It is a place of both
mystery and romance.
Cyclists and anglers also enjoy the amenities.
There are five lakes for game and coarse
fishing, some stocked with carp, trench, bream
and rudd. More than 130 species of birds have
been recorded here including golden plover,
lapwing and starling. Bird hides in the park
provide the perfect place to spy on them.
Visitors are greeted by Michael Bulfin’s
Sky Train, an almost toy-like turf train
with six carriages arching over a manmade mound. Along the walkway you will
be astonished at sculptures such as
Patrick Dougherty’s Ruaille Buaille, a
maze of woven willow, Passage by Alan
Angling at Lough Boora
60 Degrees by Kevin O’Dwyer
Cycles by Caroline Madden
An innovative feature of the Parklands is
the large scale tactile sculptures which
capture the imagination. Artists have been
influenced by the natural and industrial
legacy of the bogs and more than 20
permanent sculptures made from local
materials including glacial stone, water
and willow represent some of the most
creative environmental outdoor works of
art to be found anywhere in Ireland.
Counhian, Boora Pyramid by Eileen
MacDonagh or Jorn Ronnau’s Lough
Boora Triangle. As you absorb the
sculptures, you can reflect on the
skills of the artists and read what
inspired them on information boards.
Lough Boora is an area of constantly
changing skies with dramatic shapeshifting clouds overhanging a unique
part of the Irish midlands. An
alluring family-friendly parkland, it is
somewhere to delight children and a
place that oozes enjoyment for all
ages. Don’t forget to keep your eyes
peeled for the large numbers of
hares that are a common sight in
spring and early summer.
Offaly’s county
flower, bog rosemary
Find the flowers … hear the birds…seduce the senses
All around the county in spring and summer the fields, hedges,
bogs, and woodland paths are ablaze with a mosaic of colourful
wildflowers. Clusters of eye-catching tall blue-purple columbine,
one of Offaly’s special flowers, will delight the eye along roadsides
and in the fields you will see the pale pink of lady’s-smock, known
locally as the cuckoo flower.
Look out for the pale pink petals of bog bean and the official Offaly
flower – the pink bog rosemary which is represented on the county
crest. Bluebells flood Offaly’s woodlands in the spring alongside
wood anemones and the delightful wood sorrel. Midsummer brings
splashes of showy flowers including the graceful purple loosestrife,
the pink field rose, scarlet pimpernel and a host of orchids.
One of the best areas to see birds in Offaly is the callows. There are
a number of areas where corncrakes and waders breed in summer.
In winter between Shannonbridge and Meelick on the borders of
Offaly and Galway, large numbers of wildfowl can be seen.
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STAY ING & EATING
Temptation for every taste
Whatever your activities in Offaly you’re certain
to work up an appetite and you can choose from
the bistros of Birr and Banagher, the cafés of
Edenderry and Ferbane or the restaurants of
Tullamore. Whether you want a five-course
dinner, a filling bar meal in a pub, or a simple cup of coffee
with a cupcake, all tastebuds are catered for.
Accommodation
Carefully restored traditional self-catering
cottages in the Slieve Blooms…old farmhouses
sympathetically renovated for tourists…
converted coach houses…comfy and
reasonably-priced B&Bs, some with a touch of
eccentricity…stylish hotels or majestic castles:
whatever your needs and budget, Offaly has
a wide range of sleeping options to cater for
everyone. Most hotels have wi-fi and spa and leisure facilities.
DID YOU KNOW?
22
Offaly: Delicious & Crafty
Offaly Delicious brings together local
food producers in the county delivering top
quality wholesome food. Their trademark is
authenticity and accountability in food production.
Offaly Crafty is a network of artists and craft workers
who support each other. Their work includes ceramics,
furniture making, sculpture, painting and mosaics.
ENTERTA INMENT
Like many parts of Ireland, Offaly has its share of
pubs which are an exuberant part of the county’s
past and are never out of fashion. Most towns and
villages can boast at least half a dozen – some
unchanged for many years.
At the character-filled J. J.
Hough’s in Banagher music
sessions happen spontaneously where the players drop
in for an unplanned evening
and the result is a happy
meeting of musical minds.
Enjoy the craic
Traditional music is also on
the menu at Lee’s pub in
Tullamore, at Kinnitty Castle,
and connoisseurs of the genre
reckon one of the best folk
sessions in the county is to be
found in the Brewery Tap bar
in Tullamore on Monday night.
The informal nature of it means
that it’s open to all-comers
whether playing, singing or
dancing. Often these sessions are
the takeaway memory that will
be imprinted in visitors’ minds.
Many people will remember for
a long time the sentimental
tunes, the melancholy lyrics,
the feet-tapping jigs and reels,
and the singalong ambience
that only an Irish pub can
provide. See accompanying
guide for full listing.
Offaly still has a few thatched pubs
including the historic Thatch Bar at
Crinkill which has been owned by
the same family for 200 years. In
the centre of the county, Dan and
Molly’s characterful roadside bar
in Ballyboy, with a 200-year-old
pedigree, is the last strawthatched bar in Offaly. Its dark
time-warped rooms are decked
with photographic memories, and
since the early 1800s it has been a
continuous place of conviviality
where tall tales are often told.
For information on pubs throughout the
county please call at the local tourist
office or ask at your accommodation.
23
Bealnamulla
ROSCOMMON
Athlone
N6
N62
TO GALWAY
Moate
Tyrrellspass
M6
N52
Croghan
Clonfert
Banagher
Marina
Cloghan
PP
18
R438
N62
Killyon
Birr
Kinnitty C
Kinnitty Castle
Crinkle
R414
C
R492
Leap
Castle
R421
Arderin
Emo
Roscrea
Cloughjordan
N7
M7
Ballyfin
Portlaoise
R429
Slieve Bloom
Mountains
R426
Borris-inOssory
Mountrath
R435
N8
Ballyroan
R434
M8
N62
R433
TO CORK
TO CORK/THURLES
Rathdowney
GRAND
R428 CANAL
R427
Timahoe
M7
Moneygall
Stradbally
R425
Abbeyleix
M7
Monasterevin
N80
R430
Kilcommin
R490
Mountmellick
Slieve Bloom Mt.
LAOIS
18
R491
Dunkerrin
R419
(528m.)
N62 Gloster Forest
Shinrone
Portarlington
GRAND
CANAL
R423
Rosenallis
Clonaslee
R440
Borrisokane
M7
PP
18
R419
Cloneygowan
SLIEVE BLOOM WAY
Clareen
Seirkieran
N52
Nenagh
R420
TO DUBLIN
Cadamstown
Equestrian
Centre
TIPPERARY
Killeigh
R422
R421
CAMCOR
Rathangan
Bracknagh
OFFALY WAY
LOUGH
DERG
R491
R401
R442
Geashill
R421
Rath
Clonbullogue
Brackagh
Walsh Island
N80
LOUGH BOORA
R438
R490
R401
O F FA LY
TullamoreBallinagar
Ballyboy
R439
Birr Castle Demesne
Ireland's Historic C
Science Centre M
R489
R402
Mount
Lucas R400
Equestrian
Centre
R420
Lough Boora
Parklands Mountbolus
Kilcormac
18
Portumna
18
N52 Mucklagh
N52
Shannon
Callows
C
Edenderry
Pieta
Cloghan Castle
C
R437
R356
GRAND CANAL
18
18
R402
Charleville Castle
OFFALY WAY
Shannon
Harbour
M
Pollagh
GRAND CANAL WAY
R357
G A LWAY
R356
Ferbane
Gallen
Belmont
R355
Durrow
Daingean
Cross
Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
18
Rahan
R436
Famine
Village
R357
Clara
Bog
RIVER BROSNA
PP
18
River Suck
Eyrecourt
Ballycumber
R441
GRAND
CANAL
GRAND CANAL WAY
18
Clonmacnoise
Monastic Site
Rhode
Croghan Hill
Clara
Grange
Castle
C
N80
THE PILGRIM PATH
Doon
R444
M E AT H
TO DUBLIN
Locke's Distillery
Boher
Shannonbridge
TO LIMERICK
Rochfortridge
R400
Horseleap
R444
RIVER SHANNON
N6
N52
TO MULLINGAR
M6
M6
Ballinasloe
ENNELL
Mount Temple
Durrow
Athy
GETTING THERE
KEY TO MAP
KINNEGAD
ATHLONE
N6
Rochfortridge
N52
N52
KILBEGGAN Tyrrellspass
Moate
18
PP
M
N6
GALWAY
C
N6
Athenry
Monastic Site
Belmont
N80
PP
C
M
BANAGHER
N66
Geashill
N18
Belfast
KINNITTY
Borrisokane
PORTLAOISE
GRAND
CANAL
N62
Mountrath
Borris-inOssory
N7
ROSCREA
C
ENNIS
Killaloe
N18
Shannon Airport
PP
C
M
Ballina
Abbeyleix
Sligo
N8
IRELAND
Athlone
M7
Nenagh
Equestrian Centre
Monasterevin
N52
N7
18
M7
PORTARLINGTON
Shinrone
M
Moneygall
N7
M8
Dublin
Galway
Toomevara
M7
OFFALY
LIMERICK
N18
Shannon
C
DUN
LAOGHAIRE
Mountmellick
BIRR
Castle
N11
N7
N80
KILCORMAC
Gort
C
M
DUBLIN
Clonbullogue
Bracknagh
NAAS
Portumna
P
EDENDERRY
Cloghan
N62
Museum
Daingean
TULLAMORE
FERBANE
N52
8
MAYNOOTH
LEIXLIP
N52
Ballycumber
Shannonbridge
Loughrea
N4
M6
CLARA
Ballinahown
M6
Enfield
M4
Rhode
N62
Ballinasloe
M6
Walks
Rosslare
Waterford
Cork
Getting to Offaly
Looped Walks
Cycle paths/route
18
PP
M
I8 Hole Course
18
M
PP
M
C
C Pitch and Putt Course
Cruisers
C
Offaly has good bus and train connections
with direct links to and from major cities
and towns. Trains run daily from Tullamore
to Dublin (journey time is 70 minutes) and
west to Galway (90 minutes). Regular daily
bus services operate to towns such as Birr,
Banagher and Edenderry. Some villages are
served by Bus Éireann or private operators.
Train and bus services coalesce at Cormac
Street in Tullamore. For more information
visit www.buseireann.ie and www.irishrail.ie.
25
26
I N F O R M AT I O N
Pick up the
accompanying guide
Pick up a copy of the
accompanying guide to hotels,
guesthouses, restaurants, pubs
and service providers in County
Offaly from any tourist office,
or from any hotel or guesthouse
in the region.
Useful websites
Select bibliography
Visitor information
www.discoverireland.ie/offaly
www.shannonregiontourism.ie
www.offaly.ie
www.destinationbirr.ie
Some suggestions for further reading about Co. Offaly
Feehan, J., The Landscape of Slieve Bloom, 1979
Feehan, J., The Wildflowers of Offaly, 2009
Fenlon, J., Introduction to the architectural heritage of Co. Offaly, 2006
Geissel, G., A Road on the Long Ridge, 2006
Gibson, P. J., Heritage Landscapes of the Irish Midlands, 2007
Hayward, R., Leinster and the City of Dublin, 1949
Heaney, P., At the foot of Slieve Bloom
Joyce, T. P., Bladma, Walks of Discovery in Slieve Bloom, 1995
Lee, T., Offaly: Through Time & its Townlands, 2009
O’Brien, C., Stories from a Sacred Landscape, 2006
Tubridy, M., (ed.) The Heritage of Clonmacnoise, 1987
Walking and fishing in Offaly
www.shannonregiontrails.ie
www.slievebloom.ie
www.shannonregionfisheries.ie
For further information
Clonmacnoise Tourist Information Office
Via Shannonbridge, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Tel: +353 (0) 90 9674134
Email: [email protected]
Tullamore Tourist Information Office
Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre,
Bury Quay, Tullamore, County Offaly
Tel: +353 (0)57 9352617
Birr Tourist Information Office (May to Sept.)
Birr, County Offaly
Tel: +353 (0)57 9120110
Off season: +353 (0)57 9124000
Visitor attractions
www.loughbooraparklands.com
www.sculptureintheparklands.com
www.birrcastle.com
www.birrtheatre.com
www.tullamore-dew.org
www.belmontmill.com
Credits
Produced with the assistance of Offaly Local Development Company
and support of Shannon Development, Fáilte Ireland East and Midlands
Region, Offaly County Council, and Offaly County Enterprise Board.
Design and print: Brosna Press Creative Design & Print • www.brosnapress.ie
Copywriting: Paul Clements • www.paulclementswriting.com
Photography: Trevor Ferris • www.masterphotographers.co.uk
With additional photography courtesy of Tom Egan, James Fraher, Birr Castle, Tullamore Court Hotel,
Annaharvey Farm, Kinnitty Castle, Birr Vintage Week, Esker Hills Club, Fáilte Ireland & Shannon
Development. Reproduction from MacRegol Gospel, MS Auct. D. 2. 19, folio 1r with permission from
The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.
SUPPORTED BY
FUNDED BY
Comhairle Chontae Uíbh Fhailí
Offaly Local Development Company
www.offalyldc.ie
Offaly County Council
27
www.discoverireland.ie/offaly