Please note that we are launching our Offaly history CDs for the schools with refreshments on Thursday the 1st of December at 8.00 pm at the Research Centre at Bury Quay, Tullamore Please come along and enjoy the evening. The CDs are as follows:

1. Monastic Offaly prepared by Darrell Hooper
2. Tullamore Town Michael Byrne
3. The Grand Canal and County Offaly OHAS

These CDs will be made available at €20 each to all the schools and also to the public (or €45 for the three). They should be extremely useful in a class situation and they come in several cases with extensive articles on the CD available to be used and printed off etc. The product should also be useful to those interested in Offaly history, tour operators and hotels and guest houses.

Our thanks to Leader + for their assistance with this publication. Mr Michael Fox, Chairman of Leader has kindly agreed to launch the publications. Mr James Scully NT Banagher will speak on behalf of the schools.

Please let any teachers know that you think might be interested. We have invited teachers from first and second level in the county.

Christmas Lunch

The Christmas Lunch this year is on the 4th of December as already advised to you at Bridge House, Tullamore and tickets are €25. Would you please book seat by ringing OHAS 21421. The guest speaker for after dinner is Philip Lumley who will be talking about his memories of Tullamore in an illustrated presentation. Lumleys have been in business in Tullamore since the 1840s and are now probably the longest established business family in Tullamore.

Christmas Draw

We once again ask you for your support in our annual Christmas draw which raises funds to help us to maintain our centre and develop and grow it and in particular the library. You are asked to return the card sent with the November newsletter with as many tickets as you can sold. There are great prizes to be won. Tickets have to be returned by 12 noon on Thursday 22nd Dec.

Happy Christmas
We would like to wish our members and staff the compliments of the Christmas season and a very happy 2006.

The recent AGM
News from the recent annual general meeting is deferred until the January newsletter

Down Memory Lane

A postcard of Colmcille or William Street, Tullamore from the 1960s where Lumley's shop and bakery was located.

Lumley's horsedrawn bread car going down High Street, Tullamore in the early 20th century.

Some members travelled to Dublin to see the museum collection in Kildare Street recently and we had a very interesting tour and pleasant day overall. As it happens Offaly Heritage Forum under the aegis of Offaly County Council had already commissioned a survey of the Offaly artefacts in the National Museum and a database is now being complied. The author of the database is Jacqueline Mac Dermott. Jacqueline Mac Dermott is a freelance archaeological consultant, having graduated from NUI Dublin with a BA in Celtic Archaeology, and the Institute of Archaeology, University College London with an MA in Museum Studies. She has been working in both field and research archaeology for the past 13 years, and has been involved in similar catalogues and database projects for numerous county councils and county museums including Longford, Kildare, Tipperary, Clare, Carlow, Sligo, Mayo Kerry and Galway.

Ms. Mac Dermott has very kindly agreed to give us a talk on the database which is in the first stage of production and she will briefly outline the aim of the data base, the information contained therein, the main types of artefacts listed and the current restrictions of this stage of the project. She will demonstrate how the database works and outline its potential when completed as a research tool for archaeologists and researchers. This talk will be very informal, and general questions throughout will be welcome.

Annual General Meeting

Notice of Annual General Meeting of Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society to be held at Bury Quay Tullamore on Thursday 24th November at 7.30p.m.

The items for discussion are as follows:-

1. Chairman's address and minute of the previous meeting - Steve McNeill
2. Reports of the Secretary - Michael Byrne
3. Treasurer Peter Burke
4. Manager of FAS Scheme John Kearney
5. Computer Developments Noel Guerin
6. Library Steve McNeill
7. Family History Margaret White

Elections

The outgoing committee for 2004/2005 was as follows:-

1. Chairman Steve McNeill
2. Secretary Michael Byrne
3. Treasurer Peter Burke
4. Committee Members: Ms. Marie Neville, Ms. Mary Jane Fox, Mr. John Kearney, Mr. Henry Edgill, Ms. Dorothy Bibby, Mrs. Helen Bracken, Mr. Noel Guerin, Ms. B. Hoey, Mr. James Matthews, Ms. Kitty O'Neill, Mr. Matt Mooney, Mr. Owen Clyne, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Geoghegan, Mrs. Anne Horan, Mr. James Kenny, Mr. Sean Hackett and Mr. Darrell Hooper.
5. Any other business

All places are to be filled. Would officers and committee members please ensure that they can attend the meeting on the 24th of November at 7.30 p.m. We would welcome new members who would have an interest in contributing to the work of the Society. If you are interested would you please contact Mr. Steve McNeill or Michael Byrne in advance of the meeting so that the proposal may be put to the meeting.

We have some 150 members for 2005 as per attached sheet and we look to having all our members at this meeting and indeed at our Christmas lunch on 4th December. The Christmas lunch is open to the public so please bring your friends.

Christmas Draw

We once again ask you for your support in our annual Christmas draw which raises funds to help us to maintain our centre and develop and grow it and in particular the library. You are asked to support the enclosed draw by returning the card with as many tickets as you can sold. There are great prizes to be won. Tickets have to be returned by 12 noon on Thursday 22nd Dec.

Christmas Lunch

The annual Christmas Lunch will be held on Sunday the 4th of December at the Bridge House Hotel at 1p.m. The cost of the lunch is €25 with the usual choice of fish or meat. Please ring the office 0506 21421 to book.

Our Speaker after lunch is Mr. Philip Lumley who will be talking about recollections of Tullamore. The talk will be illustrated.

The Lumley family are one of the longest established families in the town of Tullamore now and are in business here since at the least the 1850s. Philip Lumley has been in business in Tullamore for over fifty years and no doubt has some stories to tell. The after lunch talk will be illustrated with appropriate pictures of old Tullamore.

New Books on CD for Research

From: Archive CD Books Ireland [newsletter@archivecdbooks.ie]
Sent: 19 October 2005 11:07
To: Michael Byrne and OHAS members
Subject: Carrigan's History of the Diocese of Ossory

Issue 3, 19 October 2005

Dear Project Members and Friends,

Welcome to the Archive CD Books Ireland newsletter. We are delighted to announce the latest release. This is a very special title as we have reproduced the entire four volumes of Rev. Carrigan's monumental History of the Diocese of Ossory (1905) along with a New Index published this year by the Diocese of Ossory by Helen Litton. We have worked closely with the Carrigan Centenary Committee and the Diocese of Ossory to make this possible, and the result is an invaluable tool for the study of Kilkenny and Laois. Full details about this title appears at the end of this message and online at:
http://www.archivecdbooks.ie/acatalog/New_Releases.html

We have been busily working away at Trinity and have digitised dozens of rare books. As a consequence we have over 100 titles to release in the near future. These include many more county directories (including all those by Bassetts), county histories, more statistical surveys and much more besides. So keep an eye out for newsletters later this year.

Those of you who are members can get your discount on all these titles by logging onto our web site following the instructions we sent you by e- mail. If you are not members we urge you to join the Archive CD Books Ireland Project. For a small initial payment you can get discounts on ALL our titles, and any ones we release in the future too. Your membership will help us grow the project, and make the wealth of Ireland's rare (and often forgotten) published heritage available to all. We also plan to publish special editions, just for members, in thanks for their support.

Carrigan's History of the Diocese of Ossory and New Index
Ref: IE0016 ISBN: 1-84630-042-8
Price: EURO 57.81 (ex VAT)
Description: William Carrigan's History of the Diocese of Ossory (4 vols, 1905) is one of the most important historical publications concerning Counties Kilkenny and Laois ever produced. Carrigan's main interest was the history of the church from the earliest times, and his four volumes, contain a history of the Bishops and other diocesan officials, as well as an extensive introduction to the area's political history. Thereafter he journeys from parish to parish recording a vast amount of information concerning all aspects of the area's history, always with special emphasis on religion. His books are copiously illustrated with photographs, maps and drawings, reflecting his desire to accurately record the antiquities of the Diocese.
Importantly, the four volumes contain extensive extracts and transcripts of original manuscript material, much of which was lost in the destruction of the PRO in 1922. This digital publication of Carrigan's work also includes the first ever comprehensive index to his work by Helen Litton (published in 2005). This Index also contains an extensive biographical study on Carrigan by Fearghus Ó Fearghail and a foreword by the current Bishop of Ossory, Laurence Forristal. This CD-ROM has been produced in association with the Diocese of Ossory.

So come to our web site at: http://www.archivecdbooks.ie and order today.

We also want your feedback on what we are doing. Are there titles you want published? Do you have a book which should be? What do you think of the Project? or any other questions and comments you might have. Just mail us at, enquiries@archivecdbooks.ie.

We hope to hear from you soon,

Archive CD Books Ireland
Unit 1, Trinity Enterprise Centre,
Pearse Street,
Dublin 2,
Ireland
Tel: +353 1 6710338
Fax: +353 1 6710281
www.archivecdbooks.ie
enquiries@archivecdbooks.ie

Irish VAT (Sales Tax): This is charged on all customers from the European Union at 21%, but customers from north America, Australia, and anywhere outside the EU shop at our site tax free.
If you wish to be removed from this mailing list please hit reply with the subject line 'remove' and you will be automatically removed from the mailing list.

Ballycumber Pilgrim Way

Reference to the Pilgrim Way between Ballycumber and Clonmacnois you may have been seen in the Irish Times on 15th October 2005. This is part of the Sli mor Walk that has not yet been signposted although it is possible to cycle it.

Offaly Heritage Seminar 2005. - Saturday 26 November - At Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre

Topics covered
The Architectural Inventory of Offaly
The 2005 Hedgerow Survey
The Survey of Offaly's Bridges
Offaly Biodiversity Action Strategy
Mac Regol Gospels Project
The Schools CD Project

Plus a Field Trip to Durrow Monastic Site

To book a place or for more information contact apedlow@offalycoco.ie
or call Amanda Pedlow at 0506 - 46839.
For full conference brochure and details see - http://www.offaly.ie/offalyheritage/

Amanda Pedlow Offaly Heritage Office
Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae,
Charleville Road, Tullamore, Offaly.
0506-46839

A Fishy adventure
Freeman's Journal 24 September 1857: A Narrow Escape.-On Saturday last a young gentleman named Hodder ROBERTS, of Kilmoney Abbey, went to enjoy a day's fishing on the Carrigaline river, and in a short time hooked a splendid salmon of immense size, which showed capital sport for over half an hour. when the Luckey (?) angler was unfortunately tripped by some roots & fell into the river, which was a little swollen at the time, <& running rather fresh, & was actually lowed down the river a considerable distance by the fish, the intrepid sportsman still holding on to the rod until nearing a dangerous hole called the "Gurley" (a sort of small whirlpool), when Mr. Shaw BUSTEED, one of the most experienced anglers in the county, hastened to his assistance, and fortunately had a stroke haul about him, which he succeeded in booking Mr. ROBERT'S coat, & by great exertion drew him to the bank much exhausted, but his ardour in no way damped, for he plunged in immediately after and laid hold of his rod, which was running a race down the river, and finally succeeded in landing the fish, which was well worth the ducking. It weighed over 26 lbs., being the largest fish
caught in that river for the last twenty years.- Cork Reporter. Contributed by Mr Nick Reddan. Try reading the piece aloud - you'll soon notice that it is almost all one sentence!
Taken from the Irish Genealogical Research Society Newsletter, vol. 4, no. 2, Oct. 2005.

Conservations - snapshots of modern Irish life by Darragh MacIntyre is the title of a book recently acquired for our library. Included in the book is an eight page chapter on Matt Connor.

Family History
You might consider having your family history researched as a Christmas treat for yourself or another member of your family. There is a special reduction available until the end of November. Give Margaret a ring on 0506 21421 for further details.

Books and Photos
You might also bear in mind that there is a great range of local books and old photos for sale at the Research Centre, ideal for Christmas presents.

The launching of the three CD's on Offaly History for Schools as follows:-

1. Monastic Offaly prepared by Darrell Hooper

2. Tullamore Town Michael Byrne

3. The Grand Canal and County Offaly  OHAS

Has been postponed to a date to be advised.

These CD's will be made available at €20 each to all the schools and should be extremely useful in a class situation and they come in several cases with extensive articles on the CD available to be used and printed off etc.

Our thanks to Leader + Co. for their assistance with this publication.

October the 20th  Dr Peter  Harbison on THE HIGH CROSSES OF COUNTY OFFALY

We are fortunate to have back with us Dr. Peter Harbison to give a talk on the High Crosses of County Offaly.  His book on the High Crosses is in three volumes and is the major work on the subject. We have a number of High Crosses here at Durrow, Tihilly, Kinnitty and of course Clonmacnois. The lecture will commence at 8.15p.m. and is free of charge.   The good news on Durrow as regards an interpretative centre has just been announced by Minister Tom Parlon.

THE HIGH CROSSES OF COUNTY OFFALY

The County of Offaly has one of the most interesting collections of High Crosses to be found anywhere in Ireland, dating generally to the ninth century. Not surprisingly, the great monastic site of Clonmacnois is the
most crucial centre, producing what is arguably the earliest sizeable grouping of pillars and crosses in the period around 800, and going on to achieve the most elegant example of all in the Cross of the Scriptures. The New Testament Passion Death and Resurrection of Christ features strongly in its iconography, which is so extensive that it overflows from the cross itself down on to the base. A very similar selection of biblical scenes is found also on the cross at Durrow. What unites these two crosses and that at Castlebernard near Kinnitty (which probably came from Drumcullen originally) is the presence of names of two generations of Clann Cholmain High Kings of Ireland, Maelsechlainn I and his son Flann Sinna, on the shafts of the crosses, showing unexpected political patronage at the highest level in their creation. It is probably also for political reasons that Offaly has no High Crosses from the twelfth century, which are concentrated in Connacht and Munster.

The Molloy Seminar 14 to 16 October

We draw your attention to Molloy Family History weekend, the details of which are with the newsletter.  This commences on the 14th of October with registration following Friday night with lectures from 8p.m. to 10p.m. There is a guided tour on Saturday commencing at 9.30 a.m. and of the research facility at OHAS in the afternoon at 4p.m. with dinner on Saturday night.

 Roscrea Autumn Conference 28-30th October 2005

Details of this conference which is on the subject of Vernacular Medieval Lives have now reached us and if you require further information you can email George Cunningham at georgencunnmingham@eircom.net or at  Parkmore, Roscrea Co. Tipperary.

The Roscrea Autumn Conference
At Mount St Joseph Cistercian Abbey, Roscrea.

37th consecutive conference: 28th - 30th October, 2005

Saturday 3rd September is the second walk of the summer of the southern half of Tullamore from the river to the railway to commence at Offaly Historical premises at Bury Quay at 2.30p.m. on Saturday the 3rd of September. All welcome.

Sunday 4th September from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. open day at OHAS, Bury Quay. Over 200 pictures will be on display together with books of Offaly history interest.

Thursday the 8th of September, The changing face of County Offaly and aerial views of the County in 2005 contrasted with earlier pictures of the towns and villages. This will be a lecture of great interest not just to historical minded people but also to all those who want to take note of the changing scene in our towns and villages.

Friday the 9th of September
Ecumenical Service at Rahan Church of Ireland Church - the old church at Rahan Demesne which will commence at 7.30p.m. all are welcome.

Saturday the 10th of September from 2p.m. to 6p.m. a tour of the District to include the Rahan Heritage Centre which is kindly being opened by Reverend Sister Oliver of the Presentation Sisters. The tour will include a visit to
Rahan Church, Kibride Ballycowan Castle and Rahan Graveyard.

This is a packed Heritage Week and we hope that some of the events will be of interest to almost all of the members.

Tullamore Yarns (Salts Night)
Congratulations to Tullamore Heritage Centre and in particular our committee member Dorothy Bibby in regard to the organising of the Exhibition in Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre on the History of Salts - Tullamore Yarns. The
outcome of the exhibition was a social evening on Friday the 19th of August at which over eighty persons attended. It is hoped that all the pictures will now be recorded on CD for a lecture in the autumn or early next year on the story of Tullamore Yarns.

Turas Eile
Mr. George Cunningham has organised a tour of the Ely O'Carroll Territory over the period 3 to 7th September 2005 based at Mount St. Joseph Abbey, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Details of the course of talks and outings can be
obtained at the Society or direct from George Cunningham at georgencummingham@eircom.net .

NUI Certificate in Local History
Offaly Leader + Co. are supporting another Maynooth University Course in Local History leading to a certificate. The aim of the course is to provide participants interested in local history with an opportunity to obtain formal training. The course is divided into three sections and participants must be over 23 years of age and have an interest in local history. There will be 75 hours of classes over one year, September to May on Wednesday
evenings. The course cost is ?810 of which the participant need only pay Euro100 with the balance paid by Leader. Further details from Offaly Leader, Harbour Street, Tullamore.

Pendant Reliquaries
Ms. Jill Connaughton of 38 Braemore Park, Dublin 14, is interested in hearing from any member who may know of Pendant Reliquaries from the medieval to early modern period still held in private collections and passing down the generations. If you have any information please contact the Society.

Launch of C.D.s for schools Thursday 6th October 2005 at 8p.m.
You are invited to the launch of 3 CDs prepared for primary and post primary schools in the Offaly area. The CD's consist of the following:-

1. The Monastic Heritage of County Offaly prepared by Darrell Hooper
2. The Grand Canal in County Offaly prepared by M.Byrne & OHAS
3. The Story of Tullamore Town over the centuries.

The three CDs consist of upwards of 100 pictures each together with text documents which will be available for source material for students and teachers.

The project is part funded by Offaly Leader + and the Society and we are grateful to Mr. Loughlin Hooper of Dotser for his assistance in bringing the CDs to the public. You are invited to attend to see a preview of the CDs and we hope that they will be successful in the schools.

Birr Atlas
The Birr Atlas is available at OHAS, Bury Quay for €45 and is selling very well. Only a limited number of copies have been published and if you are interested in maps this is a must.

Collecting Ephemera
Now that summer cleaning is on and if you have any old historical material on County Offaly, post cards, invitation cards, event posters, election posters, concert posters, concert programmes, etc. or indeed any kind of material that is casually produced of local interest and usually thrown out when finished with. Could you please keep any for the Society as we are for the last twenty years collecting such material.

Library acquisitions
In addition to this month's purchase of books for the OHAS research library are some important source documents which have been purchased on CD and are searchable. For example we have purchased copies of publications of family history and local history such as the 1846 trade directory for Ireland which can now be searched, although it is an image of an original booklet and any page which you are interested in can be printed off. This is an important new area of source material and should mean that in the future old books will be much more widely available.

Ordnance Survey maps
The ordnance survey first edition is to go on digital format. We expect there will be a fee involved for access to a particular page but at least it will be available to those who are strongly interested.

Aerial photographs of Offaly 2005
We have lately acquired a further batch of 2005 aerial photographs which are currently being added to the Society's photographic collection.

Index to Local Newspapers
Our work on the index of local newspapers is continuing over the summer months. We have now some twenty thousand entries in an Events Database. Our thanks to Christy Lennon in this regard and to Steve McNeill.

Laois and Offaly Cemeteries Listing
John Kearney and Maureen Kincaid are working on a listing of the Offaly and Laois Cemeteries for the Journal 2006. We are also trying to compile an all-in database of all the cemeteries recorded to date for family history purposes while at the same time keeping a record of each cemetery on our computer index. If you would like to help with the reading of tombstones why not contact Michael Byrne or Steve McNeill or indeed any member of the committee. John Kearney is in a position to let you have information as to what graveyards still need to be recorded in the County and procedures for such. Ballykane old graveyard, near Geashill, was recently recorded by members of the Society. While the graveyard is very overgrown, the 20 tombstones there were in surprisingly good condition and date back to 1690.

Late Vincent McDonald
As the Newsletter goes to press, news has just reached us of the untimely death of Vincent McDonald. Vincent was a longstanding member of the Society and supported every event, including outings, lectures, launches, etc. We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to his family and friends.

New Publication from Birr Castle
Preserved in an album for Birr Castle for 250 years is a book of drawings by Samuel Chearnely. A book has now produced in large format at €85 per copy (which is available from Birr Castle or on order from the Society). This manuscript comes with important commentary from a distinguished team including Toby Barnard, Christine Casey, Peter Harbison and William Lavin.

The book consists of some eighty drawings for grottos, obelisks, fountains and triumphal arches and it is an important book for architectural history.

Its publication should bring forward further our interest in reprinting Cooke's history of Birr of 1826 which should be done in 2006.

Healion Garden Furniture
We wish to thank sincerely Mr.Tony Healion of Healion Garden Furniture, Cappincur for donating a scaled down replica of Durrow high cross and other items to the Society.

Heritage Week 2005
This is a European wide event which takes place from 4th to 11th September.

On Thursday 8th September at 8.15 pm in the Research Centre OHAS is planning to have an illustrated talk entitled "Towns and villages of Offaly from the air in 2005" This is a unique opportunity to get a bird's eye view of Offaly's modern landscape.

This is an important topic and coming as it is into the summer months it will give an opportunity to people to look intelligently at the landscape around them and see what they can add to our knowledge of the history of the county

21 April 2005 County Meeting
County Meeting of Representatives of Heritage Groups and Historical Societies. The Society hosted a meeting of representatives of historical societies and heritage groups from throughout Offaly on Wednesday 21st of April which commenced with refreshment at 6 p.m. in Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre and was followed by reports from representatives around the county on progress in relation to heritage and historical matters. Included in the talks were presentations from our own Society on (a) building up the historical databases (b) digital photographic archive (c) the journals to date and the forthcoming journal (d) other publications of interests. We want to thank all who attended from Birr, Kilcormac, Daingean, Croghan, Kinnitty and Eglish.

26th April Launch of Birr Atlas
Our congratulations to Lady Rosse and Dr. John Feehan on the publication of the Atlas of Birr which was launched in Birr on the 26th of April. Copies are available for sale from the Society at €45 each. This is a large format book and could well win Book of the Year for the authors and publishers

19th May 2005
Mr. Tony Dawson who lately published a book on James Meehan; a most excellent surveyor will be giving a talk to the Society and the public on May the 19th at 8.15p.m. at OHAS Bury Quay, Tullamore. Mr. James Meehan made an immense contribution to land development in early New South Wales and he was born in Co. Offaly in the Shinrone area in or about 1774. He was a member of the United Irishmen and was transported from Ireland in the wake of the failed 1798 rebellion. He arrived in Sidney in the early 1800s and was subsequently assigned to then Deputy Surveyor General, Charles Grimes. He subsequently spent more than two decades in government service, measuring land grants and making surveys in districts as far as part as Port Macquarie in Northern New South Wales and Hobart and Tasmania.

We are glad to be able to welcome Tony Dawson to the Society and he will be bringing along some copies of his book which will be available on the night for purchase.

Publications received
A new publications have again been added to our library in the last three or four weeks and we set out below recent publications received. The Library night continues on Thursday 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. and members and researchers are welcome on that evening to do research.

Indexing of Local Newspapers
The events we are compiling have now reached about 19,000 entries and our thanks to all our staff and in particular to Mr. Christy Lennon for his help with the indexing. If you would like to help with the indexing of local papers why not ring Michael Byrne or Steve McNeill and arrange a time during the day or evening to come in to help with this work.

Digital Photographic Record of Offaly
The Society has circa 30,000 images now of Offaly both historical and contemporary and we are building up this archive on a daily basis. We are now improving it all the time but there are great gaps. If you or anyone you know is interested in digital photography and would be prepared to take digital photographs of towns and villages and events around Offaly why not contact us. All that is needed is good quality images that are suitably titled and identified and dated so that they can be entered into the database under the appropriate headings. Our pictures are organised under place and subject.

Preserving your family history papers
Our family history services continue to be a viable operation here in that able we are able to recover our costs. The cost of our employee and some small contribution to overheads. What is clear from the emails and coming to us is that there is a growing interest in families compiling a book of their family history. To assist you in this work we are enclosing a copy of a text of a leaflet lately received from Wexford County Library in how to reserve your family history papers and the best conditions under which to preserve same. If at the some stage you would like the Society to carry out research to prepare a book of your family history which could include photographs of the family throughout the text why not contact us. This sort of book would make an ideal present for a twenty fifth or fiftieth anniversary where nine or ten copies of the book could be prepared at circa €100 each plus the cost of postage.

Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths for Laois and Offaly
This is the major project currently under way and has been ongoing for the past three years. There are upwards of six members of staff on this task which involves the transfer of the records, dating back to 1864, from microfilm to an MS Access computer database. There are 51,000 Offaly births and 87,000 Laois and Offaly deaths computerised. The marriage records for both Laois and Offaly still remain to be commenced. The addition of these records to the overall sources data bank makes them very important for researching family history.

Other projects
We are also engaged in the preparation of material for publication in the local press. Articles of historical interest appear almost weekly accompanied by an appropriate historic photo. We are grateful for the positive feed back which we get resulting to articles and photos.
Also the scanning in of the hundreds of old slides which have been accumulated over the years. They are a valuable photographic record of historic places and events in the county.

Preserving Your Family Archives
By Wexford County Council Public Library service 2002.

How to preserve your family treasures

• Store all items in the central area of your home rather than a damp basement or a warm attic
• Handle Fragile materials carefully, particularly paper, documents and photographs
• Remove metal fasteners, clips and staples from documents. Replace them with plastic paper clips
• Ensure that hands and surfaces are clean when materials are in use
• Check that materials are dry before cleaning and remove surface dust with a soft brush or cloth
• Do not remove sellotape from documents, particularly if they are family heirlooms. Professional advice should he sought on this matter
• Use soft lead pencils when annotating documents
• Use a film marking pen on the back of the photo to record the origin of the item (available from your local art shop)
• Always unfold documents, as creases can cause long-term marking
• Do not store newspaper cuttings next to valuable items. Newsprint has a high acid content and should ideally be copied on to good quality paper

Storage of family archival collections

Proper storage is essential in protecting and maintaining your collections and should reduce any need for treatment work in the future.

• Documents should be stored in folders or boxes which are preferably acid-free
• Documents should be stored horizontally rather than vertically
• Artefacts should be wrapped in tissue paper and stored in containers
• Photographs should be placed in polyester pockets and store in the coolest, (driest part of the home
• Storage boxes should have close-fitting lids to ensure a stable environment, keeping out dust, light, pests and fluctuations in temperature and humidity
• Containers should be designed to fit the object and not the other way around
• Boxes should not he packed to capacity allow for adequate ventilation
• Large format material, such as maps or plans, should be stored flat and interleaved with tissue and stored in portfolio
• if oversized maps or documents cannot be stored flat, they are best stored in large diameter tubes and clearly labelled
• Prints and drawings should have a window mount to protect them from damage
• Artwork should be hinged to a backboard. This will allow it to hang freely in the mount and react to changing atmospheric conditions
• Vinyl records should he kept in their sleeves and cassettes should be kept in their cases to safeguard against dust.

On Thursday 14th April at 8.15p.m. Freida Kelly,one of our members, will give a lecture on Kilmainham Jail and its history.

We had a tour of this Jail some years ago and it was fascinating for its cover of important events in Irish history. Freida will be recalling these events in an illustrated talk on the 14th of April. You are very welcome to attend admission is free.

How to record Field Monuments by Caimin O'Brien

Caimin O'Brien is very kindly coming back to us on Thursday the 28th of April to present an illustrated talk on "How to record field monuments". This is a subject which is important in the context of the work that has been done on the archaeological survey of the county from O'Donovan's time in the 1830s to the SMR survey of the 1970s and 1980s. Mr. O'Brien is co-author of the Archaeological survey of County Offaly and Offaly's Medieval Churches and is well qualified to give this presentation.

This is an important topic and coming as it is into the summer months it will give an opportunity to people to look intelligently at the landscape around them and see what they can add to our knowledge of the history of the county.

Durrow Abbey Auction Posters 1958

The Society wishes to acknowledge with thanks from Charlie Flanagan 1958 farm clearance sale posters for Durrow Abbey. The sale was conducted by his father Oliver J. Flanagan.

DNA Project

For any of our members interested in their family history in the wider sense and having the name Byrne, Burns etc you may wish to contact o.beirne@fhre.de who is co-ordinating a DNA project on this surname. The result is to be used to prove/disapprove ancestry and surname group origin. The majority of the people with the surname Byrne are believed to originate from the O' Beirne Clan of Wicklow yet very little is known if this is truly the case. Alternatively, people with the surname Byrne or Burns could just a well be descendents of the O'Beirne from Roscommon or any other alternative Clan origin of which there are plenty to be found in Ireland. The DNA project can also be found at www.familytreedna.com/faq.html.

Carved Stone of Clonfinlough

This stone has lately being the subject of an article in the RSAI Journal volume 132 (2002 pp 1999 - 113) by Elizabeth Shee Twohig. It is an interesting contribution and should be particularly of interest to one of our members Eva Perez (living in Spain) as the author saw some similarities in the markings on the Clonfinlough stone and those to be found to Iberian Peninsula, particularly in Galicia. She thinks that the Clonfinlough carvings may belong to the historic period. She also notes the proximity of the Clonfinlough stone to one of the old routes to Clonmacnois and suggested that the carvings might relate to the activities of pilgrimages or other users of the road to Clonmacnois. She notes that McDermot and others made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella in Spain in 1445.

Church Hill near Tullamore

The find of a flat disc rotary quern fragment from Church Hill is also the subject of an note in the 20002 issue of the RSAI Journal. This stone was found near the church and graveyard at Church Hill. The note was contributed by Charles Mount. Copies of the article can be seen in the Society's Library.

Library Evenings

Please note that our Library Evenings continue from approx 7.30p.m. to approx 10.30p.m. each Thursday and members are very welcome to attend for research purposes.

Volunteering

There was a good response to our recent request for Volunteers in that we now have several members who are indexing the Local Newspapers. If you would be interested in this or other projects why not come along on the Thursday night to see what you can do or in the alternative contact Steve McNeill or Michael Byrne about other opportunities.

Attached is a list of names of bridges of uncertain origin which form part of the Industrial Archaeological Survey of the County being undertaken for the County Council by Fred Hammond. If you have suggestions on the names of these bridges perhaps you would write to us at Bury Quay or email at ohas@iol.ie. Attached also for members who receive email is the Heritage Council Newsletter for February 28th 2005. This included all the grants including one to the Society for €2,500 in respect of preparatory works for preservation of the glass works at Shinrone.

The Site is well worth looking at and can be found at the heritagecouncil.com.

Additions to the Library

Attached are recent purchases for the Library and we are now acquiring further C.D.'s from Eneclann of Digital copies of some rare items of Irish Historical interest.

Mr. O'Brien is the co-author of the archaeological inventory of Co. Offaly and churches of Co. Offaly. He is currently working on a new book on monastic sites in Co. Offaly. Rahan Abbey is an important site in the County and probably one of the greatest Romanesque sites in the country. It is deserving of a full lecture and we hope to have your attendance.

21 April a Lecture on the Story of Kilmainham Jail by Freida Kelly
Further details to follow.

Volunteering for Local History

Currently some of our members are working on Local History projects including the following:-

1. Preparing a publication on the Poet Egan of the Meelaghans who died circa 1940.
2. Computerising extracts from the vestry and parish registers for Kilbeggan and Ballyboy.
3. Indexing main events in the local newspapers from 1970 to 2000.

King's County War Dead
We lately purchased a CD being an index to the eight volumes of the war dead published after the First World War. It includes circa 310 names from County Offaly (some of which are in fact from County Laois and elsewhere) we have now extracted these records from the CD and would hope that some of our members would compile a study of the Great War and the participation of Offaly people in it and its impact on local history.

Among those who are featured on the CD are Christopher Hensey of Tullamore who died in Gillipoly, Martin Hensey who died in France, John Gorman who died in France, Thomas Lahane, of Birr, Michael Kirshaw of Kilcormac, Edward Joyce of Kilbride Tullamore, Robert Longworth of Kilcormac, Patrick Loughnane of Co. Offaly, James Matthews of Tullamore who died in East Africa among many others.

We have put aside a record case for material from County Offaly on the First War and to this can now be added the recent contribution to the 2005 journal on John Williams of Tullamore who luckily survived the war. In both the Offaly Independent 1914-1918 and the King's County Chronicle for the same years considerable material can be found. All of this could make for a useful publication on Offaly / King's County and the Great War.

Riocht na Midhe 2005

Volume 16 of Riocht na Midhe for the year 2005 and includes an entertaining review of the recent book on Bishop Cantwell by Patrick Fagan. In addition there is an interesting article on IRA activity in Westmeath during the War of Independence, 1918-21 by Russell Shortt which has some Offaly references including the burning of Clara Barracks.

For those interested in Norman Offaly and to the early modern period an article has lately been published on Monasteroris entitled 'From Angle Norman to Manor to 'Plantation Estate an Archaeological Survey of Monasteroris'. The author is Sinead Armstrong - Anthony and the article is in The manor in medieval and early modern Ireland and a copy of the book is in the Society's library.

Roscrea Spring Conference 2005. In Deserto; influences from the near East on the early Irish and Scottish Church.

Details can be had from Reverend Fr. Nivard Kinsella, Mount St. Joseph 0505/21711 and from the Society.

Quaker meeting houses of Ireland by David Butler and published by the Historical Committee of Friends in Ireland

The Office of Public Works has commissioned the preparation of a Conservation Plan for Durrow Abbey, Co. Offaly. The objective of the Plan is to assist and inform the OPW in the future management and conservation of the State-owned lands at Durrow. These lands include St. Columba's Church (housing the High Cross) and graveyard, St. Columbkille's Island and Well, Durrow Abbey House and immediate environs.

A public meeting is to be held at Durrow Abbey House on:
Thursday 10th February 2005 at 6pm following the opening of the house for informal inspection at 4pm

The purpose of the meeting is to inform all interested parties of progress with the Conservation Plan and to invite your input into the preparation of the Plan. The participation of all interested parties would be appreciated. Please contact the consultants Howley Harrington Architects (Contact: Katey Gregan) at 01 874 0526 for further information.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, or if you would like to raise an item for discussion in advance, please make a written submission to info@hharchitects.net or fax 01 874 0955 before 8th February 2005.

Castles and Fortifications in County Offaly circa 1500 to 1691 24th , February at 8.15p.m
This lecture which will be illustrated and will be given by Paul Kerrigan on the 24th of February at 8.15p.m. Paul Kerrigan is the author of an extensive article on the castles of Offaly in the Offaly History and Society publication in 1998. Mr. Kerrigan will be looking in detail at the building of the fort at Philipstown (Daingean), Banagher and also Birr castle.
Since then he has returned to Ireland and we are hoping that he will make a detailed study of the Offaly castles with a view to a publication. He has already lectured to us on the fortifications of the Shannon. This promises to be a most interesting lecture and we look forward to having your attendance. Admission is free.

10th March Lecture on Rahan Abbey to be given by Caimin O'Brien

Mr. O'Brien is the co-author of the archaeological inventory of Co. Offaly and churches of Co. Offaly. He is currently working on a new book on monastic sites in Co. Offaly. Rahan Abbey is an important site in the County and probably one of the greatest Romanesque sites in the country. It is deserving of a full lecture and we hope to have your attendance.

21 April a Lecture on the Story of Kilmainham Jail by Freida Kelly Further details to follow.

Offaly events data base

We now have circa 15,500 entries in this data base having added a considerable number of entries in the past. Many people were interested in it and we enclose this month a further sample of entries this time with a reference to murder in County Offaly and the various occurrences which are noted in the data base.

Recent Additions to the Library

Again we enclose this month a one page summary of recent additions to our library.

The annual subscription for 2005

The annual subscription is now due and set out on another attach sheet are the details of the subscription. If you have not already paid would you please do so. It is very helpful to having standing orders for payments of the Society's subscription and the information required for this is set out also on the attached application.

Offaly Historical Pictures for sale

We have now completed a hanging an extensive selection of upwards of 150 pictures almost all framed and for sale at the Society's premises at Bury Quay. The material includes copies of old postcards, copies of Magan Photographs of the 1900s. Copies of old maps of County Offaly. If you are interested in getting an attractive picture for your house or for your business why not come along and see what is on offer. There is also catalogue available on request to use while touring the exhibition of old pictures.

Apart from what is on display the Society has an extensive collection of other pictures of places and people in Offaly and if you would be interested in ordering a picture of any particular old view please let us know and we will see if we can fill the order.

New Book on John Broderick, Athlone

John Broderick made a distinguished contribution to the literature relating to the Midlands and Ireland as a whole and enclosed from the Irish Times of the 15th of January 2005 is a review of the most recent book about him by Madeline Kingston from Lilliputt Press. Copies of this publication can be obtained by the Society for any members who are interested.

The Christmas draw this year realised over €1,000 which is a great help to the funds of the Society and we want to thank all those who contributed. The prize winners were as follows:-
1st Ms Anna Daly, Charleville View, Tullamore.
2nd Ms Mary Smyth, Charleville Road, Tullamore
3rd Ms Pee Lowry, Rathdrum, Ballycommon
4th Mr Peter Flynn, Leamore, Blueball
5th Ms Joan McGill, Collins Lane Tullamore
6th Mr Adam Fletcher, Boora, Ferbane.

The annual dinner for Christmas 2004 was also a great success with over eighty people in attendance. Our speaker was Dorothee Bibby and we have been asking her about a second tour to Germany in 2006.

All the best for 2005 to all members.

Researching Offaly History Thursday 20 Jan. 2005

Our first talk of the new year which will be illustrated with the material from the Society's website and databases will be held on Thursday the 20th of January at 8.15p.m. Speakers will include Mr. Steve McNeill on his work with Radio 3, Mr. Noel Guerin on computer related aspects of the development of the databases, Dr. Rory Masterson on the three journal issues and his work on digital sources and Michael Byrne on the contents of the website and data base.

This lecture is aimed at all the members who want to know more about Offaly History and at primary schools and post primary school teachers and their students who may be interested in doing projects on local history either for major national awards or for the Leaving Certificate.

More and more local history and heritage studies are becoming part of the first and second level courses in history and is important too for some of the students at third level in history and geography.

The lecture is very much an open meeting and all are invited and the more questions there are the better. Admission is free.

Offalyhistory.com and history on the web

Our own website has one of the highest number of visitors for any website in County Offaly and new material is being added to the site on a regular basis. Access is free.

Journal 2005

Our third Journal is now issued. Your support for it is very much needed. The cost of the Journal was circa €8500 and it runs to in excess of 200 pages with a wide range of articles including the following:
The Down survey map of Ballybritt and Birr area.
The story of John Killally the Canal Engineer.
Daingean Reformatory
Captain Kenneth Howard Bury
Colonel Howard Bury
Jack Williams of Tullamore and his experiences in the First World War
The Provincial Press in the South Midlands
The Parish of Leamonaghan
James P. Cullen formally of Rahan and now of New York

There is a great deal of material in the Journal and we are extremely grateful to Rory Masterson for his undertaking to edit it. We have now published three journals in all and to members there is a special offer of €40 for the three journals. Otherwise the journals will now cost €50 for all three or €20 from January 2005 for volume 3 only.

Other publications are also available including the History of the Midland Methodists which was launched last year.

In the year 2005 we hope to publish the following:-

1. Volume 4 of the Journal
2. Edward Egan's poems of the late 1890s which are of local interest
3. A new illustrated guide to Tullamore
4. The Coote survey of the County in 1801

Chronological Index of Events in County Offaly

We have compiled a Chronological Index in Offaly from the earliest times up to the present day and we are interested in adding to it on a regular basis. If there are members who are interested in going through the old newspapers and making notes of major activities in the County we would be glad if you would contact Michael Byrne or Steve McNeill. The Society now has three good quality readers for looking at microfilm and we also have hard copies of the local papers back from about 1980. This could be a very interesting project and we hope that there would be several members who would come into the Society's offices on a regular basis to help with this important work. Enclosed in this newsletter is an extract from the index searched under the word "hotel". The response is largely Tullamore based but does show the extent of the information available at the switch of a computer button for research purposes. We are also enclosing a second search on homicide in County Offaly which may be of interest to some members.

Parliamentary Papers on the website

The UK census including Ireland for 1821 to 1891 are now on the South Hampton University based website www.eppi.ac.uk. This will allow local researchers to look up the population from the original published summaries. Enclosed with this newsletter is extract from the website for the 1831 census showing the number of houses in Ballyboy and Mountbolus together with Birr and Crinkle and Tullamore.

FAS Scheme

A new FAS CE programme has now started and we look forward to helping all those on the scheme in relation to training opportunities and furthering the work of the Society.

Offaly Heritage Books for Sale 2005

Brady, Fr. Ray PP Rahan Memorial Garden 15 pp SB; €3
Brennan, Sr Bonaventure Mary Ann Doyle, first companion of Catherine McAuley 375pp €15
Bielenberg, Andrew Locke's Distillery: a History 119 pp. SB €9
Byrne, Michael Tullamore Catholic Parish 187pp HB €25 SB €16
Byrne, Michael The People of Tullamore in the Twentieth Century, An album of memories HB €25
Byrne, Michael (ed) Durrow in History 299pp SB €19 HB €30
Byrne, Michael Towards a history of Kilclonfert 141pp SB €9
Campbell, R. & Dunne, B. Tombstones Inscriptions of Castlebrack 32pp SB €5
Claffey, Sr. Magdalene The Sisters of Mercy in Meath (Diocese) 79 pp SB €9
Cooney, Dudley Levistone So Civil a People SB €15.00
Davison, David H The Photography of Mary Countess of Rosse 45pp HB €19
Brennan, Sr Bonaventure, Mary Ann Doyle, first companion of Catherine McAuley, pp 375 €15
Egan, Oliver Tyrellspass Past and Present 210pp SB €19
Ferbane Parish and its Churches 158p. HB €13
Dalton, Michael From Civic Guard to Garda Siochana 275pp HB €20
Evans, Maireád & Abbott, Therese Safe Harbour, the Grand Canal at Edenderry €5
Farrell, Noel Exploring your Family Origins in Tullamore or Birr 48pp SB €13 Each
FitzPatrick, Elizabeth; Heaney, Paddy & Rosse, Alison The Wet Hillside of Saint Lugna 39pp € 4
Graham, B.J. & Proudfoot, L.J. Urban Improvement in Provincial Ireland 68pp
SB €9
Heaney, Paddy At the foot of Slieve Bloom HB 369pp €23
Irelands Own Special Offaly Edition 79pp €1
Joyce, J. St. George The King's County, Epitome of its History & Topography (1883) (Rep.1998) 79pp SB €6
Kearney, John The Long Ridge [Killeigh parish] 174pp SB €10
Kehnel, Annette Clonmacnoise - the Church and Lands of St. Ciaran 347pp SB €25
Kilcormac Historical Society Kilcormac - Killoughey Parish Album 190 pp SB €19
Killoughey Jubilee 2000 Committee Killoughey - A Pilgrimage to our past 288 pp HB €18
King, Heather A (ed.) Clonmacnoise Studies Volume 1 144 pp SB €15 Volume 2 €20
Laois History & Society 748 pp €60
Laois Heritage Society Journal Vol. 1,2 €15 ea
Lewis, Samuel A-Z of Offaly in c.1837 160 pp SB €10
Lyons, Sean The Forgotten Navigator - St Barron of Drumcullen 173pp HB €20
MacMahon, Noel Shinrone & Ballingarry in Focus 239pp SB €25 HB €35
McDonald, Theresa & Higgins, Jim Kilbride, Clara: A Study of its Archaeology, Architecture, History and Folklore SB €6
McKenna, John Tullamore Soccer Club 1941-1991 Golden Jubilee Memoir 194pp SB €12
Maguire W. A. Letters of a great Irish landlord [Edenderry] A selection from the estate correspondence of the third Marquess of Downshire, 1809-45. 189pp SB €25
Moore, Desmond Love's Old Sweet Song. [Account of James Lynam Molloy] 44pp SB €5
O'Brien, Caimin & Sweetman, P. David Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly
232pp HB €28
O'Brien, Caimin & FitzPatrick Elizabeth Offaly Medieval Churches 186pp HB €23
Offaly Heritage, 2003 2004 and 2005 Journal of the Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society, 168pp, €20 each or €50.00 for the three
O.H.A.S. Farming in Offaly Down the Years 38pp SB €4
Ó Muraíle (ed) Irish leaders and learning through the ages, Paul Walsh 636pp, HB €95
O'Neill & Nolan Offaly History & Society 1100pp HB €60
Offaly Anniversaries 2004 Trade Roots 38pp SB €7.00
Offaly County Council Grand Jury Rooms to Aras on Chontae 276pp €25
Office Public Works Clonmacnoise 48pp SB €4.00
O'Reilly, Barry Living under Thatch 88pp SB €15
Pey, Sean Eglish & Drumcullen - A Parish in Firceall 435pp HB €25
Powell, John S Huguenot Planters, Portarlington 176pp SB €12
Ryan, Brendan Dear old town (Ferbane) 342 pp HB €25
Scully Tony Slieve Bloom, from father to son 240pp HB €35
Shaw, Rev. Andrew The History of Ballyboy, Kilcormac and Killoughy SB €9 [Reprint]
Sheil, Helen Falling into wretchedness: Ferbane in the 1830's 60pp SB €8
Trodd, Valentine Banagher on the Shannon 68pp SB €13
Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre Tullamore, Co.Offaly: A short introduction and trails of the town €4
Walsh, Sr. Dolores Grow where you are planted, A History of Tullamore Mercy Sisters 229pp SB €13
Wrafter, Sr. Oliver Rahan looks back. 144pp SB €13
Wright, John Offaly One Hundred Years Ago (reprint of King's County Directory of 1890) 344pp HB €32

MAPS
Old Ordnance Survey Maps:
Banagher 1909: €3
Birr 1909: €3
Tullamore 1910: €3
Map of Slieve Bloom: €4

POSTERS
Two attractive A3 size posters relating to the History of Tullamore Gaol
Exhibition poster €3
Reproduction of 1826 poster of opening of Gaol €3

MEMBERSHIP FORM

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For further details on membership please contact the Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society, Research Centre, Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Tel: 353 506 21421. Email: ohas@iol.ie

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