The annual dinner is on this Sunday 5th December at Bridge House Hotel @ 1 pm.

The after lunch presentation is a photographic review by Dorothee Bibby who led the trip by members to Germany in June last. The presentation will recall trips to Trier, Koblenz, Cologne, Bonn, the cruise on the Rhine, and the tour of the Roman archaeological remains at Rhinebrol.

Please book your place now with the Society at 0506 21421 as demand is already strong.

The Journal for 2005 — vol. 3

The Journal for 2005 should be available not later than the Christmas Lunch on 5th December. It will retail at €15 and if you have not got the first two we are offering a package of the three for €40. This is a very valuable record and you should ensure to have all of the journals as the print runs are small and they will eventually go out of print. They will provide a valuable reference work.

Christmas Draw

The Christmas Draw will take place at 12 noon on 22nd Dec. at the Research Centre. Please return any outstanding tickets by then. Members have been very supportive and the income is helpful in carrying out projects during the year. Your help again this year will be greatly appreciated. You might note that we have new prizes this year.

Photos for sale

There is a wide selection of old local photographs on display at the Research Centre and very reasonably priced. You might consider these when buying your Christmas presents.

History Ireland and Archaeology Ireland

History Ireland have written to let us know about their monthly journal and if you would like to order you can write to History Ireland, PO Box 69, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Christmas Wishes

We would like to extend every good wish to all our members, friends and staff for the Christmas season and also a very happy New Year.

An Offaly Heritage Book for a Christmas Present

• Bielenberg, Andrew Locke's Distillery: a History 119 pp. SB €9
• Byrne, Michael Tullamore Catholic Parish 187 pp 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
• Clara Parish Burials from Earliest Times 58pp SB €7.50
• Campbell, R. & Dunne, B. Tombstones Inscriptions of Castlebrack 32pp SB €5
• Cooney, Dudley Levistone So Civil a People 176pp SB €15.00
• Dalton, Michael From Civic Guard to Garda Siochana 275pp HB €15
• Davison, David H The Photography of Mary Countess of Rosse 45pp HB €19
• Egan, Oliver Tyrellspass Past and Present 210pp SB €19
• Ferbane Parish and its Churches 158pp HB €13
• Evans, Maireád & Abbott, Therese Safe Harbour, the Grand Canal at Edenderry €3
• Farrell, Noel Exploring your Family Origins in Tullamore and Birr 48pp SB €13 each
• FitzPatrick, Elizabeth; Heaney, Paddy & Rosse, Alison The Wet Hillside of Saint Lugna 39p. € 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 (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
• King, Heather A (ed.) Clonmacnoise Studies Volume 1 144 pp SB €15
• Laois History & Society 748 pp €60
• Laois Heritage Society Journal 108 pp €10
• 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
• O’Reilly, Barry Living under Thatch 88pp SB €15.00
• Offaly Heritage, 2003, 2004 and 2005 Journal of the Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society, 168pp, €15 each. The three volumes for €40.
• Offaly County Council Grand Jury Rooms to Aras on Chontae 276pp €25
• Office Public Works Clonmacnoise 48pp SB €4.00
• 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
• 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 SB €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.

NEW

Terry Adams, Family Memories 235 pp, SB €12 [Tullamore family]

Please note, post and packaging on all books extra.

Dooly's Hotel, Birr, Co. Offaly Saturday 13th November. Set out below are the details of an interesting Heritage Seminar being held

The aim of the seminar is to

• Report on progress delivering the Offaly Heritage Plan
• To provide an opportunity for people interested in heritage to meet

9.45am Registration at Dooly's Hotel
10.15am -1.00pm Tour of the Bridges of Birr by Industrial Archaeologist Fred Hamond
1.00pm Light lunch in Dooly's Hotel,
2.00pm Opening by Cllr Tony McLoughlin, Cathaoirleach Birr Town Council
2.05pm An Update on Delivering the Offaly Heritage Plan
2002 - 2006 by Amanda Pedlow, Offaly Heritage Officer
2.30pm An Overview of Offaly's Bridges by Fred Hamond, Industrial Archaeologist
2.55pm The MacRegol Gospels Project led by Irene Morrow

3.10pm Discussion
3.20pm Tea / Coffee
3.45pm Pullough Village Design Statement May Ridgwell, Pullough Residents Development Association Core Group.
4.05pm The Architectural Inventory of Offaly - The National Context Willie Cumming, Senior Architect, DEHLG
4.30pm Discussion and Close

Booking

There is no charge for this seminar, however it would be much appreciated if you could let us know what sessions you will be attending.

Please phone 0506 46839 or email apeldlow@offalycoco.ie to say which of the three options you would like to avail of:
1. Walking tour of Bridges of Birr
2. Soup and Sandwich Lunch
3. Afternoon Seminar
by Tuesday 9th November 2004

Lecture - Distilling in Offaly Dooly's Hotel, Birr, Monday 15th Nov. @ 8pm

This illustrated lecture will be given by Michael Byrne to the Birr Historical Society and is open to the public and all members from Tullamore, Banagher and Kilcormac are welcome to attend. The Lecture will survey the history of the distilling industry in County Offaly from the late eighteenth century to the cessation of distilling in Tullamore in 1954.

Recent Wetlands Archaeological Investigations in County Offaly and Longford
Research Centre Bury Quay, 18th November @ 8.30pm.

Ms. Jane Whitaker who is a wetlands excavation manager with ADS Limited has agreed to give a talk in November on the above subject. Archaeological Development Services (ADS) Ltd. have been working as Bord na Mona's consultant archaeologists since 1998. Since then, over 100 excavations have been carried out in the BnM wetlands of County's Longford and Offaly in Mountdillion, Lemanaghan, and Derrygreenagh. The past two seasons work has concentrated in Cloncreen, Clonad and Ballykean Bogs in the Derrygreenagh works area and have yielded some very interesting sites and finds. ADS are also about to undertake the Peatlands Survey for 2004 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DOE H & LG - formerly Duchas). This survey will concentrate on the Ballydermott/Allen Bogs.

Christmas Lunch

The annual dinner is on Sunday 5th December at Bridge House Hotel @ 1 pm.

The after lunch presentation is a photographic review by Dorothee Bibby who led the trip by members to Germany in June last. The presentation will recall trips to Trier, Koblenz, Cologne, Bonn, the cruise on the Rhine, and the tour of the Roman archaeological remains at Rhinebrol.

Please book your place now with the Society at 0506 21421 as demand will be strong.

The Journal for 2005 - vol. 3

Our thanks to Rory Masterson who is currently finalising the production of the 2005 Journal, being the third volume in the series. The new Journal will retail at €15 and if you have not got the first two we are offering a package of the three for €40. This is a very valuable record and you should ensure to have all of the journals as the print runs are small and they will eventually go out of print. They will provide a valuable reference work.

The Journal for 2005 should be available not later than the Christmas Lunch on 5th December.

Christmas Draw

The Christmas Draw has come round again and we enclose our card. Members have been very supportive and the income is helpful in carrying out projects during the year. Your help again this year will be greatly appreciated. You might note that we have new prizes this year.

History Ireland and Archaeology Ireland

History Ireland have written to let us know about their monthly journal and if you would like to order you can write to History Ireland, PO Box 69, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Longford Westmeath Argentina Society

The Honorary Secretary of this group is Tommy Ganly one of our members at 11 Roscommon Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. If you would like to support the raffle for this group you might contact him.

Forthcoming Events

Lecture - Offaly's First Railway
Thursday 7th Oct at 8.30 pm. Illustrated lecture entitled Offaly's First Railway with particular reference to Tullamore by Peter Burke. This is to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the rail connection from Dublin to Tullamore. The actual date of the connection was the 2nd October 1854.

Compiling a Parish History: the Eglish Experience
21st October 2004 Brian Pey who has published a substantial and important history of Eglish, Co. Offaly will give a lecture on Compiling a Parish History: the Eglish Experience. The lecturer will highlight the various sources used and incorporate information from the main chapters in the book by means of a computer presentation.

November Lecture
To be confirmed

Christmas Lunch December 5th
Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore at 1 pm. The Christmas Lunch speaker will be Dorothee Hermann Bibby and her topic is The Rhine Revisited. This will be an armchair tour illustrated with images collected on the recent trip by members of the Society to Germany. Dorothee is a native of that part of Germany and this is a subject close to her heart. Further information to follow.

News from the Heritage Officer

On Wednesday 13th October 2004, at 8.00 pm there will be a lecture in Pullough Community Hall on the 'Leamonaghan, an introduction and results of a summer's surveying'. This will be given by Caimin O'Brien, archaeologist and Paul Gibson from Dept of Geography, Maynooth, who carried out the geophysical survey. Society members would be particularly welcome

Offalyhistory.com Web site statistics
It is interesting to read the statistics for our website offalyhistory.com . In one year there were 114,718 visitors to the site giving an average of 312 per day. This makes it one of the most visited Offaly sites.

Launch of So civil a people
So civil a people - Methodists in the Midlands is the title of a book written by Rev Dudley Levistone Cooney inspired by the journals of John Wesley describing his many visits to the Midlands in the 18th century, particularly Offaly towns and villages. These are important chronicles from a period in our history for which there is limited source material available. The book is being published by the Society.

The launch which will be performed by Minister of State, Mr Tom Parlon T.D. takes place in the Methodist church hall, Church Street, Tullamore on Monday 20th Sept. at 7.30 pm. All members are cordially invited along to the launch.

Walk through Charleville - Sunday 26th Sept. 2004

A walk through Charleville Demesne with James Howley, Architect as guide, commencing at 2 pm and meeting at the main gates on Charleville Road. This was originally planned for August but had to be postponed due to bad weather.

Lecture - Offaly's First Railway

Thursday 7th Oct at 8.30 pm. Illustrated lecture entitled Offaly's First Railway with particular reference to Tullamore by Peter Burke. This is to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the rail connection from Dublin to Tullamore. The actual date of the connection was the 2nd October 1854.

October Lecture

21st October 2004 Brian Pey who has published a substantial and important history of Eglish, Co. Offaly will give a lecture on Compiling a Parish History: the Eglish Experience. The lecturer will highlight the various sources used and incorporate information from the main chapters in the book by means of a computer presentation.

November
To be confirmed

Christmas Lunch December 5th
Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore at 1 pm. The Christmas Lunch speaker will be Dorothee Hermann Bibby and her topic is The Rhine Revisited. This will be an armchair tour illustrated with images collected on the recent trip by members of the Society to Germany. Dorothee is a native of that part of Germany and this is a subject close to her heart. Further information to follow.

Federation of Local History Societies
Autumn Seminar 1st and 2nd Oct.

Venue: Kincora Hall Hotel, Killaloe. Topic: Energy in Ireland, Past Present and Future. Seminar fee: €25 each. Bookings to Mr Dermot Ryan, Secretary, Winter's Hill, Kinsale, Co. Cork. Tel. 021 4772729.

Glenstal History Conference
Seeing and Believing: Art and Devotion in late medieval Ireland. Sept 24th and 25th Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co. Limerick. Telephone:061 386103
Email librarian@glenstal.org

International Genealogy Festival
Thurs Sept 30th - Sun. Oct 3rd
Sligo Heritage Centre, Aras Reddan, Temple Street, Sligo For details call 071 9143728
or email heritagesligo@eircom.net

Talks include:

• Sources at the National Library
• Death and burial custom in 19th century Ireland
• Information Technology and its use in genealogy research
• Irish heraldry and ancestry
• Emigration in 19th century Ireland
• Griffith's Valuation
• Sources at the National Archives
• Matchmaking and marriage customs in Ireland
• Church of Ireland records
• Genealogical research in local Irish libraries
• The Irish Genealogical Project - the story so far
• Graveyard inscriptions
• Irish records in the Public Record Office, Kew
• Poor Law Unions and Workhouses.

Membership renewals
There is still a small number of membership renewals outstanding. We would be very grateful to get these finalised over the next few weeks.

Sunday May 23rd led by Local Historian Brendan Ryan. Brendan was a teacher in Ferbane for many years and is the author of two fine history works on the area - Land by the River of God and The Dear Old Town plus articles in journals. This walk will provide an opportunity to see and hear about Ferbane's hidden history.

In the past town walks have proven very popular and this promises to be a very interesting afternoon. All are welcome.

Cars to meet at Research Centre at 2 pm and Ferbane at 2.30 pm.

Please note that this outing is instead of the planned visit to Lemanaghan which had to be postponed to a future date.

Anthony Corns lecture on the Offaly Landscape

This lecture had to be postponed and a new date will be advised to you.

Books for sale

If you want a local history book it will be on sale at the Research Centre. They include:

Living under thatch a new book on Offaly thatched houses by Barry O'Reilly, which the Society was instrumental in having published under the auspices of the Offaly County Council Heritage Forum, and with a small financial contribution from the Society is now available to be purchased at €15 from local bookshops and from the Society's offices.

Farming in Ireland - History, Heritage and Environment another monumental work of 606 pages by John Feehan is available at the very good price of €70.

2003 and 2004 Journal priced €15 each or the two at €25.

Heritage Boat Association Shindig

Venue Edenderry to Tullamore on 31 May 2004
Info@heritageboatassociation.com

8th June Saving of Durrow High Cross - A Celebration

Commences at Durrow monastic site at 7 pm on 8th June, eve of the east of St. Colmcille. Welcome by Helen Bracken, Chairperson of Durrow High Cross committee, Ecumenical Service, and outline of the history of the site including High Cross and holy well..

At 9 pm there will be a reception and buffet supper followed by music in Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre.. Tickets for this are €5 and are available at the Research Centre.

Agricultural History Society of Ireland
In association with Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society

Venue: Research Centre, Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Theme: Farming in the Midlands Date: Friday 11th June -Sunday 13th 2004, in an attached leaflet are details of an exciting weekend seminar on farming in the midlands to commence on Friday the 11th of June for the weekend. The Agricultural History Society has lined up an impressive list of speakers and the seminar will be a good preliminary to the trip to Germany for those members travelling. We look forward to a good attendance at this seminar and further details of it will be available in the next newsletter.

Date: Friday 11th June -Sunday 13th 2004

**Friday 11th June 8.00 p.m.

Introductory talk by John Feehan, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, UCD

Farming in the Midlands

**Saturday 12th June 2004

9.30-10.00 a.m. Conor Mc Dermot, Irish Archaeological Wetlands Unit, UCD Prehistoric Farming in the Midlands

10. 00 -10.30 a.m. Aidan O' Sullivan, Archaeology Department, U.C.D.: Early medieval agriculture in the Midlands: Evidence from Crannogs

10.30-11.00 a.m. Matthew Stout, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra:
Early medieval agriculture in the Midlands: Evidence from Ringforts

Coffee

11.30-12.00 p.m. Mark Hennessy, Geography Department, T.C.D: Agriculture in High Medieval Ireland with special reference to County Tipperary

12.00-12.30 p.m. Grainne Breen, Allied Irish Banks
Agriculture on the 19th century estates in County Offaly

12.30- 1.00 p.m. Tim O'Neill, History Department, UCD
From the Famine to the Land Acts: Land reform in Ireland

Lunch

2.00 p.m-6.pm. Saturday Afternoon: Field trip

8.00 p.m Conference Buffet Dinner: The Durrow Room, Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore

**Sunday 13th June 2004

10.00-10.30 a.m. Liam Kennedy, History Department, Queens University , Belfast

The Peoples Fuel: Turf in the Irish Economy since 1800

10.30 -11.00 a.m Seamus Mc Philib National Museum of Ireland
:
Farm and Folklife in the Midlands

Coffee

11-11:30 Paul Rouse RTE:

Government and Agriculture in Ireland after World War II with special reference to the Midlands

12.00 -12.30 Michael Byrne, Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society: Agriculture and industry in the environs of Tullamore in the Eighteenth-century

The afternoon

A walk around Tullamore led by Michael Byrne, Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society

Slán abhaile

Membership renewals

While most members have already renewed their 2004 membership, a small number still remains outstanding. Could we ask the remainder to pay as soon as possible. Look at the label on your envelope if in doubt. If it shows 2003 it's overdue.

The late Anne Dunne

It is with deep regret that we learn of the untimely death of Anne Dunne. Anne was a longstanding member of the Historical Society, close on thirty years. In addition she supported every event which the Society organised, including outings, lectures, book launches, etc. Always a regular visitor to the Research Centre, she liked to keep herself informed of developments there. She is remembered for her friendly disposition on outings and she always got acquainted with her fellow members. The Society would like to extend its sincerest sympathy to her sister, family and her many friends.

Schools CD ROMs

The work on the CD ROMs for schools is now nearing completion. A lot of work has gone into their preparation including photographs and text.

Best Wishes

The distinguished geographer, Dr. Arnold Horner of the Department of Geography UCD, will give the April lecture on the subject of the work of the Bogs Commissioners who prepared the bog reports and bog maps of the early 1800s. These maps are a significant local history source but not that well known because they are difficult to access. Extracts have been published from time to time. The lecture is free and open to the public and we look forward to seeing you. Refreshments served afterwards.

Anthony Corns lecture on the Offaly Landscape
This lecture had to be postponed and a new date will be advised to you.

Living under thatch
The new book on Offaly thatched houses by Barry O'Reilly, which the Society was instrumental in having published under the auspices of the Offaly County Council Heritage Forum, and with a small financial contribution from the Society is now available to be purchased at €15 from local bookshops and from the Society's offices.

May 2/5 Slieve Bloom walking festival
Further details from Gerry Hanlon at 0502/24167 or infor@slievebloom.ie

May 9th
On Sunday the 9th of May at 2.30p.m there will be a walk of Tullamore Town commencing at OHAS Bury Quay with particular reference to O'Connor Square north to the Courthouse and including Kilcruttin Cemetery. This walk is being held to mark the anniversary of the Great Fire which took place on the 10th of May 1785.

May 22nd
Outing to Leamonaghan Part II with Jim Kenny

Mr. Jim Kenny will lead a further tour through the parish of Leamonaghan to follow up on that part of Leamonaghan which we did not visit last year.

May 30/2 June
Kilbeggan Boat Rally venue Kilbeggan Edenderry and Daingean and Ballycommon contact IWAI 1890 9241191

Heritage Boat Association Shindig

Venue Edenderry to Tullamore on 31 May 2004
Info@heritageboatassociation.com

5th June
We proposed to visit Durrow and Tihilly sites to mark the acquisition of the Durrow property by the state and further details of this outing will be given in May. It is intended to have a social following on the event in the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre.

Agricultural History Society of Ireland
In association with Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society

Venue: Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Theme: Farming in the Midlands Date: Friday 11th June -Sunday 13th 2004, in an attached leaflet are details of an exciting weekend seminar on farming in the midlands to commence on Friday the 11th of June for the weekend. The Agricultural History Society has lined up an impressive list of speakers and the seminar will be a good preliminary to the trip to Germany for those members travelling. We look forward to a good attendance at this seminar and further details of it will be available in the next newsletter.

Theme: Farming in the Midlands

Date: Friday 11th June -Sunday 13th 2004

Friday 11th June
Introductory talk by John Feehan, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, UCD

8.00 p.m. Farming in the Midlands

Saturday 12th June 2004

9.30-10.00 a.m. Conor Mc Dermot, Irish Archaeological Wetlands Unit, UCD Prehistoric Farming in the Midlands

10. 00 -10.30 a.m. Aidan O' Sullivan, Archaeology Department, U.C.D.: Early medieval agriculture in the Midlands: Evidence from Crannogs

10.30-11.00 a.m. Matthew Stout, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra:
Early medieval agriculture in the Midlands: Evidence from Ringforts

Coffee

11.30-12.00 p.m. Mark Hennessy, Geography Department, T.C.D: Agriculture in High Medieval Ireland with special reference to County Tipperary

12.00-12.30 p.m. Grainne Breen, Allied Irish Banks
Agriculture on the 19th century estates in County Offaly

12.30- 1.00 p.m. Tim O'Neill, History Department, UCD
From the Famine to the Land Acts: Land reform in Ireland

Lunch

2.00 p.m-6.pm.. Saturday Afternoon: Field trip

8.00 p.m Conference Buffet Dinner: The Durrow Room, Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore

Sunday 13th June 2004

10.00-10.30 a.m, Liam Kennedy, History Department, Queens University , Belfast

The peoples Fuel: Turf in the Irish Economy since 1800

10.30 -11.00 a.m Seamus Mc Philib National Museum of Ireland

Farm and Folklife in the Midlands

Coffee

11-11:30 Paul Rouse RTE:

Government and Agriculture in Ireland after World War II with special reference to the Midlands

12.00 -12.30 Michael Byrne, Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society: Agriculture and industry in the environs of Tullamore in the Eighteenth-century

A walk around Tullamore led by Michael Byrne, Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society

Slán abhaile

Membership renewals
While most members have already renewed their 2004 membership, a small number still remains outstanding. Could we ask the remainder to pay as soon as possible.

2005 Journal
The editorial committee are currently preparing for the Society's 2005 Journal. If you have an article about something or some place with an Offaly dimension that you want published, here is your opportunity. Contact the editor Dr Rory Masterson, c/o the Society preferably in MS Word on floppy disc.

Clonmacnois
The first volume of essays on Clonmacnois was published about two years ago and is available at OHAS Bury Quay. The second volume of Clonmacnois by Heather King will shortly be available from the Society. Both of these publications are quite handsome. Enclosed with this newsletter is a recent article from the Irish Times of 24 January 2004 on the site.

March 25th
The first meeting will be held of the Journal Committee for the issue of the Journal of 2005.

April 2
Anthony Corns on the Offaly Landscape. Anthony Corns was with the Discovery Programme and will present an overview of his computer based studies of the Offaly Landscape. This presentation will be particularly useful for students of Offaly Landscape who also have some computer knowledge.

April 29th
Dr. Arnold Horner, Department of Geography UCD will talk about the bog maps of circa 1810 for the Midlands. This is an important lecture and further information will be made available in the newsletter.

May 2/5 Slievebloom Walking Festival
Further details from Gerry Hanlon at 0502/24167 or infor@slievebloom.ie

May 9th Tullamore Walk
On the 9th of May at 2.30p.m there will be a walk commencing at OHAS Bury Quay of Tullamore Town with particular reference to O’Connor Square North to the Courthouse and including Kilcruttin Cemetery. This walk is being held to mark the anniversary of the Great Fire which took place on the 10th of May 1785.

May 22nd Leamonaghan
Mr. Jim Kenny will lead a further tour through the parish of Leamonaghan to follow up on that part of Leamonaghan which we did not visit last year.

May 30/2 June
Kilbeggan Boat Rally venue Kilbeggan Edenderry and Daingean and Ballycommon contact IWAI 18909241191

Heritage Boat Association Shindig
Venue Edenderry to Tullamore on 31 May 2004
Info@heritageboatassociation.com

5th June
We proposed to visit and Tihilly sites to mark the acquisition of the Durrow property by the state and further details of this outing will be given in May. It is intended to have a social following on the event in the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre.

15th June to 22 June Society Trip to Germany
Details already announced and now booked out with a waiting list.

Mid June 2004
Celebrations will be held in the middle of June of 2004 in connection with the 150 anniversary of the extension of the railway from Dublin to Tullamore. The rail link was opened on the 2nd of October 1854 and it is intended to have a lecture in the week preceding the anniversary.

1st July
It is intended to have a canal walk to mark the two hundred anniversary of the connection of Dublin to Shannon on the grand canal and city system. This will be followed by a Social in the 26th Lock House at Cappincur.

10th August
Tullamore Show at Charleville Estate Tullamore

20 –22August
During the course of the Tullamore Phoenix Festival it is hoped to have a tour of Charleville Demesne on Sunday the 24th of August at 2p.m. commencing at Charleville Gate speaker to be confirmed.

Tullamore Phoenix Festival contact Anne Starling at 087/6509777 or info@phoenixfestival.ie

September 1 – 8 National Heritage Week
Contact 01/64724455 or heritageireland.ie

October 5-7 Carroll Home Coming Festival at Birr
Contact Tracey Coughlan at 0509 20923

Lecture on Farming in Ireland
Speaker to be confirmed.

Malachy Moran manuscripts

November
Archaeological Investigation – speaker to be confirmed

December - annual dinner
Speaker to be confirmed.

The Monastic Way is a concept under development by Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce to encourage tourists from Dublin to Galway (and vice versa) to take an alternative route to the current N6 which would take them through East and West Offaly.

Committee for 2004
At the annual general meeting of the Society held on the 22nd of January the following persons were elected for the Committee and Offices for 2004.

Chairman: Steve McNeill, Collins Lane, Tullamore
Secretary: Michael Byrne, 4 Sheena, Charleville Road, Tullamore
Treasurer: Mr. Peter Burke, Clara Road, Tullamore

Mrs. Helen Bracken, Daru, Arden Vale, Tullamore
Ms. Breda Hoey, Store St. Tullamore
Mr. James Matthews, Arden Tullamore
Mr. Matt Mooney, The Moat, Lynally, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Mr. Owen Clyne, Kilbride, Clara, Co. Offaly
Mr. Fred Geoghegan, Frevenagh, Durrow Tullamore
Mrs. Ann Horan, 30 Davitt Street, Tullamore
Mr. James Kenny, Kilbride Street, Tullamore
Mrs. Marie Neville, Charleville Road, Tullamore
Mr. John Kearney, OHAS Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Ms. Mary Jane Fox, Ballytoran, Shinrone, Birr, Co. Offaly.
Mr. Rory Masterson, Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

New members to the committee include:-
Ms Kathleen Geoghegan, Frevenagh, Durrow
Ms Dorothee Bibby, Cappincur, Tullamore
Ms. K. O'Neill, Daingean
Mr. Darrell Hooper, Ross, Screggan Tullamore
Mr. Sean Hackett, Glendaniel Tullamore
Mr Henry Edgill, Mountbriscoe, Daingean

Annual Subscriptions and your address
Please note your annual subscription may still be due and it is a sum of €25. Life membership €350. Enclosed is a form which we would be glad if you would fill in giving your postal address your email and your mobile number. The email in particular will greatly facilitate and reduce the cost of the monthly newsletter.

Industrial Archaeology Presentation on County Offaly
Mr. Fred Hammond who has made a study of the industrial archaeological sites in County Offaly is presenting his draft report on the Industrial Archaeological Inventory. This is an important presentation and Mr. Hamond has put an considerable amount of work, way and above the call of duty into this report. Some members would have met him at the Industrial Archaeology day which was organised by the Heritage Officer back in December 2003. The meeting took place in the Historical Society premises on Thursday the 29th of January.

Donations from Members
Our thanks to Declan O'Connor formerly of Edenderry now a Solicitor in Navan who presented us with a copy of a Mark Aodh de blacan play Ambassador of Christ which is a historical narrative based on a drama about St. Patrick and which includes Irish leaders including O'Faly of the old kingdom based on present east Offaly.

Study of Lock Houses
Ms. Mary McDonnell (01 4740600) is currently completing a study of lock houses on the Grand Canal and if you have anything to give her perhaps you could call her at the above number.

A selection of books added to library 2004
Michael Tanner Mick the Miller [famous greyhound from Killeigh]
Peter O'Reilly Rivers of Ireland
Hickey D J and Doherty J E A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800
FitzSimon Taylor Betsey Murphy H James (Editors) The Irish Revival Reappraised
Cox Ronald and Gould Michael Ireland's Bridges
O'Sullivan Marie Catherine Hospitality in Medieval Ireland 900-1500
Donnacha Sean The Irish National League in Dingle County Kerry 1885-1892
Kennedy Joseph The Monastic Heritage & Folklore of County Laois
O'Brien Gearoid Athlone In Old Photographs
O'Brien John Portlaoise Yesteryears
Fennelly Teddy A Triumph of Co-operation over Adversity [Donaghmore Co-Op]
Clarke Harry Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918 [In 8 vols.]

Report on Projects currently under way at OHAS
Tasks currently in progress include:

• ongoing organising of the photograph and slide collections,
• cataloguing new book acquisitions,
• computerising civil births, deaths and marriages for Laois and Offaly
• computerising church records heretofore in hard copy
• extracting material from microfilmed sources for publication
• preparing articles for publication in the local press
• preparation of publication on Midland Methodists
• provision of family history research
• Centre maintenance
• Administration, membership list, monthly newsletter

Ballinagar Church Disaster
The Society commiserates with the people of Ballinagar and district on the recent destruction by fire of the historic St. Joseph's Church there.

The church was built in 1837 by Fr James Kinsella, PP. An account in Fr John McEvoy's The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD tells us that "The Ballinagar area was served by a thatched chapel in Penal times and the present church was built over it. It has a pinnacled belfry.

The church has a chalice of Fr James Kinsella dating from 1847. …"

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM

Name ______________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

E-Mail Address _________________________________

Mobile Phone No. _______________________________

The book traces the course of the river Boyne from source to sea, discussing its history, the landscape, the people who have left their imprint on the region since pre historic times. The house and monuments, the battle sites and all the other aspects that make Boyne Valley such a real source of interest.

Dr. Harbison is the author of numerous books on Irish History.

Notice of the annual general meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held on the same night as the lecture at 7 p.m. at OHAS Bury Quay and your attendance would be appreciated. The Agenda is as follows:-

1. Minute of last A.G.M.
2. Report of the Chairman
3. Report of Secretary
4. Report of the Treasurer
5. Adoption of Accounts for the year 2002
6. Any other business.

It is hoped that the meeting will be concluded at about 8.15p.m. to allow for the lecture to commence shortly afterwards.

Your outgoing committee of 2003 is as follows:-

• Chairman: Steve McNeill
• Secretary: Michael Byrne,
• Treasurer Mr. Peter Burke.

Outgoing Committee:

• Mrs. Helen Bracken, Daru, Arden Vale, Tullamore
• Ms. Breda Hoey, Store St. Tullamore
• Mr. James Matthews, Arden Tullamore
• Mr. Matt Mooney, The Moat, Lynally, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
• Mr. Owen Clyne, Kilbride, Clara, Co. Offaly
• Mr. Fred Geoghegan, Frevenagh, Durrow Tullamore
• Mrs. Ann Horan, 30 Davitt Street, Tullamore
• Mr. James Kenny, Kilbride Street, Tullamore
• Mrs. Marie Neville, Charleville Road, Tullamore
• Mr. John Kearney, OHAS Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
• Ms. Mary Jane Fox, Ballytoran, Shinrone, Birr, Co. Offaly.
• Mr. Rory Masterson, Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
• Mr Noel Guerin, Kilbride, Tullamore

Please note that all the Committee members elected automatically become directors of Offaly Heritage Centre Limited which is a charitable company which owns the building and carries on the financial business of the Society.

Heritage Tour to the Rhine Valley (Germany) from the 15.06.2004 to 22.06.2004.
A trip not to be missed. Anyone seriously considering going would want to book as soon as possible as there is a lot of interest in it. See last page for full details. Numbers strictly limited to 24.

The Journal 2004
The Journal was launched on the 7th of December. Our thanks to all the contributors and to the editor, Rory Masterson. Copies are very strictly limited this year and if you want a copy please arrange to let us have €15 asap. We are making a special offer of €25.00 for the 2003 Journal and the new 2004 Journal for those who have not already purchased the first issue. The Journal is about 200 pages and represents good value for money as the net cost is of the order of €20 per Journal and we are selling it for €15 to members.

FÁS CE scheme Report
Tasks currently in progress include:

• ongoing organising of the photograph and slide collections,
• cataloguing new book acquisitions,
• computerising civil births, deaths and marriages for Laois and Offaly
• computerising church records heretofore in hard copy
• extracting material from microfilmed sources for publication
• preparing articles for publication in the local press
• preparation of publication on Midland Methodists
• provision of family history research
• Centre maintenance
• Administration, membership list, monthly newsletter

Christmas Draw Winners

• Jane Coen, Durrow
• Joan McGill, Collins Lane, Tullamore
• Rachel Fogarty, 112 Clonminch Wood
• James Flynn, Spollinstown
• Matt Mooney, Lynally
• Evelyn Campbell, Caragh, Co. Kildare

Many thanks to all who supported the draw. It was a great success.

Recent Library acquisitions

• Joe Devine The House of Corkagh (West Dublin) Donated by the author.
• Michael Herity and Aidan Breen The Cathach of Colum Cille, an introduction.
• Alan Hayes and Diane Urquhart (eds.) Irish Women’s History
• Ray Rivlin Shalom Ireland, a social history of Jews in modern Ireland.
• John Joseph Conwell A Galway landlord during the Great Famine, Ulick John de Burgh, first marquis of Clanricarde
• Joe Clarke Christopher Dillon Bellew and his Galway estates
• Rob Goodbody Sir Charles Domvile and his Shankill estate, County Dublin, 1857-1871
• Geraldine Candon Headford, County Galway, 1775-1901.
• R B McDowell Historical Essays 1938 2001
• Myrtle Hill Women in Ireland, a century of change.
• Raymond Gillespie (ed) The remaking of modern Ireland.
• Karina Holton, Liam Clare & Brian Ó Dálaigh (eds) Irish Villages, studies in local history.
• Amaia Bilboa Acedos The Irish Community in the Basque Country c. 1700-1800.
• Eamonn Gaynor Memoirs of a Tipperary Family, the Gaynors of Tyone 1887-2000
• Jérôme Aan de Wiel The Catholic Church in Ireland 1914-1918, war and politics
• Sean Lyons The Forgotten Navigator, Saint Barron of Drumcullen
• Brian Pey Eglish and Drumcullen, a parish in Fir Ceall
• Toby Barnard Irish Protestant ascents and descents 1641-1770
• D J Hickey & J E Doherty A new dictionary of Irish History from 1800
• Danny Dunne (ed) Children of the Mounds, a history of the Gainstown/Gaybrook area. (Westmeath)

Recent Local Publications
Congratulations to Sean Lyons and Brian Pey

Durrow High Cross
The good news here is that public pedestrian access is again available and people can now visit the well and High Cross as heretofore. Our thanks to Mr. Tom Parlon, TD who was involved in getting the necessary minor works done to facilitate and highlight that access is now available. The next stage will be to plan for the refurbishment and conservation works at the site and to consider proposals subject to planning etc for the use of Durrow Abbey house.

The acquisition of Durrow High Cross, Well, church and house is a major boast for the Midlands and for the Tullamore area in particular and should improve tourism awareness in the region and also awareness of our own monastic heritage.

Monastic Way lecture by Darrell Hooper 26th February 2004
An illustrated talk entitled The Monastic Way – focus on Offaly with particular references to Monasteroris (Edenderry), Rahue, Durrow, Rahan, Lemanaghan and Clonmacnois by Darrell Hooper

New Members
We want to welcome the following new members to the Society:-

• Kieran & Mary O’Driscoll, Spollanstown, Tullamore, Co. Offaly – Life members
• Ms Bernie Moran, Chapelizod
• Ms Marie Smith, Morrough, Rahan
• Mr Brendan Ryan, Ferbane
• Ms Mary Keegan, Sragh
• Mr Liam Keegan, Sragh

Membership renewal
Renewals for 2004 are now due. The fee is €25.

Membership renewal form

Name ____________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________

I enclose my membership fee of €25 for 2004.

Fee should be sent c/o Treasurer, Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society, Bury Quay, Tullamore.

A Standing Order form (only valid for members resident in Ireland) can be posted for the benefit of those whose fee is still outstanding.

Heritage Tour to the Rhine Valley (Germany) from the 15.06.2004 to 22.06.2004
Places strictly limited. Booking essential as soon as possible. Cost per person approx. €560. This incl. transfers, flight, Hotel (breakfast and one meal), daytrips and cruise on river Rhine. Full details in next newsletter. Our thanks to staff member Dorothee Bibby for planning this tour. Dorothee is a native of the area to be visited.

Tour to Germany June 2004
Price €560 approx. which covers transport to and from airports, flights, hotel including breakfast and one meal, day trips and cruise on River Rhine.

Programme of events:
15.06.2004 Tuesday:

13.00 pm Bus Tullamore – Airport

16.45 pm Flight Dublin – Duesseldorf ( Aer Lingus)

19.35 pm (German time) Bus to Rheinbrohl

21.30 pm approx. Supper – Hotel Jaegerhof

16.06.2004 Wednesday:

10.00 am Guided tour around Rheinbrohl (1.5h walk)

12.30 pm Lunch - Hotel Jaegerhof

15.00 pm Guided tour along the Roman watchtowers in Rheinbrohl (2h drive in special tractor trailers, drinks available)

18.00 pm Restaurant Bauernstuebchen

17.06.2004 Thursday:

Daytrip to Trier (www.trier.de)

8.30 am Bus will leave Rheinbrohl, Tour incl. 2h Guided tour in Trier

19.30 pm approx Dinner – Hotel Jaegerhof

18.06.2004 Friday:

9.00 am Trip to Koblenz incl. 2h Guided tour of City and Fortress Ehrenbreitstein – after time for yourself

15.00 pm visit of Castle Stolzenfels of Goloring

18.00 pm Dinner – Hotel Jaegerhof evening entertainment could be organized, please give suggestions (Concert: Classic or Jazz Music in Castle www.villamusica.de, Pub tour in Bonn or Koblenz)

19.06.2004 Saturday:

10.00 am Trip to Linz – time for yourself

12.30 pm Lunch – Hotel Jaegerhof

15.30 pm walk to Hammerstein c 1.5miles to meet a wine producer in wine yard and his wine cellar incl. wine testing and supper.

20.06.2004 Sunday:

10.00 am Bus will bring you to Koblenz

11.00 am – 17.00 pm Cruise on river Rhine Koblenz – Oberwesel

19.00 pm Dinner – Hotel Jaegerhof

21.06.2004 Monday:

Daytrip to Cologne (www.stadt-koeln.de)

9.00 am Bus to Cologne incl. 2h Guided tour – after time for yourself

19.00 pm Dinner – Hotel Jaegerhof

22.06.2004 Tuesday:

8.00 am Bus to Duesseldorf Airport

10.55 am Flight Duesseldorf to Dublin

The Society reserves the right to cancel the trip in the event insufficient numbers make it non-viable. Times may vary slightly.

BOOKING FORM

Name(s) as on passport ______________________/__________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________

Telephone No. __________ Email address ________________

Booking fee (non returnable) of €250 per person enclosed