27th April '06
The O'Molloys of County Offaly and beyond: looking at sources for the family from 1660 to the present day and will held at Bury Quay, Tullamore at 8.15p.m. Michael Byrne

This talk will be looking at records as diverse as the 1659 census and the 1901 census. In addition it will look at birth and marriage records and some of the published histories.
This illustrated talk on the sources has the advantage of being applicable to any Irish family surname and will be of particular interest to the O Molloys of County Offaly and to a lesser extent in Ireland generally. The lecture is open to the public and all are welcome to attend and admission is free.

Bill Jaffray on Tullamore
Our thanks to Bill Jaffray on his very interesting lecture on Tullamore which is available to be viewed at the centre on CD. Sound quality would be good but as of yet picture quality would be difficult because of the lighting. We are hoping that Bill Jaffray will give another talk in the autumn on other streets in Tullamore. His last talk concentrated on Patrick Street Waterlane and Kilbride Street and covered his recollections of Tullamore over a period in excess of seventy years.

Additions to our Library and opening hours
The library is open each Thursday evening from 7.30p.m. to 10.30p.m. and thereafter by appointment. For the next few months it will also be open on Tuesday evening 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm. We particularly welcome graduate and post graduate students who may be doing research on aspects of Offaly history. We enclose with this newsletter the most recent additions to the library.

Volunteers needed
We set out here some projects we are currently working on. Would you be interested in coming in to work on an area on interest such as indexing the old newspapers or reading tombstones in the Offaly or Laois cemeteries. We have lots of work on computer for those interested. Another area would be adding to our listing of old photographs.

Membership subscription 2006
We had a very good response to the request for subscriptions and attached to this letter is a further request if you have not already paid. Attached is a note as to whether your subscription is due for 2006 and if you would be kind enough to send it on to us as soon as possible. Annual sub is only €25 please also give us your address and email. The latter is more efficient for us and will allow us to give you bonus material from time to time.

2006 Journal
The Journal should be available shortly and runs to about 285 pages and will sell for €15 to members and €20 to the public. Orders can now be placed at the centre. If you require it to be sent by post within Ireland and you are a member please send €20. If outside Ireland please send €30.

Website
We are updating the website with further information and you might like to have a view of it and let us have your comments. Information can be sent to info@offalyhistory.com.

MacRegol Conference at Birr Friday to Sunday 1 to 3 September 2006
Details of this weekend conference have now been announced with a number of important speakers including Peter Harbison, Thomas O'Loughlin, Maura Herbert, Timothy O'Neill, D. O'Croinin, Camin O'Brien and others. It is an important conference and details can be had at the Society premises and from Bridget O'Sullivan Orville Burke's Hill, Co. Offaly. We will email details in the next newsletter.

The conference begins on the 1st of September at 2.30p.m. and will finish on mid day Sunday.

Country Life Collection at Daingean
Open Day Sat 29th.
The National Museum's country life collection in the old reformatory in Daingean will be open to the public from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday 29th April. Members are encouraged to take this once in a lifetime opportunity to view the collection housed in this historic old building. The proceedings will be officially opened by Mr. Tom Parlon, TD, Minister of State.