Car Outing to Portarlington on Sunday 25th June
Depart OHAS Bury Quay at 2 pm and meet at the Church of Ireland church in Frenchchurch St., Portarlington at 2.30 pm sharp. We will join the Thomond Historical Society for a conducted tour of the church and environs, then on to Lea Castle ruins and if time permits Lea Church guided by our Society member Ronnie Mathews. Please bring appropriate footwear as a field has to be crossed to Lea Castle.

Recent library acquisitions
Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow Grogan Eoin Kilfeather Annaba (Compiled)
Portarlington Generating Station 1946-1988 (2c) McCowen Jon Culleton Pat (Compiled)
County Westmeath Mullingar Family Roots Farrell Noel ( Ed)
The Church of Ireland 1869-1969 McDowell R B
Archaeological Features at Risk Project Volume 1 O'Sullivan Muiris, O'Connor David J Kennedy Laurence
Proposals for the conservation of the Shinrone glasshouse Co. Offaly Southgate Chris and Associates
The Anglo-Irish Tradition Beckett J C
A Discovery of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued Davies John
Princes & Pirates The Dublin Chamber of Commerce 1783-1983 Cullen L M
Poems from the collection of the late Jim Hogan Hogan Jim
Heritage Outlook The Heritage Council
Group for the study of Irish Historic Settlement

Books for sale at the Research Centre
Members are reminded that the Society's journal volume 4 was published recently and is available at €15 (€20 to non members). As stated in the last newsletter only 500 copies of this issue have been printed and it is anticipated that it will be sold out fairly quickly. Vols 1,2, and 3 are also available at a special offer of $50 or €65 for all 4 volumes. Copies can be collected and paid for at the Society's office at Bury Quay or from Steve McNeill, Michael Byrne and other members of the committee. Copies will be available at Hoey & Denning for members on the southern side of town.

Stories from a sacred landscape, from Croghan Hill to Clonmacnoise by Caimin O'Brien was published recently and the society has got a small number for sale to members.

6 July Anniversary of the ' Battle of Tullamore'. This event involving soldiers in the British Army and the King's German Legion will be recalled at Kilcruttin Cemetery at 7.00pm on Thursday 6 July and will be followed by refreshments in a nearby pub.

20 July We are trying to arrange an evening trip to the Country Life collection at Daingean Reformatory commencing 7.30 pm and concluding at Castlebarna Golf Club.

August 26- 3 Sept Heritage Week
Second illustrated lecture from Bill Jaffray on the history of Tullamore preceded by launch of book by Hermann Geissel Launch of Book on Eiscir Riada

Hermann Geissel will be publishing a book on the ancient roadways of Ireland with reference to the old Eiscir Riada roads and it is intended that this book would be launched on the 31st of August on the same night as the Bill Jaffray lecture. The Society is supporting the book to the sum of €2,500 in recognition of its importance and the work that has been done by the author. We hope to see you in attendance on that evening.

1-3 Sept Macregol Conference at Birr. Details from Margaret Hogan, Hillside, Birr

2-7 October Society trip to Germany, see details below. To book your place please contact the Research Centre 057 9321421. A deposit of €200 is required.

19 October lecture by Margaret Hogan on Birr Workhouse

Offaly Atlas 1809

Dr. Horner's work on the Atlas of King's County of 1809 is expected to be ready for launch in the Autumn . The Society is supporting the publication and has assisted in various other practical ways. Details of the launch date will follow.

Journal 2007 vol 5 The editor is now calling for papers. Why not work on something for this journal

Recording tombstone inscriptions

As part of the research project we are currently recording tombstone inscriptions in old cemeteries in Laois and Offaly. Our thanks to Maureen Kincaid who helps out with this work in a voluntary capacity. In recent times we have been recording in the old cemeteries at Bracknagh and Clonbulloge in Offaly and Reary in Laois. In the near future we hope to commence in Walsh Island. Our thanks to the clergy for allowing access to the cemeteries.
The recently published journal has a comprehensive list of Offaly cemeteries which shows the work which has been achieved in recording inscriptions.


Trip to Rheinbrohl Germany 2nd - 7th Oct. 2006
5 nights - half board - accommodation Hotel-Restaurant Jägerhof
We are going to stay with Klaus & Clare again. They are looking forward to welcoming us once more. We are booked in for 5 nights with half board accommodation.
* Aer Lingus Dublin to Dusseldorf *Total cost €600*Booking deposit €200 *25 places only of which 10 reserved for committee.

To book your place call to the Research Centre or phone 057 9321421
On our last visit to Germany we learned about the history of the Rhine Valley. This time around Dorothee would like to bring us closer to famous inventors and the industrial heritage in the area.
2nd Oct. Depart Tullamore from OHAS, Bury Quay - approx. 1.30pm travelling by bus to Dublin Airport.

The wine festival will be celebrated in the area on the day of our arrival. It would be a very great opportunity to meet the local people of Rheinbrohl.

3rd Oct. 2006 Today we celebrate the anniversary of German Unification.

The Germans take Sundays and Bank Holidays off - everything closes down. Sorry, shops will be closed today - restaurants and bars are open. Tuesday morning we will take it easy. Around 1 pm we will leave the Hotel and go to Siebengebirge - the gate to the romantic Rhine.

4th Oct. Visit to Mainz Here we are going to have a guided tour (about 2 hrs ) at the museum of the book printer Johannes Gutenberg. We will hear about the development of books and printing from hand writing to modern high-tech times. We will see 49 original Gutenberg Bibles, which are kept safe within the museum.
5th Oct. Visit to the historic town of Limburg. After the evening meal we will visit Weingut Scheidgen in Hammerstein for a wine tasting and a great evening.

6th Oct Welcome to the World of Asbach the famous German specialty from Ruedesheim on the romantic Rhine. We are going to tour the Asbach Visitor Centre and experience Asbach with all our senses.

7th Oct Depart Cologne airport at 10.50 arriving at Dublin at 11.45 and Tullamore approx 2 pm.

More library acquisitions
Accountability in Irish Parliamentary Politics MacCarthaigh Muiris
Century of Endeavour Johnston Roy H W
The Clergy of the Church of Ireland 1000-2000 Barnard T.C. Neely W.G. (Eds.)
The Bible War in Ireland Whelan Irene
The Pastoral Role of the Roman Catholic Church in Pre-Famine Ireland 1750-1850 Larkin Emmet
English Newsbooks and Irish Rebellion 1641-1649 O'Hara David A
The Irish Policeman 1822-1922 a life Malcolm Elizabeth
Flashes of Brilliance Ahlstrom Dick
This Great Calamity Kinealy Christine
Írísh Flames Waller John
Housing Contemporary Ireland Norris Michelle Redmond Declan (Eds)
Invoking Ireland Moriarty John
Day Tours from Dublin Fewer Michael
Those were the days Oxford David
The Music of the Ash Jimmy Blake
Sport 1900-2000 O'Dwyer Joe
Crime and Punishment in Ireland 1922 to 2003 O'Donnell Ian O'Sullivan Eoin Healy Deirdre (eds)
John Keegan Selected Works Delaney Tony (Ed)
The Sutton Hoo Sceptre and the roots of Celtic Kingship Theory Enright Michael J
Land Matters Crowley Ethel
What If Ferriter Diarmaid
Michael Collins and the making of the Irish State Doherty Gabriel Keogh Dermot (eds)
Accountability in Irish Parliamentary Politics MacCarthaigh Muiris
The Provisional IRA in England McGladdery Gary
Whipping the Herring Murray Peter (Eds)
Irish Paintings in the National Gallery of Ireland Figgis Nicola Rooney Brendan
Painting Ireland Laffan William