Happy St. Patrick's Day to all members and readers

Aspects of Monastic History in the South Midlands

We are much obliged to Mr. Charles Doherty of the Combined Departments of History in University College Dublin for his being agreeable to come to Tullamore on the 14th of March to give a lecture on Aspects of Monastic History in the South Midlands

Mr. Doherty lectures in the Department of Early (including Medieval) Irish History in University College Dublin. Currently he is Acting Head of Department. He has lectured and published on hagiography, economics and settlement. Some of his publications include "The role of relics in Early Ireland", "The Basilica", "Settlement in Early Ireland - A Review", "The Viking in Early Ireland - A Review", "Trade and Exchange in Early Ireland", The Transmission of the cult of St. Maedhog", "Hagiography as a source of economic history" and " The Monastic town of Early Ireland".

This is a very important lecture and should be of great interest to members and the public and the lecture is open to all to attend free of charge. We look forward to seeing you not later than 8.30p.m. on Thursday next the 14th of March.

25 April Lecture on Bishop John Cantwell Bishop of Meath who was from Rahan Parish

This lecture is to be given by Reverend Paul Connell the President of St. Finian's College.

ESB Exhibition of Photographs

This Exhibition runs until the end of March and can be viewed from Monday to Friday from 10a.m. to 4p.m. and is free and open to the public.

22 March the Tullamore Gardai will be launching their history of Tullamore Garda Station and District complied by Sergeant Dalton


This is a very useful publication well illustrated and copies will be available for purchase from the Society after the 22nd of March.

9th May 2002

We intend to organise a meeting of all Local History Societies in County Offaly to a social evening in Tullamore and a review of the progress in Offaly History to date.

18th May 2002

On Saturday 18th May we hope to visit Laois and are currently making arrangements.

8th June 2002

The Clontarf Historical Society will be visiting Tullamore.

22 June 2002

We hope to visit Mullingar including Belvedere.

22 June 2002

The Irish Genealogical Research Society will be visiting Birr and Tullamore.

6th July 2002

It is proposed to visit Clonmacois

August - free

1st September to 8th September is Heritage Week

We are proposing the following programme:-

  1. Illustrated talk on the Hanly photographs of Tullamore and District.
  2. A walk through Tullamore on the Saturday of that week.
  3. An illustrated lecture on the Tullamore Gardai
  4. A talk on the growth and development of P. & H. Egan which was founded 150 years ago this year. Currently Mr. Bill Jaffray is organising with the Tullamore Dew Heritage an Exhibition of material on this company.

October 2002

In October we hope to an illustrated lecture on Shinrone.

November 2002

An illustrated talk on the development of Charleville Demesne and the family life of the Moores and the Burys of Charleville,1740 -1948.

December 2002

Mr. Joe Kenny has agreed has agreed to speak at our annual Christmas lunch on his recollections of Tullamore.

Annual Subscription

For all these reasons it is good to note that many members have renewed their subscription and we hope that those who have not recently answered the call will do so shortly. Please check to see if your subscription is due and if it is would you please forward it to us as soon as possible.

Committee meeting

Would members please note that the next Committee meeting of the Society will be held on Thursday the 21st of March at 7p.m.

Developments at Durrow

At about the time we published the last newsletter it came to our attention that an agreement has been reached between Duchas and the owners of Durrow Abbey with a view to getting repairs and improvements done at the High Cross and Church. At this point we are not clear as to what improvements are to be made and what works are to be done and we hope to keep you posted on this. Suffice it to say that Duchas did not contact us and that the promised liaison with the High Cross Committee going back to 1996 was never acted upon. This year marks about the twentieth anniversary of letter writing and meetings in relation to the Durrow site. If politicians call to your doorstep in the next few months you might remind them of the importance of this site among others in County Offaly.

Offaly Heritage Plan

The Offaly Heritage Plan as gained wide acceptance and you will notice from the newspapers that there is to be lecture on the conservation and care of graveyards at OHAS on the 14th of March commencing at circa 2p.m. This lecture is open to the public and is free of charge. It should be useful to all those interested in graveyard conservation in their area.

The Heritage Plan is available from us by email and printed copies can be purchased from the Society for the cost of photocopying or directly from Ms. Amanda Pedlow at the Offaly Heritage Office at Offaly County Council, Courthouse, Tullamore.

Refurbishment of Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre

The refurbishment is now completed and we hope to have a social evening in April when members might think of visiting this centre to review the new exhibitions. In the meantime if you have an opportunity to go along yourself why not do so. Congratulations to all concerned in particular the manager and staff of the centre and the board headed by Mr. Bill Jaffray who has done trojan work to bring about the new exhibitions.

Roscrea Conference

The Conference on a twice yearly basis by George Cunningham will be held at the Mount St. Joseph's Abbey Roscrea from the 5th to 7th of April. Details as to booking etc is available from Reverend Fr. Nivard Kinsella Guest Master, Mount St. Joseph.

0505/21711 and the conference organiser is Mr. George Cunningham, Parkmore, Roscrea Co. Tipperary. The subject matter is Treasuer's from Lorrha Co. Tipperary, Bell, Book and Shrine.

Proof reading of articles on Offaly History for website

Readers are still needed for this work and if you are available on Thursday evenings the centre is opened from 7.30p.m. to 10.30p.m. and your contribution would be welcome.