Heritage Week

Heritage Week takes place from the 7th to 14th of September and we have an attractive programme laid on, starting as follows:-

Sunday 7h September

A fourteen mile walk from the Height of Ireland to Cadamstown at 10.a.m.
A walk to Kilbride Church, Ballycowan Castle and Lynally and Charleville (three hours approx) at 2.p.m. from OHAS Bury Quay Tullamore
Recording and mapping of graves at St. Mary's Church Yard Geashill to be explained at 2p.m.
Guided tour of medicinal herbs at Birr Castle at 3p.m

Monday 8th September at 8p.m.
The McRegol Gospel Book, Birr, Dooly's Hotel, Margaret Hogan

Tuesday 9th September at 8.30pm.
Lecture: The Story of Ballycumber and District by James Kenny
Water as Heritage Talk at Crank House Banagher at 7.30p.m - 9p.m.

Thursday 11th September at 8.00p.m.
A talk on the industries of Tullamore in the 19th century. Michael Byrne and Noel Guerin.
Bat ecology tour from outside Post Office Emmet Square Birr at approx 8.45p.m. - 9.00p.m. - Dusk

Saturday 13th September 11a.m.
Guided walk through Tullamore, Start OHAS Bury Quay Tullamore

Sunday 14th September
Free admission to the Heritage Centre on the 14th of September all day.


Bury Family History Exhibition is now open at the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre.

New Offaly Books
"The Shinrone Photographic Record" by Noel MacMahon was launched in late July. Upwards of fifteen of our members attended and the book is now available in hardback (€35.00) and softback (€25.00) from OHAS at Bury Quay. It is probably one of the finest of the photographic records to be produced in County Offaly and is in similar format to earlier publications by the Society on Rahan, Tullamore, Killeigh and Clara. Congratulations to Noel MacMahon on an excellent production.

Another new publication is that on the History of Offaly County Council which was launched on the 21st of July at 6 p.m. and is available at €20.00 from the County Library. The name of the book is "Grand Jury Rooms to Aras on Chontate: Local Government in Offaly" and is an attractive and useful publication which will be of great benefit to Local Government studies.

Shannon Fortifications
Mr. Paul Kerrigan, now living in England, is coming to Dooly's Hotel, Birr on Tuesday the 9th of September at 8 p.m. to give a lecture on the Shannon fortifications to the Birr branch of the Irish Georgian Society. All are welcome to attend and he has extended a special invitation to society members.

Lusmagh Video
An attractive video on Lusmagh and the History of Lusmagh has been produced recently and copies are available from the Society at e20.00.

Outreach Programme for Historical Research
If you would be interested in helping with the correction of articles on Offaly history for our website or you would like to add to our material on local studies, including family history, why not do the following:

  1. Place new articles on our website.
  2. Volunteer for scanning projects.
  3. Type material of local history interest and send it to us by e-mail or disc for inclusion in our database or on our website.
    To see what can be done why not have a look at our website www. offalyhistory.com or indeed other sites such as that known as www. dungarvanmuseum.org.

Visit of the Society of Australian Genealogists
This will take place on Sunday morning, 21st September with a party to arrive at Birr for a walk around Birr and subsequently to visit Tullamore, including a talk on the history of the centre and Tullamore town. Lunch will be in Tullamore where the party will be staying that evening. We hope a number of members will be able to meet with the visitors. The tour leaders are Perry McIntyre and Richard Reid.

18th September 2003
Dr. Terry Dooley on The decline and fall of the Country House in Ireland with particular reference to the Midlands. At Research Centre at 8.30 pm


16th October 2003
Rory Masterson - Title to be confirmed


7th December 2003
Christmas Lunch at Bridge House Tullamore. Guest Speaker Peter Harbison on Clonmacnois: An illustrated Life.