November Lecture
The November Lecture is to be given by Mr. Con Manning , Senior Archaeologist with Duchas and President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries in Ireland. His subject is one in which he is very much involved ie Recent Research on Clonmacnois. The lecture will be on the 27th November at 8.15p.m. at the Society’s premises at Bury Quay, Tullamore. Admission is free and refreshments will be served afterwards.

Annual Christmas Lunch
The annual Christmas Lunch will be held on Sunday the 7th of December at Bridge House Hotel at 1 p.m. The prices are as follows:- Adults e22 Children e12

A choice of fish or meat will be available as in previous years.

After the lunch we will be addressed by Dr. Peter Harbison on Representations of Clonmacnois in eighteenth and nineteenth century drawings. Dr. Harbison is a gifted speaker and has spoken at the Society on High Crosses some years ago. He is the author of numerous books. His most recent being Treasures of the Boyne Valley. This will be a very enjoyable lecture and early booking is advisable as numbers are limited. Booking should be through the Society’s offices at Bury Quay 21421 during office hours.

Reminiscences and Family History
The History Channel are currently running a project on www.familyhistoryproject.co.uk which will be of interest to some our members. To have a local flavour why not consider sharing with us the great stories from your families past and what you recall of the local history of your area - stories of emigration, interesting professions and personal achievements. For the year 2004 we will run a competition for the best entry about your County Offaly memories, your family memories and that reflecting on the history of the community in Offaly and your own place. We will in the next newsletter document memoirs we have received to date and we will publishing that for Nuala Holland (nee Mahon) formerly of Charleville Road, Tullamore shortly in the local newspapers.

The Annual Christmas Lunch

This will be held on Sunday the 7th of December at 1p.m. The prices are e22 for adults and e12 for your children. The selection will be fish or meat same as last year and will be held at Bridge

Our after dinner speaker is Dr. Peter Harbison who will speak on the subject of Representations of Clonmacnoise in drawings and maps of the seventeenth , eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The talk will of course be illustrated and will be free to those who are coming to the annual Christmas lunch. Booking is available through the Society at 21421. Please leave your name and telephone number and the amount for the dinner if you are not a member.

New Publication on Eglish by Brian Pey and Others
A very fine book on the Barony of Eglish being the Parishes of Drumcullen and Eglish has been published by the Fircall Heritage Group and retails at e25 and is available from the centre. This book is in excess of 300 pages is a detailed history of the barony with general commentary and details of land ownership for each townland. It is most useful work and you are urged to support it.

Offaly Heritage Seminar 29th November 2003
The Offaly County Council Heritage Officer has organised an Offaly Heritage Seminar to be held at the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre Bury Quay Tullamore on Saturday the 29th of November 2003 commencing at 9.30 am. Last year’s Seminar was extremely useful and enjoyed by all those who attended. The aim of this year’s seminar is to:

  1. Report back on progress delivering the Offaly Heritage Plan 2002-2006
  2. To provide an opportunity for people interested in heritage to meet.

To book contact the Heritage Officer, Offaly County Council, Aras an Chondae, Charleville Road, Tullamore. Phone 0506 46800.

January 2004 Lecture
The Boyne Valley Honey Company have very kindly agreed to sponsor the lecture on the Boyne Valley which is to be given by Dr. Peter Harbison at OHAS Bury Quay Tullamore on 22nd January 2004 at 8.15p.m. Dr. Harbison is a very distinguished lecturer and those who may not have the opportunity to hear him at the annual dinner talking about Clonmacnois will have an opportunity in early January. Further publicity will be available about this talk as it will probably include a promotion for Boyne Valley Honey by way “free honey for everybody in audience”.

Irishmen who died in the Great War 1914-1918
The Society library has now acquired a copy of the eight volumes listing some forty-nine thousand people from Ireland who died in the Great War. Other additions have also been made to the library which will be advised in a further newsletter.

Good news on Durrow
At a long last a formal announcement has issued as to the completion of negotiations for the purchase of the Durrow Abbey Site, the house and some eighty acres. Congratulations to Minister Cowen and Minister Tom Parlon on behalf of Durrow and the people of Laois Offaly. This is a major boost for the heritage of the midlands and indeed the whole of Ireland.

There is no reason why Durrow High Cross and Abbey House should not be a major visitor site second only to Clonmacnois in the Midland Region.

The Society hopes to have an evening to celebrate the successful outcome of this ongoing saga possibly in the new year.

FAS CE Scheme
A new FAS Community Employment Scheme commences at the centre on the 24th of November and we are looking forward to working with FAS and all those participating with a view to providing valuable training in technology as in the past and securing the completion of more historical work to improve our website, our family history resources and our local history collection.

The 2004 Journal
The 2004 Journal is now with printers and to secure your copy please let us have e15 as soon as possible. It is intended that it be launch on the 7th of December at the Christmas lunch.

Christmas Draw
Cards for our Christmas draw are enclosed with your newsletter. We would ask those receiving the newsletter by email to collect a card here at the Research Centre, Bury Quay.