The Monastic Way
The February lecture will be given by Darrell Hooper. He will present an illustrated talk on Offaly sites along the Monastic Way. Particular emphasis will be given to Durrow, Tihilly, Lynally, Rahan, and Lemanaghan. This lecture is on Thursday 26th Feb. @ 8.30 pm in the Research Centre, Bury Quay.

The Monastic Way is a concept under development by Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce to encourage tourists from Dublin to Galway (and vice versa) to take an alternative route to the current N6 which would take them through East and West Offaly.

Committee for 2004
At the annual general meeting of the Society held on the 22nd of January the following persons were elected for the Committee and Offices for 2004.

Chairman: Steve McNeill, Collins Lane, Tullamore
Secretary: Michael Byrne, 4 Sheena, Charleville Road, Tullamore
Treasurer: Mr. Peter Burke, Clara Road, Tullamore

Mrs. Helen Bracken, Daru, Arden Vale, Tullamore
Ms. Breda Hoey, Store St. Tullamore
Mr. James Matthews, Arden Tullamore
Mr. Matt Mooney, The Moat, Lynally, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Mr. Owen Clyne, Kilbride, Clara, Co. Offaly
Mr. Fred Geoghegan, Frevenagh, Durrow Tullamore
Mrs. Ann Horan, 30 Davitt Street, Tullamore
Mr. James Kenny, Kilbride Street, Tullamore
Mrs. Marie Neville, Charleville Road, Tullamore
Mr. John Kearney, OHAS Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Ms. Mary Jane Fox, Ballytoran, Shinrone, Birr, Co. Offaly.
Mr. Rory Masterson, Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

New members to the committee include:-
Ms Kathleen Geoghegan, Frevenagh, Durrow
Ms Dorothee Bibby, Cappincur, Tullamore
Ms. K. O'Neill, Daingean
Mr. Darrell Hooper, Ross, Screggan Tullamore
Mr. Sean Hackett, Glendaniel Tullamore
Mr Henry Edgill, Mountbriscoe, Daingean

Annual Subscriptions and your address
Please note your annual subscription may still be due and it is a sum of €25. Life membership €350. Enclosed is a form which we would be glad if you would fill in giving your postal address your email and your mobile number. The email in particular will greatly facilitate and reduce the cost of the monthly newsletter.

Industrial Archaeology Presentation on County Offaly
Mr. Fred Hammond who has made a study of the industrial archaeological sites in County Offaly is presenting his draft report on the Industrial Archaeological Inventory. This is an important presentation and Mr. Hamond has put an considerable amount of work, way and above the call of duty into this report. Some members would have met him at the Industrial Archaeology day which was organised by the Heritage Officer back in December 2003. The meeting took place in the Historical Society premises on Thursday the 29th of January.

Donations from Members
Our thanks to Declan O'Connor formerly of Edenderry now a Solicitor in Navan who presented us with a copy of a Mark Aodh de blacan play Ambassador of Christ which is a historical narrative based on a drama about St. Patrick and which includes Irish leaders including O'Faly of the old kingdom based on present east Offaly.

Study of Lock Houses
Ms. Mary McDonnell (01 4740600) is currently completing a study of lock houses on the Grand Canal and if you have anything to give her perhaps you could call her at the above number.

A selection of books added to library 2004
Michael Tanner Mick the Miller [famous greyhound from Killeigh]
Peter O'Reilly Rivers of Ireland
Hickey D J and Doherty J E A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800
FitzSimon Taylor Betsey Murphy H James (Editors) The Irish Revival Reappraised
Cox Ronald and Gould Michael Ireland's Bridges
O'Sullivan Marie Catherine Hospitality in Medieval Ireland 900-1500
Donnacha Sean The Irish National League in Dingle County Kerry 1885-1892
Kennedy Joseph The Monastic Heritage & Folklore of County Laois
O'Brien Gearoid Athlone In Old Photographs
O'Brien John Portlaoise Yesteryears
Fennelly Teddy A Triumph of Co-operation over Adversity [Donaghmore Co-Op]
Clarke Harry Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918 [In 8 vols.]

Report on Projects currently under way at OHAS
Tasks currently in progress include:

  • ongoing organising of the photograph and slide collections,
  • cataloguing new book acquisitions,
  • computerising civil births, deaths and marriages for Laois and Offaly
  • computerising church records heretofore in hard copy
  • extracting material from microfilmed sources for publication
  • preparing articles for publication in the local press
  • preparation of publication on Midland Methodists
  • provision of family history research
  • Centre maintenance
  • Administration, membership list, monthly newsletter

Ballinagar Church Disaster
The Society commiserates with the people of Ballinagar and district on the recent destruction by fire of the historic St. Joseph's Church there.

The church was built in 1837 by Fr James Kinsella, PP. An account in Fr John McEvoy's The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD tells us that "The Ballinagar area was served by a thatched chapel in Penal times and the present church was built over it. It has a pinnacled belfry.

The church has a chalice of Fr James Kinsella dating from 1847. …"

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