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Before and After Offaly
Depicts various places around Offaly via archive images and newly created contemporary images.
Archives
The archives contain material from the county’s landed estates, solicitors’ firms, industries and private individuals
Research Offaly
A great resource for researching Offaly.
There are numerous articles, PDFs and our own Journal content
Offaly History Blog
- Placenames and folklore from the townlands of Ballinagar district and the 1550 Survey of Offaly. By John Malone
An often-overlooked heritage is that of our townlands, even the few unassuming townlands that surround Ballinagar village are a treasure trove of folklore and history. These places were once full of ‘rambling houses’ where locals gathered to play cards or enjoy music and stories. There were stile-ways through the countryside, used when crossing fields was … Continue reading Placenames and folklore from the townlands of Ballinagar district and the 1550 Survey of Offaly. By John Malone
- Skeletal remains by the roadside in County Offaly. By Stephen Callaghan
Imagine passing construction work on the street or in the countryside, what might you expect to come across or see? Perhaps old masonry, historic detritus or nothing at all?! How about a skeleton? Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century it was not too unusual to come across human remains during construction work or in sand … Continue reading Skeletal remains by the roadside in County Offaly. By Stephen Callaghan
- Agriculture in Offaly on the eve of the Great Famine. By Ciarán Reilly
On the eve of the Great Famine in 1845 the backwardness of Irish agriculture was seen by many as the reason for much of the country’s economic woes. About Irish farmers, it was stated that they knew nothing of the ‘English’ method of farming or indeed welcomed its arrival. However, there was amongst many Irish … Continue reading Agriculture in Offaly on the eve of the Great Famine. By Ciarán Reilly
- Mother and Child Report: an opportunity to reflect and research our family and social history.
One in every three illegitimate children died within one year of birth in 1924. The mortality rate was said to be five times higher than that for parented children. The death rate of infant illegitimate children in the institutions was high as they were undernourished. The high level of infant mortality seemed to cause surprise … Continue reading Mother and Child Report: an opportunity to reflect and research our family and social history.
Tullamore Town Historical Tour App
Almost 40 years ago, A Walk through Tullamore by Michael Byrne was published with a map of the town and a numbered commentary on the history of the streets and buildings. This was updated some years ago with Exploring Tullamore, a short printed guide along the same lines and richly illustrated by Fergal MacCabe. Now with thanks to the Rotary Club and Tullamore Credit Union, the walking guide enters the 21st century in the form of a downloadable app for smartphones and tablets.
Visit us on your mobile device to get the app.
