Offalyhistory.com | Articles on Offaly

Who are we?

Offaly History (short for Offaly Historical & Archaeological) was first formed in 1938 and re-established in 1969 and is located at Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly since 1993(next to the new Tullamore D.E.W Visitor Centre).

We are about collecting and sharing memories. We do this in an organised way though exhibitions, supporting the publication of local interest books, our website Offalyhistory.com , Facebook, open evenings, our library and offices at Bury Quay.

Our Mission

Our Mission
To promote Offaly History including community and family history

What we do:

Promote all aspects of history in Co. Offaly.
Genealogy service for counties Laois and Offaly.
Co. Offaly photographic records for study and sale in addition to a limited number of publications on Laois and Irish general historical interest.
Purchase and sale of Offaly interest books though the Society’s book store and website.
Publication of books under the Society’s publishing arm Esker Press.
The Society subscribes to almost all the premier historical journals in Ireland.

Our Society covers a diverse range of Offaly Heritage:

Architectural heritage, historic monuments such as monastic and castle buildings.
Industrial and urban development of towns and villages.
Archaeological objects and artifacts.
Flora, fauna and bogs, wildlife habitats, geology and Natural History.
Landscapes, heritage gardens and parks, farming and inland waterways.
Local literary, social, economic, military, political, scientific and sports history.

Structure

Offaly History is a non-profit community group with a growing membership of some 150 individuals.

The Society focuses on enhancing educational opportunities, understanding and knowledge of the county heritage while fostering an inclusive approach and civic pride in local identity. We promote these objectives through:

The holding of monthly lectures, occasional seminars, exhibitions and film screenings.
Organising tours during the summer months to places of shared historical interest.
The publication of an annual journal Offaly Heritage – to date nine issues.
We play a unique role collecting and digitising original primary source materials especially photographs and oral history recordings
Offaly History is the centre for Family History research in Counties Laois and Offaly.
The Society is linked to the renowned Irish Family Foundation website and Roots Ireland where some 900,000 records of Offaly/Laois interest can be accessed on a pay-per-view basis worldwide. Currently these websites have an estimated 20 million records of all Ireland interest.
A burgeoning library of books, CD-ROMs, videos, DVDs, oral and folklore recordings, manuscripts, newspapers and journals, maps, photographs and various artifacts.
OHAS Collections
OHAS Centre Facilities

The financial activities of the Society are operated under the aegis of Offaly Heritage Centre Limited, a charitable company whose directors also serve on the Society’s elected committee. None of the Society’s directors receive remuneration or any kind. All the company’s assets are held in trust to promote the voluntary activities of the Society. Our facilities are largely free to the public or run purely on a costs-recovery basis.

Acting as a policy advisory body – Offaly History endeavors to ensure all government departments, local authorities, tourism agencies and key opinion formers prioritise heritage matters.

Meet the current committee:

Our Committee represents a broad range of backgrounds and interests. All share a common interest in collecting and promoting the heritage of the county and making it available to the wider community.

2017 Committee

Helen Bracken (President)
Pat Wynne (Vice President and Joint Treasurer)
Niall Sweeney (Vice President)
Michael Byrne (Secretary)
Lisa Shortall (Deputy Secretary)
Dorothee Bibby (Record Secretary)
Charlie Finlay (Joint Treasurer)
Darrell Hooper
Brian Pey
Fred Geoghegan
Noel Guerin
Henry Edgill
Peter Burke
Angella Kelly
Rory Masterson
Shaun Wrafter
Ronnie Matthews
Oliver Dunne
Ciara Molloy
Stephen Callaghan (Heritage Items)

If you would like to help with the work of the Society by coming on a sub-committee or in some other way please email us or let an existing member know.

+353-5793-21421 info@offalyhistory.com Open 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri

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Latest Offaly History Blog Content

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 […]
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 […]
The Dowris Hoard. By John Dolan
Bronze Age Ireland The Irish Bronze Age dates from approximately 2500BC to 500BC. The period is characterised by the wealth of new, innovative and exciting metalworking techniques. The population of Bronze Age Ireland was highly organised. This period was a time of extraordinary wealth and international exchanges between Ireland, Britain, central Europe and Spain. Among the exceptional […]
The Tullamore Grand Canal Hotel, 1801–1974. By Michael Byrne
The first hotel constructed in Tullamore in 1786 cost £200. The second in 1801 about £4,5,00. Even by multiplying by 200 for the cost of living today, this expenditure was light in the context of the three new hotels in Tullamore in 1997- 2008 which may possibly represent a total expenditure of €25 million for … Continue reading The Tullamore Grand Canal Hotel, 1801–1974. By […]
Robert Goodbody, amateur doctor in Clara and Tullamore during the Famine. By Michael Goodbody.
This is our first blog of 2021 and we are pleased to have a growing number of contributors as the interest in local studies continues to expand in Offaly and in Ireland. Last year our blog posts (82) reached over 103,000 and amounted to 144,000 words. Michael Goodbody has two important articles on Clara houses, … Continue reading Robert Goodbody, amateur doctor in Clara and Tullamore during the […]

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