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 [email protected] Open 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri

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Latest Offaly History Blog Content

The Law of the Innocents, Birr 697 AD. By Jim Houlihan
In a time of war in eastern Europe and the coming to an end of the Decade of Centenaries period in Ireland, 1912–23 with the cessation of the civil war, here we today publish the second of two blogs on the protection of innocent people in times of strife. The article is by Jim Houlihan … Continue reading The Law of the Innocents, Birr 697 AD. By Jim Houlihan
After the Break. By Terry Adams
It was cold, dark and rainy that November 2017 night as we left the Embassy. My mood did not fit the weather. The warm glow of a job well done wrapped itself around my stomach and spread out to envelop my whole being. It was all hard to believe that my scribbling had brought me … Continue reading After the Break. By Terry Adams
The 1923 General Election in Laois-Offaly: Cumann na nGaedheal papers in Offaly Archives. An Offaly History contribution to the Decade of...
In the last blog we noted that the August 1923 General Election in Laois-Offaly was remarkably peaceful given that the civil war had only ended in May. Offaly was still strong in support for the Republicans as was clear from the fact they gained two seats, but, of course, were committed to not entering the … Continue reading The 1923 General Election in Laois-Offaly: Cumann na nGaedheal papers […]
The Synod of Birr, 697AD. By John Dolan
In a time of war in eastern Europe, and the coming to an end of the Decade of Centenaries period in Ireland, 1912–23 with the cessation of the civil war here, we today publish the first of two blogs on the protection of innocent people in times of strife. The first article is by John … Continue reading The Synod of Birr, 697AD. By John Dolan
St Catherine’s Church, 1815-2015: central to the heritage of Tullamore. By Michael Byrne
St Catherine’s Church, 1815. This is the second article to mark the successful Heritage Week 2023. The new St Catherine’s Church was designed by Francis Johnston and was built in the Gothic style with a Latin cross plan, side-aisles, a tower in the west and a crypt at the east end for the burial place of … Continue reading St Catherine’s Church, 1815-2015: central to the heritage of […]

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