maintenance - Offaly History

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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Our email is [email protected]

Phone: +353-5793-21421

The drift towards civil war in Offaly in 1922. Specially contributed by Offaly History members to mark the Decade of Centenaries.
The split in the IRA over acceptance of the treaty had been simmering since January 1922. The outcome of the Dáil vote and the June elections (58 seats to pro-treatyites and 36 to anti-treatyites, others 34) did little to dissuade those who believed they had taken an oath to secure a republic and […]
The ‘flamboyant three-storey Ruskinian Gothic warehouse’ in Tullamore. Tullamore 400th series, no. 6. By Michael Byrne
As part of the Tullamore 400th series and also in the context of research as part of a survey of Tullamore’s heritage in O’Connor Square and High Street, Tullamore we are pleased to present this article on one of the most attractive of the buildings of O’Connor Square. This is the building […]
The Magnificent Mansions of Tullamore. By Fergal MacCabe. A contribution to the Tullamore 400th series, no. 6
Today, the most enduring reminders of the economic prosperity of Tullamore in the mid to late eighteenth century are the commodious stone town houses built by its prominent and successful citizens. Seven in particular are notable, all but one of which line High Street, the entry to the town from […]
Waterloo and some Birr connections. By Stephen Callaghan
Those not overly familiar with military history will be still aware of famous battles, probably none more than Waterloo, where Napoleon was defeated by Wellington and his allies in 1815. As today is the 207th anniversary of this decisive battle, we will look at some of the men who were present at […]