Offaly History who we are

    Founded in 1938 and re-established in 1969, Offaly History (Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society) aims to preserve and promote the rich heritage of County Offaly. Since 1993, the Society has occupied premises at Bury Quay, Tullamore offering a Bookshop, library, reading room, and lecture hall for researcher and members of the public.  Offaly History Centre is beside the new Aldi Supermarket and Old Warehouse restaurant), and best approached from Kilbride Street via Patrick Street or Main Street.

    The main objective of the society is the collection and sharing of research and memories. We do this in an organised way; through exhibitions, the publication of local interest books, weekly blog posts, monthly lectures, and more. The bookshop and reading rooms at Bury Quay are open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am-4:30pm. Regular updates can also be found at our website, www.Offalyhistory.com and on our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X.

    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.
    • Photographic collections of County Offaly
    • Purchase and sale of Offaly interest books though the Society’s book store and website with over 3000 history books in our shop and up to 1000 online.
    • Publication of books under the Society’s publishing arm Esker Press.
    • The Society subscribes to almost all the premier historical journals in Ireland.
    • The Society manages the collections if Offaly Archives under the care of a professional archivist.

    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 artefacts.
    • 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.
    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 social media. Organising tours during the summer months to places of shared historical interest.
    • The publication of an annual journal Offaly Heritage – to date twelve 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 1,000,000 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 artefacts (now over 25,000 items and a catalogue online)
    • OHAS Collections
    • OHAS Centre Facilities
    The financial activities of the Society are operated under the aegis of Offaly Heritage Centre c.l.g, 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.

    2024 Committee
    • Helen Bracken (President)
    • Shaun Wrafter (Vice President)
    • Michael Byrne (Secretary)
    • Dorothee Bibby (Treasurer)
    • Charlie Finlay (Assistant Treasurer)
    • Niall Sweeney
    • Ciarán McCabe
    • Noel Guerin
    • Angela Kelly
    • Rory Masterson
    • Oliver Dunne
    • Frank Brennan
    • Pat Wynne
    • Laura Price
    Co-opted
    • Reneagh Bennett
    • Michael Scully
    • Jim Keating
    • Eamon Larkin
    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 at [email protected] or let an existing member know.  
    +353-5793-21421 [email protected] Open 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri

    Memories are Made of This

    €15.00

    Jackie Finlay tells his story of growing up in Tullamore and of the shooting of his uncle Jack in the aftermath of the civil war. Jackie worked for T. English & Co, in the Tullamore of the 1950s, played a lot of football and helped to run a youth club. All the time he was gaining experience that was to stand to him when he went into the music scene in the 1970s. Going bust in the early 1970s did not deter him and he was back, ‘phoenix-like’, to spend a lifetime in the music and ballroom scene in Ireland.

    In stock

    SKU: 8080028 Category: Tags: , ,

    Description

    Memories are Made of This – Jackie Finlay on social life in Tullamore since the 1950’s, political intrigue and the music scene in Ireland.

    Jackie Finlay tells his story of growing up in Tullamore and of the shooting of his uncle Jack in the aftermath of the civil war. Jackie worked for T. English & Co, in the Tullamore of the 1950s, played a lot of football and helped to run a youth club. All the time he was gaining experience that was to stand to him when he went into the music scene in the 1970s. Going bust in the early 1970s did not deter him and he was back, ‘phoenix-like’, to spend a lifetime in the music and ballroom scene in Ireland.

    `If you are looking for an acute insight into growing up in a Midland town in the 1940s and the Irish showband scene of the 1960s, you won’t find better.’ Fergal MacCabe

    `Jackie’s reminiscences shed a light on the personalities and community scene of a now almost forgotten Tullamore of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, particularly the GAA and sporting world, which make for fascinating reading for anyone with even a passing interest in the social history of the county town in the mid-20th century. Likewise Jackie’s memories of the world of show business and show bands, and the associated business intrigues, together with his accounts of frequent forays into Northern Ireland during the height of the Troubles make for very enjoyable reading.
    Ger Scully, editor of Tullamore Tribune

    Front cover: Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana visited Tullamore in the days after her great win in 1970. She is seen here with the Catholic curates of Tullamore parish. Back cover: author, Jackie Finlay, with Cllr. Sinead Dooley and Billy Cronly at the unveiling of the Jack Finlay Memorial at Leabeg, Offaly in 2012. Jack Finlay was shot and killed in the after-math of the civil war.

    Additional information

    Weight .436 kg
    Dimensions 201 × 150 × 20 cm
    Hard Or Paper Back

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