Skip to content

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
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.

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

Observing Offaly – Veronica Nicholson

20.00

Observing Offaly – Veronica Nicholson

This selection of photographs by Veronica Nicholson provides a Visual definition of life in Offaly today.

Offaly’s charm and distinctiveness resonates innately throughout; these are photos of us, for us and for anyone who has ever called Offaly home.

There are layers of stories in almost every photo, from the quite domestic or agricultural images, to the national events that impacted on Offaly during the past year. The Marriage Referendum, the refugee crisis, the flooding of December 2015 and the centenary celebrations are all quietly referenced, while local events such as the Croghan Hill pilgrimage on St Patrick’s Day and Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival are captured, but with an understated perspective.

Out of stock

SKU: 64984894897498 Category: Tags: , ,

Description

Observing Offaly – Veronica Nicholson

It gives us great pleasure to introduce this unique photo book project
commissioned by Offaly County Council under the Percent for Arts
Scheme, and photographed so sensitively by Veronica Nicholson between
2015 and 2016.

In this centenary year, we were keen to capture a visual profile of Offaly at this
moment in time for future record. We are living through a rapidly changing
culture; already the Offaly of twenty—five years ago seems very different. The
technology, social practices, domestic customs or landscape we are so familiar
with today will seem dated or may have died out by the time today’s toddlers
are adults.

This selection of photographs by Veronica Nicholson provides a Visual
definition of life in Offaly today. Offaly’s charm and distinctiveness resonates
innately throughout; these are photos of us, for us and for anyone who has
ever called Offaly home. There are layers of stories in almost every photo, from
the quite domestic or agricultural images, to the national events that impacted
on Offaly during the past year. The Marriage Referendum, the refugee crisis,
the flooding of December 2015 and the centenary celebrations are all quietly
referenced, while local events such as the Croghan Hill pilgrimage on St
Patrick’s Day and Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival are captured, but with
an understated perspective.

Veronica travelled the length and breadth of Offaly for over a year; she
attended events, was invited into people’s homes, and through her lens she
found perspectives perhaps we didn’t even realise were there.

Above all else, this book shows us the extraordinary in the ordinary everyday
lives we lead in Offaly. The little things that we take for granted are revealed
as treasures to be cared for, and remind us that we should not overlook our

real assets: the people who live here today, those who have shaped our county
previously and the coming generations, who will provide their own influence
while hopefully safeguarding all that makes Offaly distinctive.

Additional information

Weight 950 kg
Dimensions 25.6 × 25.6 × 1.6 cm
Author

Hard Or Paper Back

Back To Top