The changing face of Offaly towns in the early 1900s

Description

This is the first book to provide a photographic record of the towns and villages in County Offaly (formerly King’s County) in a time of tremendous political, social and economic
change from 1900 to 1923. The essays with each chapter are intended to provide the context for the evolution of each town. An introductory essay provides an essential overview and identifies themes for further research. Over 300 carefully captioned photographs from the early years of street photography have been selected. These are to accompany the essays by a panel of local historians, all of whom have brought years of experience to their chosen town or village. The level of urban improvement in the years from 1900 to 1923 had not been experienced since the decades prior to the Famine times of the 1840s. By the early 1920s that period of growth, coinciding with the new century, was largely over and was not seen again until the Lemass economic reforms of the early 1960s.

What is fascinating is to witness the struggles of the time to secure housing for the working classes, a clean water supply, adequate sewerage, public lighting, second level education and the list goes on. Essays and monographs could be produced on these social questions. And that is without going near political questions and the provision of democratically run public health and local government. The last century opened with the new local government structures coming to the fore and the departure of unionists from the seats of county administration. The period closed with a certain kick back in Offaly with the dissolution of the county council for four years from 1924 to 1928.

There was very much a need for this book. This is an image driven age and time is scarce. Changing faces provides an opportunity to take stock of how far we have travelled since 1900, a time when there were no public utilities save gas lighting in the larger towns and the availability of rail services and good postal services.

 

The fifteen essays and with almost 400 photographs, many in large format.

1 The Changing Face of Offaly towns, 1900–23, Michael Byrne

2 Banagher, R.H. Moore and ‘The age of improvement’, 1900–23, Michael Byrne

3 Birr town and society, 1900–23, Michael Byrne

4 Birr Barracks, Stephen Callaghan

5 Clara, 1900–23, Michael Goodbody

6 Daingean, 1900–23, Michael Byrne

7 Edenderry, 1900–23, Ciarán Reilly

8 Ferbane, 1900–1923, Brendan Ryan

9 Kilcormac, 1900–23, Michael Byrne

10 Kinnitty, 1900–23, Grace Clendennen

11 Portarlington, 1900–23, John Powell

12 Shannonbridge, 1900–23, Laura Price

13 Shinrone, Dunkerrin and Moneygall, 1900–23, Ger Murphy

14 Tullamore town in the transformative years, 1900–23, Michael Byrne

15 Villages, country houses and tranquil places – Clonmacnoise, Geashill, Rhode, Rathrobin and Durrow