County Offaly is located in central Ireland in the province of Leinster, bordered by seven other counties: Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare, Laois and Tipperary. Such a situation makes Offaly an ideal base by which to explore the southern and midland parts of Ireland as well as encountering the many attractions within the county.
The two main towns in the county are Tullamore, the county town, and Birr, to the south west of the county. Originally named the King's County after King Philip 11 of Spain, the county town was Philipstown (now called Daingean) until the nineteenth century. Its former name of "King's County" is still used when the title deeds to a property are transferred from a buyer to a seller today. The county was re-named in 1922 after the Irish War of Independence.
The county is rich in scenery and geographical interest. The southern part of the county is occupied by the beautiful and sprawling Slieve Bloom Mountains, the northwestern part is the floodplain of the River Shannon and the remainder consists of large bogs including the renowned Bog of Allen and Boora Bog, places of great geological significance worldwide.
Tullamore was designated a 'gateway' town in late 2003 by the Irish Government, making it eligible for increased infrastructural investment. The town and its community received a bronze medal in the Government's National Tidy Towns Competition in 2004 and also played host to the 'World Sheep Dog Trials' in 2005 which attracted huge international interest in the region. The Tullamore Show is held in Charleville, Tullamore every year and is one of the most important shows agricultural shows in Ireland. .
The town's most famous export is Tullamore Dew - an Irish whiskey previously distilled by Tullamore Distillerry the history of which can be traced back to 1829. The distillery closed in the 1950s but its traces are still visible in the town. Tullamore Dew is now produced by Irish Distillers Ltd in Midlton, County Cork.
Birr is the second largest town in Offaly, located close to the Tipperary border near the town of Nenagh. Birr is situated at the meeting of the Camcor and Little Brosna rivers. Birr is a designated Irish Heritage Town with a carefully preserved Georgian heritage. Birr itself has graceful wide streets and elegant buildings. Many of the houses in John's Place and Oxmantown Mall have exquisite fanlight windows of the Georgian period and strict planning conditions apply to any development in the town. It is famous for Birr Castle and the magnificent telescope on the grounds, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. (See our Interactive Virtual Tour, above)
There is plenty to see and do in Offaly, with all popular leisure pursuits available. Good hotel accommodation is available in both Tullamore and Birr. Other towns of importance in the county include Edenderry, Daingean, Rhode, and Geashill.
|
Youtube
