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

    Tullamore Annual 2017

    €15.00

    Tullamore Annual 2017

    The Tullamore Annual is the primary source of revenue for the Tullamore Lions Club. All funds raised are put to work for the benefit of the community. No income goes towards administrative costs which are met from member subscriptions. The money raised as a result of your purchase of this publication will continue to allow local charitable and community needs to be met. We hope this Annual will be a source of information for readers and will evoke surprise in people at the depth and breadth of what happens in and around our Big Hill and beyond. One of our primary objectives is to introduce the reader to the various businesses, organisations, community groups, charities and individuals that make Tullamore and surrounding areas such a vibrant and stimulating area in which to live and work. It is with great pride that we feature some of the people whose lives have been spent serving our community, many of whom will be well known to you and others who until now, may have been below the radar. We hope that you enjoy your literary stroll around the town of Tullamore and discover something new to you.

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    Tullamore Annual 2017

    The Tullamore Annual is the primary source of revenue for the Tullamore Lions Club. All funds raised are put to work for the benefit of the community. No income goes towards administrative costs which are met from member subscriptions. The money raised as a result of your purchase of this publication will continue to allow local charitable and community needs to be met. We hope this Annual will be a source of information for readers and will evoke surprise in people at the depth and breadth of what happens in and around our Big Hill and beyond. One of our primary objectives is to introduce the reader to the various businesses, organisations, community groups, charities and individuals that make Tullamore and surrounding areas such a vibrant and stimulating area in which to live and work. It is with great pride that we feature some of the people whose lives have been spent serving our community, many of whom will be well known to you and others who until now, may have been below the radar. We hope that you enjoy your literary stroll around the town of Tullamore and discover something new to you.

    It is 41 years since the charter members of the Tullamore Lions Club first established themselves in our midlands town. By establishing a firm foundation, the club has grown and evolved to remain current in a vastly changed society. The founding members, many of whom are still active in the club today, must take full credit for the subsequent success the club has had in its endeavors to serve the local community. Tullamore Lions strongly adhere to the Lions Club International motto, “We Serve”. It is a task that takes many forms such as engaging in Mental Health initiatives, mentoring Youth Projects, organising the Christmas Food Hamper Appeal, responding financially to local,  national and international disasters and supporting local causes such as our Trabolgan holiday for senior citizens as well as individual needs. Income from sales of the Tullamore Annual fund all of these initiatives.
    Much of this work, and indeed the very existence of the club, depends on the support we receive from the people of Tullamore and surrounding areas. We are fully conscious that the Tullamore Lions Club belongs not just to its members alone, but to everyone who supports the club by whatever means available to them. The publication of the Tullamore Annual is only made possible as a result of the hard work and hours put in by the committee driving it forward. We are grateful to all who contributed articles and photos. We are especially indebted to our advertisers for their continued support, without which this publication would not be possible. , Special thanks to Michael Byrne of Offaly History who continues to be the conduit for many interesting historical articles and photographs. We also wish to acknowledge the contributions of Jeff Harvey, Paul Moore, Tullamore Tribune, Geraldine Grennan, Paul Rouse, Brian Jaffray and Brian Lowry for supplying photos and material as required. We would also like to acknowledge how fortunate we are to have available to us, the professional design and print expertise of Diarmuid Guinan, Andrew Moore and all the team in Brosna Press.
    Thank you for purchasing the Tullamore Annual 2017 and we wish you a happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.
    Brian Cloonan, President, Tullamore Lions Club
    Larry Fleming Honorary Editor

    Additional information

    Weight 800 kg
    Dimensions 29.8 × 21 × 1.1 cm
    Hard Or Paper Back

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