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.
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.
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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.
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