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    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.
    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

    Captain Studholme of Ballyegan, by Stephen Callaghan

    Captain Lancelot Joseph Moore Studholme (1884-1916)

    Behind Ballyegan House, on the side of a windswept hill stands an old oak cross. The tarnished bronze plaque commemorates the name of a brave Birr born Officer, Captain Lancelot Joseph Moore Studholme of the 7th Battalion, Leinster Regiment who was killed in action on 9 September 1916, 101 years ago. This is his story.

    Captain Studholme

    Born on 21 September 1884 at Ballyegan, Lancelot was the only son of Joseph Studholme and Mary Hastings Studholme (née Davis). He was educated at Banstead Hall, Surrey, and Uppingham, then at Christ Church, Oxford, the latter being where he obtained his degree. From childhood, he had a life long interest in gardening for which he won many prizes. After the death of his father in 1904, Lancelot took over his estate and became a Justice of the Peace for King’s County. He later filled the office of High Sheriff in 1909. On the outbreak of the Great War, Lancelot joined the Leinster Regiment as a Private, and was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Further promotions soon followed.

    Oak Cross at Ballyegan

    A poem appeared in the King’s County Chronicle in December 1914 about Lancelot, written by a Miss M. Brown of 10 Newbridge Street, Birr, some verses of which are reproduced here:

    All honour your hero heart 
    Young soldier of the line;
    A man alone couldn’t act your part;
    Then bear the grand ensign…

    While blood of Dylan Thomas flows,
    From your maternal side;
    ‘Tis meet your hearts high courage shows,
    ‘Twas fed from that rich side

    The same undying, undauntless nerve,
    Long live such noble deed,
    Who left your rose strewn home to serve
    Your country in her need.

    A private in the Leinster corps,
    There proudly take your stand,
    No truer heart nor had e’er born,
    A sword for native land…

    Then go! – God’s speed you on your way;
    The shield of strength devine,
    May nerve and guard you day by day,
    Young soldier of the line’

    In letters written by Captain Max Stainforth, 7th Battalion, Leinster Regiment, he described the other officers of his company, Lancelot being mentioned

    ‘Then we come to the platoon commanders. No. 9 is run by Studholme, 2nd Lt. I think probably you’d like him almost best. He’s an old house man, aged 29, dark, and very quiet – almost timid. Very shy, but very-thoroughbred and very fine-natured. I believe he owns half the town of Birr, and his hobbies are daffodils and kittens. Yes, certainly you’d like him.’

    In January 1915 Studholme was able to return home for a brief period where he visited the school at Ballyegan giving the children there sweets and gifts. He had been noted for his kindness and generosity.

    The 7th (Service) Battalion, Leinster Regiment formed in Fermoy, County Cork in October 1914. It was part of the new armies raised by Lord Kitchener which added new service battalions onto the already existing regiments of the British Army. This was done instead of creating new regiments. The Leinster Regiment had two service battalions (6th and 7th Battalions) for the duration for the Great War. The 7th Leinsters were part of the 47th Brigade which was part of the 16th Irish Division. In December 1915 the 16th Irish moved to France where it would spend the duration of the war fighting on the Western Front

    The 16th Division entered into the Battle of the Somme in September 1916, taking part in the assault on the German held towns of Gulliemont (3-6) and Ginchy (9). During the assault on Ginchy Captain Studholme was leading his men over open ground when his batman, a man named Harte, who had previously worked for him on his estate at Ballyegan was wounded by a bullet, Lancelot stopped to assist him, but in doing so was killed himself by machine gun fire.

    The King’s County Chronicle mentions this brave act:

    ‘The manner of his death too, was one that should never be forgotten, revealing as it did a self- sacrificing devotion to a fellow human being’.

    Also a private in the battalion was to have remarked:

    ‘He was a grand officer, and a brave man; we cried when we buried him.’

    Lancelot’s will saw a significant contribution of money left to charity with the following donations being made:

    To the Select Vestry of the United Parishes of Ettagh and Kilcolman…….. £100

    The City of Dublin Hospital…………………………………………………£200

    King’s County Protestant Orphan Society…………………………………..£50

    Birr Jubilee Nurse’s Fund…………………………………………………..£100

    Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme

    Lancelot has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thievpal Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, along with the names of 72,245 other British and South African soldiers who have no known grave, many still buried where they fell. The cross behind Ballyegan was presumably erected in the years following his death. It was said up until recent years that every spring the cross could be surrounded with countless daffodils. A brass tablet memorial was also erected in Kilcolman Church of Ireland Church in 1921 in his memory, which was paid for by a number of local contributors. In later years this memorial along with several others were moved to St Brendan’s Church in Birr, after the church at Kilcolman (Cree) was deconsecrated.


    Memorials to Captain Studholme

    Today 101 years later after his death, the oak cross which commemorates Captain Studholme remains, a hidden and somewhat forgotten tribute to a brave officer.

     

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