Coun Ty Off Aly • I R E
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C o u n t y O f f a l y • I R E L A N D MAP Welcome to Tullamore! Message from the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen T.D. As a local public representative for Offaly I am delighted to avail of this opportunity to warmly welcome all those who are visiting us here, either for business or pleasure. We believe we have much to offer visitors with many local sights of historical significance and first-class accommodation available. In addition, the area offers a tranquil landscape for both visitors to Ireland and those seeking a break at home with sailing, fishing, sporting and music all in abundance throughout the region. The inland corridor, which includes some of our most beautiful countryside and waterways, offers a taste of a traditional, relatively unexplored Ireland. For those who wish to do business here, we are ideally located for conferences and seminars for those who have to travel from all four corners of the country. The business facilities available are second to none and you will find welcome and helpful assistance from all those in the hospitality sector. You can be assured of a good time, good food and good ‘craic’ during your stay and please take the time to enjoy some of our wonderful tourist attractions we have on offer here in Tullamore and the wider Midlands. Brian Cowen T.D. Taoiseach 2 3 Early evidence of human with Limerick and Dublin estates, then passed to Moore’s nephew, Charles k habitation in Ireland leads us William Bury, an infant of six months. r a P back over 8,000 years ago to e r u the shores of Lough Boora, only t The world’s first aviation disaster, The Great Balloon Fire of Tullamore, p l u twenty minutes from Tullamore. which coincided with the Charles William Bury’s coming of age c S a Tullamore today has a population r celebrations in 1785, was caused by an air balloon catching fire. o o of some 13,000 and is the county This led to destruction of the Patrick Street area. The first Earl of B h g town of Offaly and an important Charleville (of the 2nd creation) presided over the fortunes of u o L centre for Midland businesses. Tullamore from his coming of age in 1785 to his death 50 years later. The town is now famous throughout the world for it’s Tullamore Dew Charleville Forest Castle, designed by Francis Johnston in 1798 and whiskey and in former years for its association with Irish Mist liqueur. It’s constructed between 1800 and 1812, is widely recognised as the finest history is encapsulated in a hands-on exhibition in the Tullamore Dew example of Gothic revival architecture in the country. Heritage Centre. Tullamore, through petitioning the Irish House of Commons, finally Tullamore occupies a central position in County Offaly and has been the achieved designation of county town status in 1833. The County Jail (Pain capital town since 1832. The town is dissected by the Tullamore River and Brothers) was built in Tullamore in 1826 and the County Courthouse (J.B. the Grand Canal. To the north is the gravel ridge, the Eiscir Riada, known Keane) in 1835. locally as the Arden Hills. To the south lie the Slieve Bloom mountains while to the east and west are flat boglands relieved only on the eastern The Tullamore Town Council is side by the stump of an extinct located in ‘Acres Hall’ which was volcano now known as Croghan built by Thomas Acres in 1786. D Hill. u r r o C w The Grand Canal reached h H a r i g The name Tullamore is derived l Tullamore in 1798 and was e h v i C from the Irish ‘An Tulach Mhór’ l l r completed to the Shannon in e o C s s meaning ‘the Big Hill’. The area 1804. The canal passenger traffic a s t l lies in the ancient district of ‘Fear led to the building of Tullamore’s e Ceall’ which has been translated second hotel in 1801. The as ‘men of the woods’ or ‘men of waterway system facilitated the the churches’ and the region is transport of turf, bricks, grain for malting and limestone from the local famous for its monastic centres quarries by canal boat to Dublin and further afield. The movement of at Clonmacnois, Durrow, Rahan, Lynally, Clareen and Birr. The original goods and people improved further when the rail arrived in 1854. monastery at Durrow, just outside Tullamore was founded by Saint The Charleville influence declined after the Great Famine in the 1840’s and Columba in 553. the earldom was extinguished with the death of the fifth earl in 1874. The Tullamore distillery business expanded in the 1870s and again after 1900 Srah Castle, which dates back to 1588, was the first significant building in when D.E. Williams developed the Tullamore Dew brand. Tullamore and is located on the banks of the more recently constructed Most recently the town is entering into a new and exciting phase of Grand Canal. The district was granted to the Moore family in the course development, being part of a linked Midland Gateway which sees the of the Offaly plantation and they moved to Tullamore from their home towns of Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore working collectively to create at Croghan Castle in the early 1700s. Through political influence, they future history for their catchment population of over 340,000 people. were able to secure a barrack to house 100 foot soldiers in 1716, which Recent years have seen the relocation to Tullamore of various Government provided an impetus to business. In 1754 Charles Moore, now Lord departments and the development of several business parks, extensive Tullamore, gave a lease for a factory building for the linen business and Midland Regional Hospital, Midland Court Service and expansive by the 1780s Offaly was a leading county for the manufacture of linen town park facilities including water features, children’s playground, outside of Ulster. skateboarding and bowls arena. Tullamore’s history is encapsulated in an extensive exhibition at the On Charles Moore’s death in 1764 Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre which provides daily guided tours all year the property passed first to his around. sister’s husband, John Bury of Shannongrove, Limerick, who Adapted by Loughnan Hooper from an Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society l article by Michael Byrne. a died soon after in a bathing n a C accident at Ringsend, Dublin. d Further in-depth details on Tullamore & Offaly history are available online n The Tullamore property, together a r from http://www.offalyhistory.com or http://www.discovertullamore.com G 4 5 Hotel Bridge House Hotel Distillery Lane - Tel: +353 57 9322000 Days Hotel Main Street - Tel: +353 57 9360034 Tullamore Court Hotel O’Moore Street - Tel: + 353 57 9346666 Self Catering Abbey Apartment Killeigh - Tel: + 353 57 9344137 An Teach Tui Killeigh - Tel: + 353 57 9344361 Ballycommon House Ballycommon, Tullamore Tel: +353 (0) 57 93 53016 Web: www.ballycommonhouse.com Email: [email protected] Ballycommon house is situated in the centre of Ireland on the banks of the Grand Canal, six miles from Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Bramble Cottage Tullamore - Tel: +353 57 9344123 Canty Farmhouse Blue Ball - Tel: +353 57 9354943 Coach House Killeigh Tel: +353 57 9344137 Email: [email protected] Situated in Killeigh Village - tastefully restored coach house in courtyard of 16th century Manor house. Traditional décor, oak beams, with 21st century comforts. Set in 1 acre of Mature trees and flower gardens. Central location for touring Ireland. Casey Killiskea - Tel: +353 57 9355962 6 7 Castleview Gormagh Lynally, Screggan - Tel: +353 57 9355854 Durrow - Tel: +353 57 9351468 Glebe Camping & Caravan Park Clonfanlough, Clonmacnoise - Tel: +353 90 6430277 Grennans Country House Grennans Self Catering Aharney, Tullamore Aharney - Tel: +353 57 9355893 Liberty Cottage Tel: + 353 57 9355893 Lynally, Screggan - Tel: +353 57 9355718 Mill House Self Catering Killeenmore - Tel: +353 57 9344334 Web: www.grennanscountryhouse.ie Grennan’s Country House is a luxurious country retreat set in the heart of Ireland, just 5 minutes north-west of Tullamore. Here you can relax and unwind in a totally stress-free environment in the countryside, surrounded by fields, birds singing and fresh, clean air. Hawthorn Lodge Adams Villas - Tel: +353 57 9322212 Ivy Lodge Daingean Road - Tel: +353 57 9341151 Littlewood Durrow - Tel: +353 57 9351364 Mill House B&B Padraig Villa Killeenmore - Tel: +353 57 9344334 Glaskill, Screggan - Tel: +353 57 9355962 Oak Lodge The Vale Charleville Road - Tel: +353 57 9351401 Hop Hill - Tel: + 353 87 2789730 Rahan Lodge B&B Killina - Tel: +353 57 9355796 Annaharvey House Annaharvey - Tel: +353 57 9343544 Sea Dew Barony House Clonminch Rd, Tullamore Meelaghans - Tel: +353 57 9351157 Brookside Guesthouse Tel: + 353 57 9352054 Daingean Road - Tel: +353 57 9351277 Web: Clonamore House www.seadewguesthouse.com Arden Road - Tel: +353 57 9323175 Email: [email protected] Coreen Guesthouse Spollanstown - Tel: +353 57 9323243 Sea Dew Guesthouse is situated just 5 minutes walk from Tullamore town centre. Dinnis Cottage Bachelor’s Walk - Tel: +353 57 9323528 - Bord Fáilte Approved *** - 12 Beautiful appointed rooms Eskermore House Daingean - Tel: +353 57 9353079 - Private lit carpark Falcon Lodge Rahan Road - Tel: +353 57 9351527 8 9 Leisure & Sport Lakelands & Waterways The large number of amenities and The Grand Canal from Dublin to recreational facilities in Tullamore the Shannon through the centre of offers you a wide selection of Tullamore, along with the nearby leisure activities to choose from lakes, rivers, the Shannon-Erne whatever your interest.