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Monday 9am - 1pm 1:30pm - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 1pm 1:30pm - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 1pm 1:30pm - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 1pm 1:30pm - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 1pm 2pm - 4:30pm

Offaly Past and Present

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11/08/2026

The blog this week is on T.L. Cooke of Birr and the Great Exhibiiton of 1853. It is by John Dolan and you can read it at www.offalyhistory.com or offalyhistoryblog. The 1850s was the decade of the Great Exhibitions. The London Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851 was followed by Dublin and New York in 1853 and Paris in 1855. In Ireland there were regional/city exhibitions including in Cork (1852). It must be remembered that Ireland was still struggling to emerge from the disaster of the Great Famine.

The Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853 was the most ambitious exhibition ever held in Ireland up to that time. Staged in Dublin from 12 May to 31 October 1853, it was inspired by the famous Great Exhibition in London and was intended to showcase industry, technology, art, and manufacturing while encouraging economic development in Ireland.

04/08/2026

The reprint of T.L. Cooke's Picture of Parsonstown [Birr] will be launched on 5 August 2026. Nice to see Cooke facsimile reprint to mark the 200th anniversary of its first issue and in Dooly's Hotel dating back to 1747.

31/07/2026

Urban Regeneration and Development in Tullamore. By
Fergal MacCabe. Blog no. 808 in the Offaly History Blog Series, 31.7.2026 is now available at www.offalyhistory.com

PROJECT 2040

Many may find it hard to believe, but Ireland has a pretty good planning structure and system.
Some years ago we embarked on an exercise of estimating where as a nation- indeed as an island - we should be going. How many people would we need to cater for, where would they live, how would they get around and what about climate change?
The outcome was Project 2040 which set out a broad overall framework and most importantly had a dedicated budget to deliver it. Its national vision is now filtering down through regional planning, to county planning, then to more detailed statutory plans for the cities and finally for the more important towns.
As a ‘Key Town’, Tullamore has a particular role to play and, in anticipation of an additional population projection of 1 million persons in the State by 2040, is presently making its own contribution by upping its housing projections to provide for an additional c. 2,000 houses and identifying an ambitious new employment and enterprise zone with direct access to the national road network. www.offalyhistory.com

14/06/2026

We look forward to seeing you at the launch of a new book with a major focus on the two Great Houses of Offaly Birr Castle and Charleville Castle, 25 6 at 5 p.m. at Bury Quay, Tullamore.

12/06/2026

Portarlington market house: a place of many uses and now restored. By John Stocks Powell. Blog no. 801 in the Offaly History Blog Series, 12 June 2026. Available now at www.offalyhistory.com

05/06/2026

This week's blog and no. 800 in the Offaly History Series: Reminiscences of Fergal MacCabe: ‘I can never forget….’ waving goodbye to ‘the quare fellow’, the war bombs and celebrating a wedding in two Irish whiskey families, Tullamore Dew and Powers. Blog no 800, Offaly History Series, 5 June 2026. Read the story at www.offalyhistory.com

29/05/2026

The long and eventful life of the Book of Durrow. By Rachel Moss. Blog no. 799, www.offalyhistoryblog. The Book of Durrow, a 1,300-year-old manuscript of the four gospels associated with the ancient monastic site at Durrow Co. Offaly, is special for many reasons. It is the earliest surviving complete gospel book in northwest Europe; it contains exquisite full-pages of ornament that demonstrate knowledge of current art styles in Ireland, Britain, Roman Europe and Coptic Egypt; it is one of the earliest examples of perfectly executed ‘Insular’ script that was to become the hallmark of Irish art for the following centuries and it is thought to be the work of a single scribe. Most significant of all, is the fact that it has survived, in near perfect condition, for such a long time. For more see www.offalyhistoryblog. , Visit Offaly

22/05/2026

A Prima Donna in King’s County/ Offaly, Dame Nellie Melba 1861-1931. By Aidan Doyle.

Melbourne, February 26 1931-

The usually busy streets of Melbourne were hushed today when Britain’s “Queen of Song” Dame Nellie Melba, was taken in a simple farm cart on her last journey to her beloved village of Lilydale, 20 miles from Melbourne not far from her own beautiful home, to be buried by the side of her father. Australia’s last respects were paid by thousands of people Read more at blogs on www.offalyhsitory.com

20/05/2026

The first summer tour of 2026 is to Shannonbridge

23 May 2026 Saturday, Tour of Shannonbridge depart at 10 a.m. from Offaly History Centre (let us know if you can share or need a lift). To meet at Shannonbridge at 11 a.m. Our guide is Declan Ryan. Starting with coffee, followed by tours of the forts, the river and the town. To conclude about 1 p.m. with lunch at Killeen’s (you need to book this yourself). This is an excellent venue so why not make it a day out and bring the family and friends. Declan will be an excellent guide and is one of active members.

15/05/2026

The Jageurs Stonecutters: The limestone quarries of Ballyduff, Tullamore. By John Wrafter. No 796 in the Offaly History Blog Series. 15.5.2026. This is no 6 in this series and can now be read at blogs section of www.offalyhistory.com

Address

Bury Quay
Tullamore
R35Y5V0

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 1pm
	1:30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 1pm
	1:30pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 1pm
	1:30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 1pm
	1:30pm - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 1pm
	2pm - 4:30pm

Telephone

+353579321421

Website

https://offalyhistory.com/shop

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