County Offaly Contae Uíbh Fhailí
Motto: Esto Fidelis  (Latin) "Be Faithful"
Location
Statistics
Province:	Leinster
County seat:	Tullamore
Code:	OY
Area:	1,999 km²
Population (2006)	70,868
Website: www.offaly.ie

Cross of the Scriptures, Clonmacnoise

County Offaly (Irish: Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is one of the traditional counties of Ireland and is located within the province of Leinster. It was named after the of Kingdom of Uí Failghe. Offaly is the 18th largest of Ireland’s 32 counties in area and 23rd largest in terms of population.^[1] It is the fifth largest of Leinster’s 12 counties in size and ninth largest in terms of population.

[edit] History

The Lost city of Clonmacnoise in County Offaly is Ireland's leading Monastic site. Located at the river Shannon near Shannonbridge,it was the greatest centre of learning in Europe during the first millennium. It was regarded as the most important centre for learning, Arts and Crafts and Christianity in Europe and today you^[who?] may see the famous Celtic Crosses of Clonmacnoise at the site.

Before the plantation of modern day Offaly by English settlers, the territories it comprises were controlled principally by the Ó Conchubhair Fáilghe clan in the North/East of the county and the Ó Céarbhaill of Ely in the south. The county was shired in 1556 by Mary I of England during one of the Plantations of Ireland. It was created from some of the remnant Gaelic captaincies on the borderlands of the ancient kingdoms of Meath, Munster and Leinster and therefore does not correspond to the territory of the Kingdom of Uí Failghe. It was named King's County after Philip, the consort of Queen Mary I, who later ruled as Philip II of Spain. As a result, Daingean was renamed Philipstown. Both were renamed in 1922 after the Irish War of Independence.

[edit] Geography

The southern part of the county is occupied by the Slieve Bloom Mountains, the northwestern part is the floodplain of the River Shannon and the remainder consists of large bogs including the Bog of Allen and Boora bog.

[edit] Towns and villages

• Tullamore (County Town)
• Ballinagar, Ballyboy, Banagher, Birr
• Cadamstown, Clara, Cloghan, Clonygowan, Clonbullogue Clonmacnoise, Crinkill, Croghan
• Daingean
• Edenderry
• Ferbane
• Geashill
• Horseleap
• Kilcormac, Killeigh, Killoughey, Kinnitty
• Moneygall, Mountbolus
• Portarlington (half of which is in County Laois, the River Barrow forming the county boundary)
• Rahan, Rhode
• Shannonbridge, Shannon Harbour, Shinrone
• Walsh Island

[edit] Demographics

The 2006 population figure for County Offaly is the highest for the county since 1881^[8]. The Central Statistics Office estimates that the increase in population between 2002 and 2006 (7,205) comprised a natural increase of 2,026 people with the balance of 5,179 accounted for by net in-migration from within Ireland as well as abroad. Offaly’s population growth during the period 2002-2006 (11.3%) has been stronger than the National average (8.2%). This may be attributed to proximity to the Greater Dublin Area, recent increased accessibility to Dublin (M6, M7, and improved rail services) and the differential in house prices between Dublin and Offaly.^[8]

The population of many towns has risen dramatically over the period 1996 to 2006: Birr +21.5%, Tullamore +28.8% and Edenderry +53.9%. Portarlington has had a population increase of 50.1% from 2002 to 2006 alone.^[8]

In 2006 the age profile of the population is as follows^[8]:

• <15 years ... 22.52%
• 15-64 yrs ... 66.54%
• >65 years ... 10.95%

Population trends in County Offaly from 1926 to 2006

Map showing principal roads and towns in County Offaly

[edit] Transport and communications

Offaly has a number of train stations, these including Tullamore railway station, Birr railway station, Clara railway station and Portarlington railway station. The N52 road is a major road in Offaly connecting Birr and Tullamore. It also connects Offaly to the M6 at Kilbeggan and the N/M7 at Roscrea via the N62 road from Birr.

[edit] Places of interest

• A notable tourist attraction is the narrow gauge Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway in Blackwater Bog.
• Birr in the south of the county is best known for its castle and gardens. Birr Castle is owned by the Parsons family, (the family bears the title: 'Earl of Rosse') and is best known for its 19th century telescope.
• Sculpture in the Parklands around Lough Boora in Boora Bog.
• Charleville Castle located in Tullamore

Birr Castle

[edit] People

• The current Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, was born in Clara, County Offaly on 10 January 1960. He now lives on the outskirts of Tullamore.
• The short story writer, novelist and playwright William Trevor (KBE) was born in County Offaly, and raised in County Cork.
• United States President Barack Obama's great-great-great grandfather, Falmouth Kearney, was born and raised in Moneygall, County Offaly.
• The world-famous scientist John Joly was born at Bracknagh in 1857.
• The current Irish Open champion, golfer Shane Lowry.

[edit] See also

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Offaly)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Offaly County Council
• Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce
• Tullamore Life & Community
• The Offaly Express Newspaper
• Offaly Football and Hurling Club New York
• Athlone Cricket Club - County Offaly
• Ferbane Town Website - County Offaly
• Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society

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Coordinates: 53°15′N 7°30′W / 53.25°N 7.5°W / 53.25; -7.5