New Offaly interest publications issued in 2023, thoughtful Christmas presents/reading 2023. Blog No 551, 3rd Dec 2023

The publications below are available from Offaly History’s history shop at Bury Quay, Tullamore beside the Old Warehouse restaurant, online 24/7, and open Mon to Fri 9 to 4. 30. We are also in Bridge Centre from 14th to 24 Dec. as in previous years. We look forward to seeing you. All our work is to promote Offaly History on a selfless basis. All the publications below are from authors pro bono, pro deo, pro condado.

Offaly Heritage 12 (Offaly History, Tullamore, 2023), pp 512, ISBN 978-1-909822-33-7, Softback €18.00 Hardback €25.00

Offaly History is delighted to produce another volume of Offaly Heritage which is the twelfth collections of essays and writings on the history of the Faithful County’. The essays in section one reflect the ongoing research in Offaly into aspects of life in Ireland 100 years ago as we come to the end of the Decade of Commemoration (1912-1923). The essays reflect the changing nature of society in Offaly at that time, particularly during the years 1920 to 1923 and readers will enjoy contributions as varied as they end of the Wakely family of Rhode; the final years of the Leinster Regiment at Birr; the Protestant minority in Offaly during the revolutionary period; the courts of assize in King’s County in the years 1914-21; the burning of Tullamore courthouse, jail and barracks in 1922; the story of Belgian refugees in Portarlington, and Offaly claimants in 1916. A series of short lives are presented in this volume, as they were in Offaly 11 and includes entries on individuals as diverse as J.L. Stirling, Averil Deverell. Middleton Biddulph; Robert Hames Goodbody and volunteer Sean Barry. This volume of Offaly Heritage is also strengthened by a wide array of essays on aspects of Offaly history stretching from Colmcille to early soccer activity in Offaly in the late nineteenth century. The editors are particularly pleased to include essays from a number of contributors for the first time. The compilation of writings on Offaly history topics continues in this volume. The volume concludes with information on the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society, the county’s heritage office and reviews of recent books of Offaly interest.

Irish Mist: The Story of Tullamore’s Whiskey Liqueur 1945-1985

Ireland’s Legendary Liqueur and the people who made it (Offaly History, Tullamore, 2023), Michael Byrne and John Flanagan (editors), 275 pp, full colour, paperback, €19.99. ISBN 978-1-909822-36-8.

Irish Mist Liqueur brought the Tullamore name to every corner of the world and was a unique development in Ireland and a world leader in its class in the 1960s and 1970s. Great ideas and design were used to bring this about. Marketeers and design people for the Irish Mist product from Le Brocquy to the staff member on the floor – all had a role in ensuring quality. The company was led from 1945 to 1970 by Desmond Williams, ably assisted by William G. (Bill) Jaffray. Bill Jaffray led from 1970 until the sale of Irish Mist Liqueur to Cantrell & Cochrane (C&C) in 1985. This is the story of how Desmond Williams saw the opportunity to transform the Irish whiskey industry and to bring it to American and European markets in new blended formats, using clever and innovative ideas and marketing, while all the while insistent on the highest quality.

Faithful Images Public (Offaly History, Tullamore, 2023) Art in County Offaly Fergal MacCabe and Paul Moore, large format, 124 pp, full colour, €20.00. ISBN 978-1-909822-37-5.

Increasing affluence and local self-confidence, government support and E.U. funding have encouraged the extensive commissioning and delivery of public art in every part of Ireland in the past forty years. In this book architect Fergal MacCabe and Photographer Paul Moore explore the experience detailed examination of nineteen sculptures –their stories, settings qualities and symbolism-suggest new directions for future creations. This book will be launched on Monday 11 December at Offaly History Centre, 8 p.m. All welcome

A History of Walsh Island through its people, Walsh Island Historical Group, 192 pp, hardback, €20.00.

Beautiful compliation of memories, historical accounts, stories from and about the peatlands and stories about Walsh Island and its people with wonderful photos and illustrations throughout

Down the Decades George Griffith lived a great life in his beloved Clonshanny, [between Clara and Ballycumber, Offaly] paperback, 110 pp, €15.00

Griffith’s reflections shine a light on life in ruralIreland as it changed since the formation of the state

A Microcosmic Jungle, the Meadow in Birr Castle – John Feehan (Offaly County Council, 2023), 198 pp, €20.00

ISBN 978-1-739-40540-3

This book examines the evolution of the meadow in the Irish landscape and the management of meadows over the past decades, with a view to their role in the future of farming. It looks specifically at the case study of the meadow at Birr Castle and details its grasses and flowering plants.

Illustrations are throughout with specific illustrations by Tina Claffey and Rachel McKenna.

Tullamore Annual 2024, (Tullamore Lions Club, 2023) (Print Plus 2024), 184 pp, paperback, €15.00

A wonderful collection of Stories, Interviews, Profiles and much more in this issue with funds raised from its sale going back into so many local worthy causes.

The Birr Review 2023 is in a similar vein and will be available shortly at €12.

Under Crimblin Hill 4 (Moneygall journal), copies requested.

As The Years I Backward Span: Collected Essays on the Wonders of Ferbane, Brendan Ryan, hardback, 300 pages,€25.00.

This book covers essays written in various journals on subjects including Ferbane scientist Mary Ward of Ballylin House; the Ferbane Arma Christi; local poet John Doyle; Terence McCoghlan of Kilcolgan Court and the part played by the MacCoghlan clan in the 1641 rebellion.

Journey Wordsmiths Tullamore –

Following the success of their debut publication, ‘Whisperings’, in 2018, Wordsmiths promise to captivate readers and leave a lasting impression. 296 pp, €15.00

‘Journeys’ is a collection of thought-provoking stories and poems that explore the profound and often transformative experiences life’s journey offers.

With an array of voices, styles, and themes, the writers of Wordsmiths Tullamore delve deep into the human experience, touching on themes of love, loss, hope, and resilience. Each piece in the anthology invites readers to embark on a unique voyage, delving into the hearts and minds of the writers as they share their most intimate reflections.

After The Break – A book of poetry and prose by Irish writer Terry Adams, 144 pp, €15.00

This book consists of sixty-two poems on various topics and one piece of prose. It is divided into six sections: Family, Social, the Aran Islands, Family, the World and the Mind. It contains a mix of poems inspired by Ireland and Luxembourg, and by friends from both. Terry Adams was born and raised in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. He has lived for the past thirty-two years in Luxembourg city. More on his blog about this book at www.offalyhistory.com

Dublin Port Chief Engineers by Ronald Cox. A wonderful large format book in full colour on two engineers with Offaly connections – Bindon Blood Stoney and John Purser Griffith (of Turraun fame prior to Bord na Móna), hardback, Wordwell, €20

Poverty in pre-Famine Westmeath – Sean Byrne, (Four Courts Press, Dublin), 81 pp, €12.95

From the 1820 onwards, in the wake of famines and epidemics and an increase in agrarian violence, pressure mounted on the British government to address the problem of poverty in Ireland. In 1833 the government established the Royal Commission for Inquiring into the Condition of the Poorer Classes in Ireland. The commission held public enquiry sessions, at which the poorest people participated, in seventeen counties. The reports of those public sessions provide a detailed account of poverty in 1830s Ireland. This book uses the findings of the poor Inquiry for Co. Westmeath to give an account of economic and social conditions in the county in the decade before the Famine.

New maps and drawings added to our collection in 2023 and suitable for framing