New books about Offaly History and some of its neighbours issued in 2025 are greatly adding to our knowledge potential for this inland county. All available from Offaly History at Bury Quay and Bridge Centre, Tullamore, making for a readable Christmas and 2026.
The making of O’Connor Square, Tullamore: People, Houses and Business(Offaly History, Tullamore, 2025), Michael Byrne, 440 pp,softback. ISBN: 978-1-909822-46-7 €23.00.
Hardback ISBN: 978-1-909822-45-0 €29.00. Tullamore’s O’Connor Square is the heart of Tullamore and has a central place in the story of the town since records began in the seventeenth century. From the 1700s it was known as the market place or square, and with its grand houses and great urban open space continues to provide a major resource for the social activities of this midland town. This book of essays focuses on the buildings, the families and the business carried on. It also looks at how the uses in the square have evolved over time and the open space recovered and enhanced in recent years.
Offaly Heritage 13 (Offaly History, Tullamore) softback330 pages,€19.00; hardback€25.00 ISBN: 978-1-909822-47-4 (hard back); ISBN: 978-1-909822-48-1 (soft cover). This is the thirteenth volume of essays produced by the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society on the history of county Offaly, formerly King’s County. With essays from historians, writers and academics the volume makes a significant contribution to existing scholarship. The contributors are: Conleth Manning, Joseph Flahive, Michael Byrne, Rosemary Raughter, Timothy P. O’Neill, Francis Devine, Rory Masterson, James G. Ryan, Brendan Ryan, Kevin Corrigan, Seamus Dooley, Ciarán McCabe, Dorothee Bibby and Amanda Pedlow. Topics include Clonmacnoise in 1516; the county infirmary 1768–1921; James Weale and Kinnitty tenants; poverty in Tullamore, Birr and Banagher in the mid-1840s; Mrs Cowan of Birr and the suffrage campaign; the burning of Ballyburly House 1923; the ITGWU in Offaly, 1918–30; the medieval monastery of Lynally; Heywood labour in 1794; two poets John Mary Doyle and P. McCarthy. The volume concludes with Obituaries, Reviews, Writings on Offaly History 2023–24, recent annual reports from Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society, Offaly Archives reports, the county’s Heritage Office, reports, and notices of recent books of Offaly interest.
Prison Poems or, Lays of Tullamore. New Annotated Edition. The first since 1888
Esker Press. 47 pp,softback. ISBN: 968–1–909822–44–3 €14.99. The Nationalist MP T.D. Sullivan wrote these poems while imprisoned in Tullamore Jail in 1887, under the Coercion Act, for his part in the National Land League’s Plan of Campaign’. His crime was that of publishing reports of the banned meetings of the League. Using a mixture of humour and satire, he brought the government’s repressive policies to national and international attention, and articulated in popular verse the political programme of the Land League.
That Beats Banagher! A Humorous Expression of Amazement Origin and Legend by Kieran Keenaghan and James Scully. Esker Press/Offaly History 79 pp, hardback. ISBN: 978–1–909822–42–9€20.00.
The book explores the origins of this famous Irish phrase through a history of the borough of Banagher, which was sold in a political deal in 1787. Co-authored by Kieran Keenaghan and James Scully, the book explains how this event led to the phrase becoming a humorous expression of amazement that spread throughout the country and beyond. It features illustrations and details the history that shaped the saying.
Cool Pool. Dip into the history and memories of Tullamore Outdoor Pool 1934 – 2000. Damien Byrne.148 pp, softback.€20.00.Tullamore man Damien Byrne shares the history and memories of the town’s outdoor swimming pool, which was in use for more than six decades until the year 2000. This book is in full colour, well-illustrated and quarto size.
Ten Faithful years in Song and Story, 1913–23 (Tullamore, 2025), Raymond Daly,
512 pp, hardback. ISBN: 978–1–0369–3476–7 €29.95. This Historical Songbook tells the true story of the Irish heroes and their brave and daring deeds in events leading up to and participating in the Great War and the Fight for Irish Freedom between the years 1913 and 1923. His book deals specifically with historical events which took place in Tullamore, Offaly and south Westmeath, which were mirrored throughout Ireland during those turbulent years. The contents of this book are a tribute to that wonderful generation. The overall goal for this book is to inform and educate readers about the courage, bravery and commitment shown by the often-forgotten men and women of the ‘People’s Army’, who were involved in key historical, social, cultural and political events in Ireland’s Revolutionary period, during its most tumultuous decade.
The Silver River of Slieve Bloom, John Feehan.
179 pp, hardback, ISBN: 978–1–739–40543–4 €20.00.John Feehan covers a wide scope in this book, natural, built and cultural heritage focusing on the evolution of the Silver River of Slieve Bloom and the landscape in its catchment. John Feehan first started exploring the Silver River in the 1970s and this book is the outcome of many decades of exploring and researching and reflects new interpretations of its geology. For those that have been walking the routes up stream and downstream of Cadamstown for many years exploring Paul’s Lane loop, the Offaly Way and working up to Spink – it will offer many new insights. The publication has many illustrations with great additions of paintings by Brigid Birney and Jock Nicol, photos by John Gill and reconstruction drawings of Barnascart by Philip Armstrong.
The Light of Other Days Ferbane, The Golden Years 1950 – 2000, Brendan Ryan.
The ending of the Second World War in 1945 saw a sea-change in life and living in Ireland and Ferbane was no exception. Ration books, which were necessary for the purchase of tea, butter, meat, clothes and many other items, became a thing of the past. Many hardened smokers suffered from the loss of their daily puff, and cigarettes, including the humble Woodbine, gradually found their way back onto shop shelves. The tipped cigarette was the new novelty. Petrol became more plentiful and extra cars were seen on the roads, and from 1950 the Volkswagen Beatle became a common sight. The Local Defence Forces (LDF) now became An Forsa Cosanta Áitiúla (FCA). Both men’s and women’s fashions changed, though slowly. Full employment came to Ferbane with the advent of Bord na Móna and the E.S.B. The dreary days of the 1930s and 40s faded into the past. A new era had begun.
An Introduction to the Architectural Heritage of County Offaly. A new reprint with some additions
Dublin: The Stationery Office. 131 pp, softback. ISBN: 0–7557–7174–5 €15.00. The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage is undertaking a survey of the architectural heritage of Ireland, published on the web at www.buildingsofireland.ie Each County or regional survey is accompanied by an illustrated booklet showcasing the highlights of the area.
Transition, Irish peatlands in a changing climate, DiarmuidMollin.
102 pp, softback, €18.00. This photographic study captures a pivotal moment in Ireland’s environmental and cultural history. Over the last decade, Ireland’s peatlands have undergone a profound transformation. This book captures this moment in time, documenting the shift from industrial peat extraction to ecological restoration and cultural reflection. Through a unique A–Z format, this photographic study presents a curated collection of objects that symbolise the past, present, and future of Irish peatlands. These objects are thoughtfully juxtaposed to highlight the dramatic changes in land use, environmental values, and cultural identity. Each item occupies a liminal space, bridging the industrial legacy of peat harvesting with the emerging ecological renewal. While not exhaustive, the book offers a compelling snapshot of a landscape in flux over one hundred pages. It also endeavours to acknowledge the rich industrial heritage associated with peat harvesting and turf cutting while looking forward with positivity to a future where interactions with peatlands will involve enhanced amenity value for local communities, renewable energy production, carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement at a large scale.
Tullamore Annual 2026
Tullamore Lions Club welcomes you its 14th Edition of the Tullamore Annual, in its 50th Anniversary Year. This year’spublication highlights the voluntary work of many groups in our community, the local, national and international success stories of some of our visionary business leaders, the achievements on the world stage of students in our forward–thinking secondary schools, the growing importance of protecting our environment and our sporting heroes who have brought so much pride and joy to our town, our county and our country.
The Birr Review: This is in its 25th edition in 2025, p/b, 188 pp is available €15.
Iarmhi: Journal of the Westmeath Historical and Archaeological Society (vol. 1, no. 5,2025), p/b, 184 pp, is also available €20 from Offaly History Centre.
Under Crimblin Hill: vol 5 of the Dunkerrin Journal has now been issued.
Shinrone National School, 1975-2025 / Caoga Bliain ag Fas.
Softback. 1 – 150, €20.00. This special commemorative book celebrates fifty years of Shinrone National School, honouring the generations of pupils, teachers, and families who have shaped its story. It also pays tribute to the Pike National School, whose proud legacy and community spirit continue to live on through the children of today. Within these pages are memories and reflections from past pupils of Shinrone National School with the Pike National School. 50 Bliain ag Fas is not only a record of the past but a celebration of a community that continues to grow, learn, and thrive together. It stands as tribute to everyone who has been part of our journey – those who thaught, those who learned, and those who keep the spirit of our school alive.
The Irish Revolution, 1912 – 23 Laois.
Four Courts Press. 189 pp, softback. ISBN: 978–1–80151–113–1 €25.00. The turbulent period from 1912 to 1923 had a profound impact on Laois – politically, economically and socially. The land question became prominent in Laois from the late nineteenth century onward and remained so throughout the Irish Revolution. Cormac Moore explores how Laois experienced seismic national events – the third home rule crisis, the First World War, the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
Cool Metal – Clear Water trading boats of Ireland’s inland waterways.
2nd Edition. Published by the Heritage Boat Association.
218 pp, softback. ISBN: 978–0–9553628–2–8 €15.00. Fully revised and enlarged edition of the very popular history of the trading boats (and some others!) of the Irish inland waterways system. Originally published by the Heritage Boat Association in 2006 the book records the history of many of the historic vessels still to be seen travelling our inland waterways. There is also an index of the boats whose details appear in this volume and the companion volume “Fine Lines – Clear Water”.
Fines Lines – Clear Water Heritage Boats on Ireland’s Inland waterways.
194 pp, softback. ISBN: 0–9553628–1–4 €15.00. Fine Lines – Clear Water is the second book published by the Heritage Boat Association documenting the floating heritage of Ireland’s inland waterways. It complements the earlier publication Cool Metal – Clear Water. It covers a range of historic craft found on the Irish waterways including Irish built working boats, Dutch & English barges, Flying Boat Tenders and a number of pleasure boats. It also contains a very useful index to both volumes.
The Extraordinary life of Kerr Brien (Pollagh Heritage Group, €10, pp ) his story from the theatre of World War 1 to his life back in Offaly in the aftermath of that bloody conflict. Losing his left arm in the course of the war did not deter Kerr Brien getting on with life and the book contains many stories of his colourful life. This book invites the reader to turn the pages and understand what makes Kerr Brien’s life story deserving of the title Extraordinary!
Anthony Dargan, A Social History of Carrig, Riverstown & Killeen (2025, p/b, pp 395, €25, is a comprehensive history with much of south Offaly interest.
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