AOffaly, in the province of Leinster, Ireland 作者：  来源：  发布时间：2021-04-13

I.Population and Area

Population in 2011:76,687

Population in 2016:77,961

Population Density in 2011: 38 people per square km2

Total Area: 772.59square miles

II.Natural Geography (Environment, resource and transportation)  

 Offaly is bounded by Counties Westmeath and Meath(north), Kildare (east), Laoighis and Tipperary (south), and Galway and Roscommon (west). The River Shannon forms its western boundary. Tullamore, in central Offaly, is the county town (seat).

Offaly consists mainly of a large section of the central lowland, though its southwestern boundary runs along the crest of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Its terrain is primarily a mixture of peat bogs and cultivable land composed of glacial drift. A notable geologic feature is the fine series of eskers (long ridges of postglacial gravel), notably at Clonmacnoise, an ancient monastic site near the Shannon. Offaly has many raths (prehistoric hill forts) and a chain of mottes, which command passes through the bogs. Remains of ancient churches and monasteries are scattered along the countryside.

Although a great part of the county is covered with bog, the climate is as wholesome as in any other part of Ireland.The general soil, in its natural state, is not fertile and is only rendered so by manures and attention to a proper course of crops. The quality is, generally, either a deep moor or a gravelly loam; the former very productive in dry summers, the latter most benefited by a moist season. Limestone is the general substratum, yet as a manure, it is not used so extensively as it should be. Limestone gravel, here called corn gravel, is also abundant and in general use as manure, and without burning or any other preparation, it produces abundant crops. The pastures, though not luxuriant, are excellent for sheepwalks, the flocks producing wool in abundance, and of very fine quality.

Reference website: https://www.britannica.com/place/Offaly

Transportation:

Offaly is located in the heart of Ireland, with unparalleled national interconnectivity on the national road corridor (M4/M6/M7) and Edenderry its second largest town is only 50 minutes from Dublin International Airport. Shannon Airport is convenient to Birr and the capital town of Tullamore is arguably the most central town in Ireland, located half way between Dublin and Galway.

III. ECONOMY 

IV.Industrial Characteristics:

1)Killeen Bearings and Motor Factors

Established in 1996, Killeen Bearings is a leading supplier of industrial, agricultural, hardware, auto spares and everything in between to clients throughout Ireland. We pride ourselves on our industry leading product offering and continuously update our stock to ensure our clients receive the most innovative parts and equipment on the market.

2)Emerald Stained Glass Tullamore

The tradition of Irish craftsmanship in stained glass

Emerald Stained Glass is Ireland's leading Restoration & Manufacturer of Ecclesiastical Stained Glass for Churches, Convents & Funeral Homes, we manufacture non ferrous venting systems & install Storm Glazing to Church Windows throughout Ireland

 We specialise in the restoration of all types of Steel Sash window & Conservatory

V.Attractions

Birr Castle and Gardens

For over 400 years, this property has been the private residence of the Earl & Countess of Rosse (Parsons family) who still occupy it and it is considered to be Ireland’s oldest inhabited home. Although most of  the castle is not open to the public, visitors are welcome to explore the 100-acre gardens and a six-foot reflecting telescope developed by an earlier Earl of Rosse in 1845. The gardens are filled with more than 1,000 species of trees and shrubs. The hornbeam alleys and box hedges are the tallest in the world.

 Slieve Bloom Mountains

A vast mountain park with the largest continuous area of upland blanket bog and forestry in Ireland. Highlights include eco-trails, forest paths and a sign-posted walk known as The Slieve Bloom Way. Wildflowers bloom year-round including “a carpet of bluebells” in May. Annual events include the Slieve Bloom Walking Festival (May) and a Storytelling Festival (October).

Reference website: 

https://www.irishcentral.com/travel/best-of-ireland/the-top-five-places-to-visit-in-county-offaly-photos

VI.History

County Offaly, in Ireland was formerly known as King’s County. It is located in the Irish Midlands in the province of Leinster and consists of 771 square miles with its greatest length being 52 miles from the River Ollatrim near Moneygall to the boundary near Edenderry.

Anciently, it was part of the Kingdom of Ui Failghe from which it gets its present name. The British began occupation in the thirteen century, but did not gain control until the sixteen century when it was named King’s County in 1547 in honour of King Philip II of Spain. Its name was changed to Offaly in 1920 and it became part of the Republic of Ireland on its formation in 1921.

In 1821, the population was 131,088. It increased to 146,857 in 1841, but then began to decrease to 52,592 in 1926. In 2006, the population was 70,868. In 1871, 88.8% of the population were Roman Catholic with 9.9% of the Church of Ireland, 0.4% Presbyterians and 0.5% Methodists. In 1926, 92.6% were Roman Catholic with 6.5% Church of Ireland.

Reference website: https://wwwp.familysearch.org/wiki/en/County_Offaly,_Ireland_Genealogy#:~:text=County%20Offaly%2C%20in%20Ireland%20was%20formerly%20known%20as,Ollatrim%20near%20Moneygall%20to%20the%20boundary%20near%20Edenderry.

VII.Other information:

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Birr Methodist church in Emmet Street (formerly Cumberland Street) in Birr. However the communities in Birr and Tullamore are much older and date back to the 1760s In this short piece we can only look at some of the sources. It is important because Methodists like the Quakers made a distinct economic and social contribution to the well-being of the towns and villages where their churches were associated. One has only to reflect on families in Birr and Tullamore such as Fayle, Haslam, Morrison, Lumley, Bradley, Burgess and more.

Tues. 26.  I went on to Eyre-Court. here also the Minister gave me the use of his church, but the people seemed to understand little of the matter. As I had not this privilege at Birr, I went to the square, where the owner of a large house invited me to preach before it. The congregation was exceeding large; but many of them wild as colts untamed. However, the fat greater part of them were seriously attentive. I am in hopes the work of God will revive here also; the rather because he has fully restored one of the most eminent backsliders in the kingdom. Vol. IV p. 312.  (April 1785)

Tues. 21. Thence we went on to Birr: how is the scene changed here! One of the dullest places in Ireland is become one of the liveliest!. But I could not preach abroad in the evening, by reason of the rain. So we made all the room we could in the room, and in the yard; and a most solemn opportunity we had. Vol. IV p. 466.  (April 1789)

The first place to look is in Dudley Levistone Cooney’s So civil a people (Tullamore, 2004) and it can still be bought in Offaly Hisory Centre and online at offalyhistory.com

Second is the Wesley journal of which the best edition is Curnock’s in eight vols. That illustrated is the Everyman edition of 4 vols.

Third is Crookshank, History of Methodism in Ireland in three volumes

Fourth is the local press especially the King’s County Chronicle, online in the libraries and in Offaly History and also at British Newspaper Archive 1845 to 1874 at present with the Midland Tribune to 1919. There are useful survey articles such as are published here

Fifth are the miscellaneous sources, many contemporary, and listed here from Cooney’s piece on Birr in his book.

There are parish registers for Methodists and some are on Roots Ireland.

Don’t foget the 1901 and 1911 censuses and that for Birr in 1821. Here you can check up on members in Birr such as the teacher turned bookseller John Sheilds.

From 1861 you can follow population numbers in the online abstract of the censuses/ Offaly History has a CD for sale with almost all of these to 1911 for Offaly.

Reference website: https://offalyhistoryblog.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/3-sources-for-offaly-history-and-society-the-methodist-community-in-offaly-and-the-birr-methodists-200th-1820-2020/

VIII.Contact  information

-Mayor

John Carroll 

 Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. R35 F893  

Tel: (087) 2283772 

Email: cllrjcarroll@gmail.com

Reference website: https://monaghan.ie/cathaoirleach-2020-21-of-co-monaghan/