 |
 |
County Offaly
 |
| Attractions: Clonmacnoise Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre |
 |
 |
| Co. Offaly Ua Fáilghe Prov. Leinster Republic of Ireland |
| Major cities: Tullamore, Edenderry, Portarlington, Shannonbridge, Birr, Kinnity |
| Surface: 2,000 km2 Population: 63,702 |
County Offaly was formed in 1556 during the reign of Queen Mary I, also known as Bloody Mary, and was initially called King's County after her husband King Philip II of Spain. With the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922 the county gained its modern name.
Large parts of County Offaly is level plain and bogland, among which Clara Bog, the largest still existing bog in Western Europe. The south-east of County Offaly is more hilly due to the presence of the heathery Slieve Bloom Mountains. This area, with an occasional open moor and unexpected valleys, is suited for hiking tours. Do not let the word "mountains" scare you off. The highest peak is less than 530 meters high, making the Slieve Bloom Mountains also accessible for the less experienced hiker.
The River Shannon, which forms the western border of the county, is frequented by anglers and water sport enthusiasts.
The visitor who is interested in history can indulge himself in the ruins of the monasteries in Clonmacnoise, the Charleville Forest Castle, and in the Georgian architecture and the renovated telescope in Birr.
County Offaly also attracts a special kind of visitor: the whiskey lover. The Tullamore Dew whiskey is produced in the county capital Tullamore since 1829 and the first Iris liqueur, Irish Mist, since 1948.