Twelfth Offaly history journal to be launched

Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society is to launch the twelfth edition of its journal, Offaly Heritage, next week.

The publication, 'A collection of essays on County Offaly' will be launched at a reception in the Offaly History Centre in Bury Quay, Tullamore, at 6pm on Friday, October 6.

Offaly Heritage 12 comprises 512 pages including 32 pages in full colour and inclusive of a colour section on the new Offaly Archives formal opening. Offaly Heritage 12 is priced at €18 in paperback and €25 in hardback and is excellent value and priced to make it available to a wide market.

Offaly History acknowledges the support of Offaly County Council and the Decade of Commemorations Unit in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Offaly Heritage 12 will be launched by Terry Clavin, historian and contributor (since 2006) of over 400 biographies to the Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of Irish Biography.

It is edited by Michael Byrne, Dr Mary Jane Fox, Dr Ciarán McCabe, Dr Ciarán Reilly, Lisa Shortall and Kevin Corrigan

The journal is divided into five sections.

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).

Section two includes a series of short lives and includes entries on individuals as diverse as J.L. Stirling, Averil Deverell, Middleton Biddulph; Robert Goodbody and volunteer Sean Barry.

A wide array of essays on aspects of Offaly history stretching from Colmcille to early soccer activity in Offaly in the late nineteenth century comprise section three.

A series of shorter essays and notes comprise section 4, whilst the final section includes a compilation of writings on Offaly history topics as well as a series of obituaries

The book can be ordered from Offaly History Centre, Bury Quay, Tullamore. Tel.: 00353 5793 21421, Email: info@offalyhistory.com or online at: www.offalyhistory.com