What Offaly is known for

County Offaly has a population of 77,961 people, with the town of Tullamore being the county seat. It has been given the nickname of the "faithful county."[4] With various attractions, the area receives multiple tourists a year. Some of the features within the area include Birr Castle Demense, the Historic Science Center, River Shannon, Clonmacnoise, Lough Boora Discovery Park, Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery, the Slieve Bloom Way, Clara Bog and Visitor Center, Mid Ireland Adventure, and Leap Castle. Birr Castle Demense is a 16th-century medical fortress with lakes, a waterfall, and gardens. Clonmacnoise is one of Ireland's ancient monastic settlements. It is located on the banks of River Shannon, and the site was founded in 544. Leap Castle is believed to be Ireland's most haunted castle. Its history dates back to the 16th century. Supposedly, it has been visited by paranormal investigators. Visitors to the court often come to try and experience the spirits that roam the castle.[2] 

County Offaly also has multiple nature reserves. The Clara Bog Nature Reserve is located southeast of Clara town. It has a naturally wet environment, along with a boardwalk and various animals. Another wet area, referred to as the Mongan Bog Nature Reserve, is believed to be 9,000 years old. Meanwhile, the Raheenmore Bog Nature Reserve is a raised bog that was established in 1987. The Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve contains 2,300 hectares, and it acts as Ireland's largest state-owned nature reserve. Established in 1985, the area has the purpose of conserving the mountain's blanket bog ecosystem.[3]

Geography

Located in the middle of Ireland, County Offaly is made up of fields, rivers, and towns such as Tullamore, Clara, Banagher, Birr, Kilcormac, and Ferbane. It is surrounded by County Westmeath and County Meath to the north, County Kildare to the east, counties Laoighis and Tipperary to the south, and counties Galway and Roscommon to the west. The River Shannon forms its western boundary, and it acts as the main river in the area. With a large section of central lowland, the rest of County Offaly runs along the crest of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Around two-thirds of the county is made up of farmland, specifically permanent pastures. One-fifth is under crops, while the rest is used as a meadow. Typical plants that are grown in the area include wheat and barley.[8]  

In Tullamore, one of the main cities in County Offaly, the weather fluctuates throughout the year, with temperatures ranging from 36 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, the winters are long, cold, wet, and windy, while the summers are shorter and warmer. Within a year, temperatures often increase from January to July and decrease from July to December, with the average high temperature being 67 degrees Fahrenheit in July and the average low temperature being 46 degrees Fahrenheit in February. Precipitation falls consistently throughout the year, though January tends to get the most amount of rainfall annually. Usually, April receives the least amount of rain, followed by May and June. With low humidity, Tullamore often receives visitors from the end of June to the end of August.[6] 

In Offaly are various plants and animals. Some of the primary plants in the area include white clover field horsetails, great horsetails, red raspberries, rugosa roses, black crowberries, and scarlet pimpernels. Some birds that can be found within the county are rock pigeons, common kingfishers, barn owls, corn crakes, common moorhens, and willow ptarmigans. Mammals include European fallow deer, sika deer, red deer, and European rabbits.[7] 

History

One of the earliest settlements in County Offaly is located in Borra Bog, which dates back to the Mesolithic era. Based on studies, the area was only used for temporary settlements. No structures were found at the site and were instead replaced by arrowheads, stone axes, and blades, most of which date back to around 6,000 BCE.[1] 

Initially, most of the kingdom of Offaly was inhabited by the O'Connors. Following the rebellion of Brian O'Connor, the kingdom was annexed to the English Crown. This was during the reign of Edward VI, and Offaly was shired as King's County in 1556. To colonize Offaly, Mary I influenced the government to bring people to the area, but most of them resisted for the rest of the century. When they moved in, it was due to the beginning of the reign of James I.[8] 

County Offaly was formed following the Tudor plantations of Laois and Offaly, which had the intention of expanding the English Crown's influence in Ireland. Both of these locations were kingdoms in Gaelic Ireland, and they remained faithful to the English Crown for years. Now, County Offaly is referred to as "King's County."[1] 

County Offaly currently has a population of 77,961 people. Tullamore, which is the county seat, has a population of around 14,607 people. As the area has developed over the years, the population has increased.[5]