Guide

The MidlandsIreland.ie brand promotes awareness of the Midland Region across four pillars of Living, Learning, Tourism and Enterprise. MidlandsIreland.ie Gateway to Tourism has produced this digital guide to the Midland Region, as part of suite of initiatives in line with the adopted Brand Management Strategy 2011-2016. The guide has been produced in collaboration with public and private service providers based in the region. MidlandsIreland.ie would like to acknowledge and thank those that helped with research, experiences and images. The guide contains 11 sections which cover, Angling, Festivals, Golf, Walking, Creative Community, Our Past – Our Pleasure, Active Midlands, Towns and Villages, Driving Tours, Eating Out and Accommodation.

The guide showcases the wonderful natural assets of the Midlands, celebrates our culture and heritage and invites you to discover our beautiful region. All sections are available for download on the MidlandsIreland.ie

Content:Images and text have been provided courtesy of Áras an Mhuilinn, Athlone Art & Heritage Limited, Athlone, Institute of Technology, Ballyfin Demense, Belvedere House, Gardens & Park, Bord na Mona, CORE, Failte Ireland, Lakelands & Inland Waterways, Laois Local Authorities, Laois Sports Partnership, Laois Tourism, Longford Local Authorities, Longford Tourism, Mullingar Arts Centre, Offaly Local Authorities, Westmeath Local Authorities, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Kilbeggan Distillery, Kilbeggan Racecourse, Office of Public Works, Swan Creations, The Gardens at Ballintubbert, The Heritage at Killenard, Waterways Ireland and the Wineport Lodge. Individual contributions include the work of James Fraher, Kevin Byrne, Andy Mason, Kevin Monaghan, John McCauley and Tommy Reynolds.

Disclaimer:While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in the information supplied no responsibility can be accepted for any error, omission or misinterpretation of this information. Where such are brought to our attention future guides will be amended accordingly.

TOWNS & VILLAGES 10

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LaoisA county of rich contrast, Laois is a place for people who want a different experience of Ireland. A meeting point for ancient heritage and contemporary culture, for rural tranquillity and busy towns and villages, for sophisticated luxury and rustic simplicity, Laois calls out to people who want something authentic and truly out of the ordinary.

Many beautiful heritage sites have been restored for the public to enjoy such as Emo Court and Gardens, Timahoe Round Tower, Aghaboe Abbey and Heywood Gardens. Another real treasure is the Rock of Dunamaise, which is one of the great monuments and fortresses of Ireland and offers breathtaking views of the county. There are reminders in Portarlington of its Huguenot past, in

Mountmellick for its work (embroidery) while the estate towns of Abbeyleix and Durrow have their own unique character.

If you love nature, you’ll love Laois. Walking, cycling, horse-riding, golfing, fishing, polo, trekking, canal-cruising, it’s all to be discovered in the beautiful and peaceful countryside. The Slieve Blooms are undoubtedly one of Ireland’s most extraordinary mountain walking experiences. This mountain range, teeming with wildlife and fascinating ecology, offer a range of activities.

Fishing is one the best kept secrets in Laois. The rivers Nore and Barrow run through Laois as well as the Grand Canal and the many lakes dotted throughout the county. Take a visit to the Irish Fly-Fishing and Game Shooting Museum in Attanagh which is the only one of its kind in Europe.

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AbbeyleixA fine planned estate town designated one of Ireland’s Heritage Towns, noted for the quality of their preserved historic buildings. Established by Viscount de Vesci, it is well laid out with fine town houses, public buildings and vernacular houses dating to different periods from the mid-eighteenth century. Perhaps most notable are the Market House (1906), Hibernian Bank (c. 1900), Catholic Church (Hague, 1895), Church of Ireland Church (Wyatt, rebuilt 1865) and Abbeyleix National School. The award-winning Heritage House Interpretive Centre is worth a visit. Other attractions within the town include: Sextons House, Abbey Sense Gardens, Morrissey’s Pub and the library.

BallinakillA seventeenth-century market town. The ruins of Ballinakill Castle are of a late seventeenth-century castle destroyed by Cromwellian troops. The configuration of streets around the large rectangular square is eighteenth-century.

The town’s entrance from Abbeyleix is marked by two trees known as toll trees, where a toll was paid by visitors to the town. The town had important fairs, a brewery, woollen and tanning factories. At Ballinakill there is excellent fishing

for roach, perch and tench in Gill’s Lough and one of the finest of Ireland’s great gardens. Heywood Gardens with its lakes, woodlands and architectural features is well worth a visit. Its formal gardens were designed by the world-famous Sir Edwin Luytens and were probably landscaped by Gertrude Jekyll.

CastletownIn 1182 Hugh de Lacy built a castle here for Robert de Bigarz, and it became the centre of an important Norman borough. Only fragments of the castle remain. The village itself is built around a triangular fair green. South of the village in Churchtown are the ruins of a medieval church.

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DonaghmoreOriginally associated with an early medieval church, and then with an early Norman fortification. It became an extensive industrial complex in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It has attractive buildings and two thriving pubs overlooking a river and an old bridge.

A short distance northwest is the headquarters of Donaghmore Co-operative, once a workhouse, and now a museum which is open to the public during the summer months and on request during the remainder of the year. During the Great Famine, some 10% of the local population sought refuge here. Now restored, visitors can see the original dormitories, kitchen and waiting hall, plus the agricultural museum also housed here.

DurrowThe Anglo-Normans founded a borough on the Erkina River in the thirteenth century. The town prospered, and early in the eighteenth century, Colonel William Flower acquired the estate and built Castle Durrow, the magnificent classical mansion. Later ennobled as the Viscounts Ashbrook, the family designed the village which has retained much of its early appearance, with fine eighteenth and nineteeth century houses. The houses are built around an open green and the splendid gates of the castle open onto it.

The Erkina River, offers great fly fishing for trout and occasional salmon. All around the village are old woods. The wood was part of the old estate and was planted primarily to provide cover for game birds. The nearby ‘Leafy Loop’ - a 20 km series of way-marked walking routes around the town – features riverside paths, leafy forest tracks, open farmland, numerous historic sites and a rich variety of flora and fauna.

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EmoEmo Court, one of the greatest houses and gardens in Ireland, designed by James Gandon and its nearby Coolbanagher Church provide an unforgettable day excursion. It took eighty years to finish the building of Emo Court. The house stood empty and decaying for ten years in the 1920s then became a seminary for the Jesuits, who made some alterations. In 1969 the Demesne was bought by Major Cholmley-Harrison, who restored the house to its nineteenth century grandeur and renovated the magnificent gardens. The latest phase began in 1994 when the owner presented the house and grounds to the people of Ireland. Now in State hands, both house and gardens are beautifully cared for and the house, with its magnificent rooms, is open for guided tours throughout the summer.

MountmellickFounded in the seventeenth-century within a loop of the Owenass River, Mountmellick has always been a town associated with great industry and prosperity and in the late eighteenth century became known as the ‘Manchester of Ireland’. From the start the town was dominated by the enterprise of the Quaker Community and later served by the Grand Canal.

Mountmellick Development Association commissioned the conversion of a grain mill which houses a Quaker Museum, where the main focus is to conserve and display original pieces of Mountmellick work (embroidery) of which the town is renowned; and to protect the memory of Mountmellick’s rich Quaker industrial past. The Heritage Trail is a pleasure to follow. It is a pleasing town with a fine square, architecturally impressive houses, shops and ecclesiastical buildings

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MountrathMountrath probably derives its name from a fort in Redcastle about 1.6km on the eastern side of the present town. The Irish name is Móin Ratha - meaning “the fort in the bog.” On a very early map of Mountrath from 1659, the town is designated by a few houses situated on a stream - the White Horse River. By that date the town was over thirty years old as it was founded in 1628 by Charles Coote. By 1750 the town was a thriving industrial place with its own woollen and linen industries, ironworks, grain and rape mills and a little later its own brewery and distillery. Mountrath was also an important market town with its beautiful market house, dating from the early-eighteenth century, dominating the square. The town is now mainly agricultural and an excellent base for exploring the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It has picnic facilities near St Fintan’s Catholic Church. The Church is an elaborate example of Gothic Revival architecture. The River Mountrath is also good for fishing.

PortarlingtonFounded in 1666, on a bend of the Barrow River by Sir Henry Bennett, Lord Arlington. After the Jacobite Wars, the lands were given to General Rouvigney, Earl of Galway who established a thriving colony of French Huguenots in the town: separate chapels and schools were built for the English and French. Along with education (eventually 16 schools), the town became a centre for silversmiths and banking. The town has Georgian, Huguenot and Victorian architecture of exceptional quality.

PortlaoiseThe principal town of Laois, Portlaoise is a vibrant town. An invasion of the region under Queen Mary of England led to the development of a settlement here, which they called Maryborough. It retained that name until it reverted to Portlaoise following independence. Recent years have seen its transformation into an exciting and rapidly growing centre, with fascinating local sources of crafts & food and the splendid Dunamaise Arts Centre.

Twenty minutes or less in any direction brings a wealth of opportunities; with numerous golf clubs, equestrian centres and horse-drawn caravans and possibilities for trekking in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Anglers and boating enthusiasts, naturalists and long-distance walkers find everything they want on the Grand Canal at Vicarstown. Ancient Ireland is represented by the Rock of Dunamaise a hilltop castle with a wonderful view.

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StradballyStradbally is a picuresque town, surrounded by a great range of things to do and see. Stradbally Hall, the Cosby’s stately home, was begun in 1772 and greatly enlarged and embellished in the 1860s in its present Italian style. Stradbally is home to a number of activities such as point-to-point racing and other equestrian events and paintballing in the Stradbally Woods. Stradbally is synonymous with Steam and the Irish Steam Preservation Society holds its Steam Rally here during the August Bank Holiday weekend. In the grounds of Stradbally Hall is the Narrow Gauge Railway and the Steam Museum is located in the Main Street. Stradbally Hall also hosts the Electric Picnic music festival on an annual basis. Stradbally Lake brown trout fishery has been subject to extensive restoration and is located on the Cosby Estate. There are also excellent picnic areas and facilities on the lakeside. When visiting Stradbally, a visit to Stradbally Art House is a must.

VicarstownIf you are interested in a barge trip or holiday along the canal, look no further than Vicarstown. Vicarstown is an attractive port on the Grand Canal, a useful base walking, cycling, boating and fishing. Buildings of interest include the 1860’s Grattan School and Grattan Lodge (built in 1882 by Henry Grattan’s grand-daughter Lady Pauline Grattan Bellew). Vicarstown is a good base to visit the picturesque village of Fisherstown where one of the oldest pubs in Ireland is located.

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LongfordIn lovely county Longford the visitor is never far from water, cruise the River Shannon, Lough Ree and the Royal Canal, or enjoy the finest fishing on the River Inny, Lough Gowna and other watercourses. The “hot water” stretch at Lanesborough is famous among anglers. Every canoeist knows the white water stretch at Ballymahon.

In Ardagh, visit the heritage centre in the old schoolhouse, which dates back to 1898. The exhibition outlines the history of the village which includes myth and literature. The village also played host to writers and musicians like Oliver Goldsmith, Sir Walter Scott and Turlough O’Carolan.

Longford is a haven for outdoor activities offering facilities of the highest standard and quality. The county has a vast array of walking and cycling routes and provides activities such as fishing, golf, archery, go-carting, horse riding and bowling.

Walk in the footsteps of famous Longford writers, Maria Edgeworth, Padraic Colum and Oliver Goldsmith.

Admire the views across Lough Ree, the second largest lake on the River Shannon. Pay a visit to Clondra, a quaint little village with the magnificent cut stone Richmond Harbour, the terminus of the Royal Canal where it flows into the River Shannon.

Visit the Corlea Trackway and Visitor Centre, the largest known Iron Age trackway in Ireland.

Enjoy the views of the illuminated abbey at Abbeylara by night or Granard motte and bailey, which dominates the town.

The flat bogland of south Longford and the rolling hills and drumlins of north Longford offers unique habitats for the finest flora and fauna for the eco tourist to admire.

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AbbeylaraThe village of Abbeylara is three miles from Granard. On approaching the village, the first thing that comes into sight is the magnificent ruins of the Cistercian abbey founded in the thirteenth century. Abbeylara gets its name from ‘Mainistir Leathratha’, which means ‘abbey of the half rath or little rath’.

AbbeyshruleOne of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Ireland was established here around 1150. Ruins of the abbey and towerhouse dominate this picturesque village. In 1906 a Bronze Age shield was discovered in the nearby townland of Clonbrin. This is the only known leather shield in Ireland and is on display in the National Museum.

The Royal Canal arrived at Abbeyshrule in 1817, and crosses the Inny by the Whitworth Aqueduct. The river and the canal make for ideal fishing any time of the year. The Inny holds major stock of roach, bream, pike, trout and perch. Abbeyshrule Airfield was established in the 1950s and is home to an active aviation group. The annual air show is a major attraction for the area.

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ArdaghThe village of Ardagh is a designated heritage village. It was here that St Patrick appointed St Mel as one of the earliest Irish bishops. The village also features in Oliver Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops to Conquer’. Ardagh has associations with Irish myth including ‘The Wooing of Etain’ part of which is based at the nearby hill Brí Léith. Much of the village was built as an ‘estate village’ in the 19th century, and has received much acclaim for its beauty. Awards have included the Prix d’Honneur of the Entente Florale and winning the National Tidy Towns Competition on three occasions.

AughnacliffeAughnacliffe is a small village in north County Longford, midway between Cavan town and Longford town. This area is a fisherman’s paradise, with a number of excellent fishing lakes such as Gowna and the Upper Erne system close by.

There is beautiful scenery for relaxing walks, cycling trips and horse riding. Discover the local heritage by visiting the ancient graveyards and churches and impressive archaeological sites such as the Aughnacliffe portal tomb, known locally as ‘the dolmen’.

BallinaleeThe village of Ballinalee, is located on the River Camlin, in the parish of Clonbroney. The name is derived from the Irish, ‘Béal Átha na Laogh’ - the mouth of the ford of the calves. Ballinalee was formerly called St Johnstown and was owned by Lord Granard. It was also the home of ‘The Blacksmith of Ballinalee’, General Seán MacEoin, a hero of the War of Independence who later became a T.D and served as the Minister for Justice, and Minister for Defence between 1948 and 1951.

BallinamuckBallinamuck is one of the most historic towns in north Longford. The Battle of Ballinamuck was fought there during the 1798 Rebellion between the combined Irish and French forces and the British. It featured in Thomas Flanagan’s historic novel The Year of the French. The name ‘Ballinamuck’ is derived from the original name ‘Béal Átha na Muice’ which means ‘the mouth of the ford of the pig’. Ballinamuck is an ideal place for a quiet and relaxing holiday, where fishing, walking, cycling and observing nature are the main attractions.

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BallymahonBallymahon is the most southerly town in County Longford, situated on the N55. The River Inny flows through Ballymahon, westwards towards Lough Ree on the River Shannon. The buildings in the town are of late Georgian and Victorian stock, with two and three storey houses, in rows of three and four. The town is dominated by two refurbished mill buildings which reveal the industrial heritage of the area. A visit to the recently refurbished market house which has opened as a library is a must when in Ballymahon.

ClondraClondra is an attractive village located, 8km west of Longford. The cut-stone harbour, known as Richmond Harbour, is the Royal Canal’s terminus and one of the most imposing features on the canal. The old stone mill with its weir and millpond is another fine building. Traditional music is provided on a regular basis in local hostelries.

DrumlishDrumlish is a neat village in gently rolling countryside. It was the scene of an episode of land agitation known as the ‘Drumlish Land War’ of 1881. Near Drumlish is Cairn Hill the highest point in Longford on the summit of which are two cairn tombs. The old corn mill situated along the main Longford/Cavan road has been recently restored and has been in the Rogers family for nearly two centuries.

EdgeworthstownEdgeworthstown is located on the N4. The town has a long association with the celebrated Edgeworth family. Prominent members of this family included Richard Lovell Edgeworth and his daughter Maria. Richard was a famous inventor and surveyor, while Maria stands as one of the most influential novelists of the English language. She is best known for her novel Castle Rackrent. The family vault is in the churchyard of St John’s. The churchyard is also the resting place of Isola Wilde, sister of writer Oscar Wilde.

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GranardGranard lies on the N55 route from the Midland Region to the northern counties. It is surrounded by beautiful lakes such as Lough Gowna and forests like Derrycassin Woods. Derived from the Irish placename Gránard, the name Granard is said to have many meanings, such as ‘The Hill of the Sun’ or ‘Ugly Height’. These could be attributed to the most striking topographical feature in the town - the motte and its undulating fosse which dominates the west end of the town. This became the site for a castle built in 1199 by Richard Tuite who had been granted the lands by Hugh de Lacy.

KenaghKenagh is home to the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre, which conserves an Iron Age timber trackway built in the year 148 BC across the bog. This oak road is one of the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe. Inside the building, an 18-metre stretch of preserved road is on permanent display. The village of Kenagh features an elegant clock tower erected in memory of the Hon. Lawrence Harman King-Harman (d. 1875) by his tenants.

LanesboroughLanesborough developed in the seventeenth century when the landowner Sir George Lane received a charter from King Charles II. The town developed at a key crossing place on the River Shannon and became a very important inland port and market town. It was the point where ‘vast quantities’ of pigs, eggs and corn were transhipped from the river barges to carts and then back to the water again in the Royal Canal.

The railways put an end to the canal trade and Lanesborough’s importance declined until the 1950s, when the peat-burning power station was built. The power station had a very beneficial effect on the fishing, discharging warm water which made the river suitable for the local tench population. Lanesborough is a popular place for anglers, with great stocks of pike and brown trout. The trout are at their best in spring when they rise to the mayfly. Lanesborough also boasts a recently built state of the art marina and an attractive river and woodland walk.

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LeganLegan village is situated along the River Inny. The world-famous Shawbrook Ballet School is located near the village. The parish of Legan extends west to the sacred pre-Christian site of Brí Léith on Ardagh Mountain. The area contains rich farmland with wide expanses of bog and is rich in flora and fauna. The well-stocked River Inny provides restful recreation for the fisherman.

Longford TownA busy, bustling town, Longford is dominated by St Mel’s Cathedral, which was completed in 1893, having taken more than fifty years to build and currently undergoing restoration. Another notable building is the courthouse on Main Street, built in the early 1790s. The building of a branch of the Royal Canal to Longford was a major boost to its importance as a market town in the 19th century, as was the arrival of the Dublin to Sligo railway line.The River Camlin flows through the northern part of the town. A delightful walkway has been created along the river leading to the Mall recreational area. Longford lies at a junction of two primary routes, connecting Dublin to Sligo and Mayo. Accommodation, good food, shops, pubs and clubs and some great sporting grounds welcome the visitor and the surrounding countryside has a wealth of places to visit and things to do.

NewtowncashelNewtowncashel is located near to Lough Ree on the River Shannon. Noteworthy buildings include a church, a parish hall and a national school. The village is adorned with a number of fine sculptures in local bog oak and striking stone walls. There are excellent views of Lough Ree from the outskirts of the village. Nearby attractions include the ruined Augustinian abbey on Saints’ Island and Barley Harbour.

NewtownforbesThe village of Newtownforbes lies in the heart of Clonguish parish (also spelt ‘Cluain Geis’) meaning: ‘meadow of the swans’. The village and its townlands are steeped in history and tales from famine times. Newtownforbes is a lively village, beautifully maintained by an active Tidy Towns committee.

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OffalyTullamore is the county town and the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre provides an interesting introduction to the towns distilling, canal and urban past. Throughout the county cruising, equestrian, golfing, walking and fishing enthusiasts are well catered for.

The Grand Canal transverses the county from Edenderry and joins the River Shannon at Shannon Harbour. Edenderry is a noted angling centre. The Shannon callows are of European importance for a number of bird species.

The monastic ruins of Clonmacnoise are world-famous and one of Ireland’s greatest treasures. Less known, but of significant importance are Lemanaghan Monastic site, Seir Kieran, Rahan, Durrow and Birr. Cycle the Pilgrims Way, travelling from Ballycumber to Clonmacnoise with a spur to Lemanaghan from Boher.

Walking is a major feature within the county. Choose between the Slieve Bloom Way, the Grand Canal Way, the Offaly Way and the

Pilgrims Path route or a number of shorter looped walks.

Offaly boasts five peatland nature reserves, among them Clara Raised Bog, which can be viewed on the road between Clara and Rahan. A trip through the peatlands should include a visit to the Lough Boora Parklands, which was once a working bog, is now regenerated into an amenity and wildlife sanctuary. At Lough Boora Parklands one can fish a number of still water lakes, observe some of the over one hundred and thirty species of birds recorded in the Parklands or take a stroll through the Sculpture Park.

Birr was designated a heritage town for its Georgian architecture, it also has an interesting early Christian monastic site and a medieval story to tell. Visit the formal gardens, science centre and the restored telescope all at Birr Castle, Gardens and Demesne, Seat of the Earls of Rosse. Call into Birr library, a coverted Pugin Church, to view a unique copy of the ninth century Mac Regol Gospels originating from the early Christian site at Birr.

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BanagherBanagher, which means ‘Ford of the Rocks’, attracts thousands of visitors each year for some great fishing. The town was established in the seventeenth century as an important crossing point in the plantation of Offaly. The marina offers superb facilities for all who stay here. In 2011 the Heritage Boat Association (HBA) chose Banagher Harbour to celebrate the first decade of the HBA. Anthony Trollope worked for the Post Office here from 1841 until 1844, and managed to complete the first two of his ponderous Victorian novels in what was presumably the undisturbed rural peace and quiet.

Banagher was one of the towns on the Shannon that was fortified against Napoleonic invasion in the nineteenth century. There is a Martello tower beside the old canal, and the remains of a barracks can be seen at the east end of the bridge.

BirrBirr, originally a monastic settlement founded by St Brendan in the sixth century, it has seen continuous habitation and development and it is now well known for its Georgian architecture. The monastery, which was located in Church Street where the ruined thirteenth to seventeenth century church can still be seen had an important scriptoria and produced a ninth century illuminated manuscript known as the Mac Regol Gospels. The Gospels are now in the BodleianLibrary in Oxford but in 2006 one copy was made and is on public display in Birr Public Library.

In the sixteenth century the O’Carrolls of Ely had one of their castles here and this was granted to Sir Laurence Parsons in the course of the Stuart plantation, c.1620. Sir Laurence Parsons built most of the structure of the present castle. The castle still remains the seat of the Earls of Rosse.

The Birr Castle Demesne and surrounding gardens contain many fine trees and shrubs, including the box hedges, which are the tallest in the world. At the centre of the gardens is the Great Telescope built by the 3rd Earl of Rosse in 1840s.

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Birr Workhouse was opened in 1842 before the Famine and still stands largely the same as when first built. Crinkill Barracks was built 1809- 1812 and was burnt to the ground by Republican forces in 1922. The first All Ireland Hurling Final between Tipperary and Galway was held in Birr in 1888 where today a commemorative statue is in place. Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival in August remains one of Ireland’s most popular festivals.

ClaraClara grew up as a small industrial town, amply supplied with energy from its two rivers, the Brosna and its tributary the Gageborough and from the vast tracts of peat bog that almost surround it. No fewer than eleven distilleries operated there in the eighteenth century. Three Quaker brothers, Marcus, Jonathan and Lewis Frederick Goodbody settled there in 1854 to use the water power to drive mills for the production of sacking and other materials from imported jute fibres. The business prospered for many years and in 1867 they built the beautiful Meeting House which serves now as the meeting room of the Clara Musical Society. They were inventive industrialists and the grey chimney that dominates part of the town was one of the very first structures in Ireland made from reinforced concrete. The town today is a busy place, keeping up its industrial tradition. There are a network of short walks around the town and hinterland. Clara Bog Visitor Centre is now open at Clara Library and close by is Doorey Walk.

DaingeanOnce the principal town of the county, Daingean is situated on the Grand Canal and the town has a population of 1,048. The name translates as fortress, from the time the area served as an island fortress for the O’Connor Clan.

The area of domination of the O’Connor Clan stretched from Daingean south into Laois, north to the borders of Westmeath and east into Kildare. At the formation of the King’s County in 1557 under Mary Tudor, Daingean became the capital and was named Philipstown after her husband, Philip of Spain.

The Grand Canal line was opened to here in 1797. The fare from Dublin was the equivalent of 26p or 33 cent. It remained the principal town of the county until 1835 when the Assizes were transferred from Philipstown to Tullamore.

EdenderryEdenderry was established in medieval times and the ruins of Blundell Castle can still be seen with the new water tower adjacent on Blundell Hill. The castle shows phases from the early fifteenth century to the end of the seventeenth century when Edenderry House was constructed.

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The 2nd Marquess of Downshire is responsible for building the layout of much of the historic core of the present town in the 1800s with its pleasant layout, fine town houses, all provided with gardens. The keystones and entrance arches are a feature of the streetscape. There is an imposing statue of the Marquis of Downshire (1788-1845) looking down the Church Walk in the Church of Ireland grounds.

The Quakers came to Edenderry in 1672 and the Meeting House which they built in 1806 is still in use.

The Canal Harbour makes Edenderry a pleasant centre for boating enthusiasts. The canal has excellent fishing for pike, perch, bream and roach among others. The golf club is an excellent 18-hole parkland course. The Irish Parachute Club is located at the airfield at Clonbullogue.

The ruins of the 12th century Anglo Norman castle at Monasteroris are on private land but can be seen from the road just outside Edenderry driving towards Rhode. It was built by the Anglo Norman family, the Berminghams. One of the Bermingham’s sons founded the Franciscan friary in 1325. The ruins of the Friary are adjacent to the road with public access. The graveyard contains some of the earliest carved headstones in the county from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

FerbaneFerbane, located on the N62 between Athlone and Birr is a lively small town with many places of interest, good pubs, restaurants and places to stay. The River Brosna runs through the middle of the town and the Grand Canal skirts Ferbane to the south of the town. The Grand Canal Way is a popular walking route, and is also a noted spot for anglers. A display of early Christian grave slabs dating from around the 9th and 10th centuries can be seen at Gallen. Belmont Mill located a short distance from Ferbane is now an artists studio.

KilcormacKnown as Frankford in the Middle Ages, Kilcormac had a Carmelite Priory from where a fourteenth century Missal survives in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. Stone fragments from the Priory are displayed in the local church together with the sixteenth century Pietà, carved from oak and painted. In the seventeenth century, religious suppression forced Catholics to hide their precious relics and the Pietà was secretly buried in the bog. It was saved, to receive its place of veneration in the church built early in the nineteenth century.

The main street of Kilcormac, runs between rows of nineteenth century houses to a pleasant tree-shaded park by the Silver River. Behind the older houses, to the south, is St Cormac’s Park, a 1960s housing estate built for the workers on the nearby bog. The Offaly Way

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Walking Trail goes through Kilcormac. Fishing in the Boora Lakes, bird-watching and plant hunting in the bogland are the main interests in the immediate vicinity of Kilcormac.

KinnittyOne of the attractively laid out villages built by eighteenth century landlords, the roots of the community extend back to the early Christian Era. An early monastery stood on the site of the present Church of Ireland where an unusual pyramid shaped mausoleum dominates the graveyard at the rear. It was built by Lt. Col Richard Bernard and is the burial chamber for members of his family. It is an exact replica of the Egyptian pyramid of Cheop. The village has two quaint pubs. Knockbarron Esker Eco Walk is accessible from Kinnitty.

ShannonbridgeThe sixteen-arch stone bridge gives the delightful village its name and is the dominant feature of the landscape. Stone-built quays and a little harbourmaster’s office tell of its importance in the days of cargo traffic. Today the quays are used by pleasure cruisers and the harbourmaster’s office is the tourist information centre. Across the Shannon, the artillery fortification unique to Ireland and Britain which dates from the Napoleonic era is located here and has been transformed into a fine restaurant. The village pubs offer live traditional music from May to September and a pub grub menu is also available.

Shannonbridge is in the middle of the Callows. It is a great centre for naturalists, in summer when meadows abound in wild flowers and, in winter, when thousands of wild geese, duck and wading birds congregate in the floodland.

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Shannon HarbourThe small village of Shannon Harbour was developed after 1800 as the terminus of the Grand Canal through the Midland Region. Shannon Harbour is a picturesque rural village where McIntyres pub offers a warm welcome to the visitor. A farmers market takes place in Shannon Harbour, check local press for dates. East of the village is the 16th century Clonony Castle tower house which is open to the visitor by appointment.

The Callows of Shannon Harbour are now part of a special conservation area. This is an endeavour to preserve not only the fauna but also the unique flora of the Callows. Environmentalists have been enthralled by the variety of plants in the mature meadows, preserved by the eco friendly agri practice of Shannon Harbour farmers.

ShinroneThe Four Masters, scribes of medieval Ireland, wrote the name of Shinrone as Suí an Róin, which means the seat of the seal. However, it may also be called after the hermit Róin, a brother of Cuimín Fada.

In the townland of Glasshouse are the ruined remains of a once thriving seventeenth century forest-glass factory. All that is left are the remains of a sandstone barrel-vaulted, wood fired furnace but this is still more than any other site in Europe. The site is not accessible to the public. Members of the Bigo and Hensey families together with other Huguenot families had to flee France because of religious persecution. They settled in the Birr and Lusmagh areas and were producing glass there in the early 1600s.

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TullamoreTullamore is a thriving and bustling town and a gateway to the midlands. It is also a great centre for boating, fishing, enjoying golf and all sorts of country pursuits such as walking, riding and looking at old and distinguished buildings and parkland.

Prosperity came in the form of the Grand Canal, a link from the port of Dublin in 1798. The easy access for goods and people led to the town’s rapid growth as a market and warehousing centre. Charles William Bury, Earl of Charleville, set to work on making the town into the county capital and made his mark, by employing the best town planners to create a gracious settlement, with classical architecture for its churches and public buildings. Charleville Castle, is one of Ireland’s most splendid Gothic Revival buildings and stands in beautiful woodland containing many splendid oak trees including the King Tree. A must for visitors is a trip to the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre.

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WestmeathFamous for its rivers and lakes, from the Shannon and Lough Ree to the Mullingar lakes and the Royal Canal. Numerous watersports can be enjoyed in the county as well as some of the finest golf and equestrian facilities in the country. Top class angling is available throughout Westmeath with all species of coarse fish and brown trout. Filled with intriguing houses and gardens, and gorgeous forest parks, Westmeath is perfect for enjoying outdoor life at its best. An oasis of beauty in the Midlands, Belvedere House Gardens & Park is a must for any visitor to the Midlands. The Belvedere story is one, which is steeped in scandal and provides rich opportunities to capture the visitor’s imagination.

Enjoy a walk in the grounds of Tullynally Castle, one of the largest castles in Ireland still lived in as the family home, with its terraced lawns overlooking superb eighteenth century parkland. Visit nearby Lough Derravaragh, the source of the well-known legend of the Children of Lir who are said to have spent three hundred years in isolation on its waters or experience the Seven Wonders of Fore. For more of an urban buzz, head to Mullingar, a busy market town set in spectacular countryside or Athlone, the largest town on the River Shannon and a wonderfully lively spot with excellent restaurants and accommodation.

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AthloneAthlone is the largest town on the River Shannon standing on the boundaries of two counties namely Westmeath and Roscommon in the centre of Ireland on the N6. It is a historic town because of its strategic location and is commonly referred to as “the gateway to the west”. An ideal place for touring or based holidays this busy and prosperous town has a wide range of tourist attractions, top class accommodation and excellent restaurants each with its own distinctive character catering for all the family.

The town’s riverside location opening on to Lough Ree is the cornerstone of its attractions and the source of its natural beauty. Athlone is proud to be the centre of Shannon Cruising and its hire boats delight in guiding tourists on the Shannon. Day trips are also available. Other activities in the area include walking, angling, cycling and golf.

BallinahownBallinahown is located approximately 11km from Athlone on the N62. This is an attractive village setting at a crossroads adjoining an old estate. The village is on the County Offaly border. The village displays an attractive character with well maintained stone walls, mature trees and attractive planting and landscaping and has been rewarded with the county Tidy Towns title on a number of occasions. Ballinahown is also home to Irish Designer Craft Village which showcases the largest selection of craft designers, artists, and creative’s in the Midlands.

BallymoreMentioned in the annals as far back as the eighth century, its importance in ancient times was due to the fact that it lay on the trade route between royal ‘Uisneagh’ and Athlone. The remains of a fort dating from the Williamite campaign can be seen beside Lough Sewdy, as well as Father Dalton’s mass rock which was used during penal times. The Hill of Uisneach, near Ballymore, was once the ancient seat of the Kings of Meath with its history rooted in the Iron Age

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BallinagoreBallinagore is a charming little village with a rich tradition in milling. Linen, flour and ground corn were produced here from the early eighteenth century. Most of the buildings were demolished and today the only remaining landmark is the lower mill that overlooks the River Brosna. It is said that Ballinagore was one of the first villages in Ireland to have gas lighting. There are two picnic areas at Ballinagore, one situated on the banks of the River Brosna, the other situated at Liskelly on the Lough Ennell Road.

BallykeeranBallykeeran derives its name from St Ciaran who founded a monastery on Hare Island before founding Clonmacnoise. Nearby Friars Island is linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway and was once a retreat of the Franciscans from Athlone during the Penal Times. Visitors have a choice of taking the “high” or “low” road to Glasson. The low road follows the line of the inner lakes and affords the visitor access to the water at Wineport and Portaneena. From the picnic area on the high road one can enjoy breath taking panoramic views of Lough Ree and the Inner Lakes.

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BallynacargyBallynacargy is an attractive village located on the Royal Canal between Longford and Mullingar. Approximately 5 km from the village on the Rathowen Road is the Church of Ireland at Kilbixy. Called after St Brigseach, this has been a site of worship since Celtic church times. In the grounds are the remains of a three story building traditionally thought to be that of a leper hospital built by Hugh de Lacy. There is also a magnificent chestnut tree that is conceivably the largest of its kind in Ireland thought to be three hundred years old. Close by on the shores of Lough Iron lies the ruins of Tristernagh Abbey, formally inhabited by Augustinian Friars. A relic known as a “corpnu” which was kept by the monks was recovered here and is on display at the National Museum in Dublin.

CastlepollardThe Pollard family built Castlepollard in the late seventeenth century under a Charter of Charles II. The town was well laid out, with an extensive triangular green at its centre. The green is still surrounded by nineteenth century buildings today. A sculpture on the square depicts a scene from the famous legend of The Children of Lir. The setting of the legend is Lough Derravaragh, just a few kilometres south of the town. Castlepollard is one of the top centres for angling in the Midland Region. Within very easy reach are Lough Lene, White Lake, Lough Glore and several others. Wild brown trout can be caught in all these lakes and there is excellent rainbow trout fishing in White Lake. Lough Derravaragh yields superb pike. Situated just 1.5 km from the town on the Granard road is Tullynally Castle, home of the Pakenhams, later Earls of Longford for over 350 years.

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Castletown GeogheganCastletown Geoghegan is named after the McGeoghegan family who were extensive landowners, dispossessed during the time of Cromwell. A motte in the village dates from Norman times while a boulder at the south east of the village is reputed to be the inauguration site of the MacGeoghegans. Activities close-by include an 18-hole par 3 golf course and an outdoor adventure centre.

ClonmellonClonmellon is an enchanting old world village on the Westmeath / Meath border. Situated to the east of the village are the ruins of Killua Castle, built in 1780 and reputed to be the birth place of Laurence of Arabia. Close by is a monument commemorating the introduction of the potato into Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh.

CollinstownCollinstown is a picturesque village overlooking Lough Lene. The part of the lake known as “the cut” has a slipway, picnic area, toilets and car park. The numerous ring forts in the locality suggest that Collinstown has been inhabited from Iron Age times. During early Christian times a community of nuns lived in the area, which is how the village takes its Gaelic name Baile na gCailleach town of veiled women.

CooleCoole is a quaint village located 5 km from Castlepollard. The church dates back to 1841 and was endowed by the Dease family who live nearby at Turbotstown House. An amenity area developed on the shore of Lough Derravaragh, just 1.5 km from the village includes picnic facilities as well as boat mooring / launching facilities.

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CrookedwoodCrookedwood is a picturesque village located beside Lough Derravaragh. This lake is associated with the most tragic of all Irish legends, the fate of the “Children of Lir”, who were changed into swans by their jealous stepmother and were to spend three hundred of their nine hundred years in exile on the waters of Lough Derravaragh.DelvinDelvin is steeped in history with a motte at the southern end of the village built by Hugh de Lacy in 1181. Close to the motte are the ruins of a thirteenth century castle built by the Nugents, Earls of Westmeath. Nearby Clonyn Castle, which is still inhabited, was one of the last Victorian baronial castles to be built in Ireland. Delvin Castle golf club is in the grounds of Clonyn Castle. Brinsley MacNamara (1890-1963) novelist and playwright was born in Ballinvalley, Delvin. His novel entitled ‘The Valley of the Squinting Windows’ and his play ‘Look at the Heffernan’s’ are both set in this area.

FineaThe picturesque village of Finea is located on the river Inny between Lough Sheelin and Lough Kinale. The area between Finea and Castlepollard is a must for the nature lover. There are several expanses of bogland. The Rock of Curry is an extraordinary limestone outcrop, where feral goats can be seen in the crags.

ForeSituated in the village of Fore are the ancient ruins of St Feichins Monastery, which date back to seventh century AD. On the hillside just above the Old Church of St Feichin is the Anchorites Cell, which was used by hermits until the seventeenth century. Patrick Belgan, the last hermit in Fore lived in there until 1616 and is commemorated on a stone tablet in the cell.

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GlassonThe Village of the Roses‚ quite apart from being justly famed for its beauty, Glasson is one of those places that appears to have it all, the historic homeland of Oliver Goldsmith, overlooking one of Ireland’s most beautiful lakes, a centre for boating, fishing, walking and eating and sleeping in the greatest of comfort. The green and fertile country around Glasson is known the world over, but at the same time unknown because Goldsmith, who described it in his most celebrated poem ‘The Deserted Village’, changed all the placenames. A walking trail highlights places associated with Goldsmith and there is also a footpath through the grounds of the ruined Waterston House. Built in 1749, this was the home of the Handcock family who created the village of Glasson.

KilbegganKilbeggan’s first appearance in history was the foundation of a monastery in the sixth century by a rather unknown saint named Becan. The monastery was sufficiently wealthy by the tenth century to attract Viking raiders and a bloody battle was fought there between Irish and Vikings in 972. The town received a charter in 1612, and was a thriving place when the Locke family set up their distillery in 1757, producing the oldest Irish whiskey. The distillery has remained the centre of Kilbeggan for 250 years, and is now a fascinating museum. The site they chose was on the River Brosna, which provided water power to drive the machinery. The enormous mill wheel still turns. Another great attraction at Kilbeggan is its family friendly evening race meetings.

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KillucanKillucan built near the Royal Canal derives its name from an Abbey founded by St Lucian around the sixth century. Features of this village include a collection of Wayside Crosses that date back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and St Etchens Church dating from the thirteenth century.

KinnegadKinnegad, has a long tradition in providing hospitality for the travelling public. It has many eating-houses with facilities to cater for any taste from early morning to late at night. The terrain around Kinnegad is a walkers paradise, especially, “An Boreen Bradach” a walkway of approximately 5.6 km which semi-circles the town.

MilltownpassMilltownpass is approximately 14.5 km from Mullingar on the N6. The Tyrrell family had castles at the pass of Kilbride and Milltownpass, where they also had one of their mills. These castles guarded passes through the bog on the route from Dublin to the West.

MoateMoate owes its modern origins to Quakers who settled here and started industries at the end of the seventeenth century. The remains of a Quaker Meeting House and cemetery can still be seen in the town today. To commemorate Moate’s history as a market town a wooden sculpture entitled “The Bargain” was erected on the Green in the town centre in 1989. Present day Moate has good quality accommodation and a wide variety of evening entertainment and restaurants.

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MullingarMullingar was one of the ancient palatinate towns founded by the Normans. In 1227 a priory was founded there by the Canons Regular of St. Augustine. The Dominicans also started a foundation there about the same time. Today the town is a thriving commercial centre and is the centre of probably the best cattle raising district in the country. It is located on the River Brosna and midway between Lough Ennell, Owel and Derravaragh, which service the amenity needs of the town and is encircled by the Royal Canal which with its locks links Dublin with the River Shannon. This canal is now navigable to Abbeyshrule in neighbouring County Longford. Its imposing Renaissance style Cathedral, whose twin spires tower 140 feet, dominates the townscape and is a must see for any visitor. The Ecclesiastical Museum has an interesting collection dating back to Penal Times when the Catholic religion was suppressed.

MultyfarnhamThis charming village, with top quality accommodation and restaurants was once a National Tidy Town winner. It still retains much of its original charm. The history of settlement here is closely linked with the founding of a Franciscan Friary in 1276. In the mid 1950’s the Friars established an Agricultural College in Multyfarnham. Located in the grounds of the Friary are life-size Stations of the Cross. East of Multyfarnham a road leads to the Donore shore at Lough Derravaragh, a beautifully developed facility that caters for boating, fishing and swimming.

RathowenLegend holds that Rathowen or Ford of Eoghain commemorates the 15th century battle camp of the Ulster King Eoghain O’Neill during his campaign against the Normans. A newly developed trail affords nature lovers a rare opportunity to stroll through the fascinating landscape of one of Westmeath’s last remaining bogs.

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RochfortbridgeRobert Rochfort gave Rochfortbridge its name. The town was formerly known as Beggars Bridge as it was a crossing for people from the west heading up to Dublin. Mary Molesworth, the unfortunate wife of Robert Rochfort was imprisoned in her home for thirty-one years by her evil husband just down the road from Rochfortbridge.

StreeteThe tiny village of Streete lies at the heart of the Inny River valley close by the border with Longford. Streete in pre-celtic times was the home of a tribe named the Breacaighe, hence the name Straid Mighe Breachaighe. The Church is a prominent feature of the village. William Butler Yeat’s aunt is buried in the graveyard, which surrounds the church. Approaching the village from the south, two mature beech trees arch across the village entrance providing a wonderful forefront to the village beyond.

Tyrrellspass Tyrrellspass located on the N6, is a model village laid out by Jane, Countess of Belvedere in the early nineteenth century. The village takes its name from Sir Richard Tyrrell, who led a small Irish force, which annihilated a large Elizabethan army at a pass north of the village in 1597. Located on the Green is a charming sculpture of three small children, the work of Imogen Stuart erected in 1970.

MidlandsIreland.ie

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MidlandsIreland.ie 

Bridge Centre, Bridge Street 

Tullamore, County Offaly 

+ 353 (0) 57 93 52996/7  

E: info@midlandsireland.ie 

www.midlandsireland.ie