The range of facilities, entertainments andactivities on offer in County Offaly makes it theperfect place for a holiday, whether you’re seeking family fun, the chance toexplore nature or a taste of the legendary Irish hospitality usually referredto as the craic.
Travellingto County Offaly
The central location of the county makes it easy toget to from across the Republic of Ireland and, thanks to the equidistantpresence of two different airports, from all over the world. The centre of CountyOffaly is 79 miles from both Dublin Airport and ShannonAirport. The choice of which of thesetwo major airports you use will depend upon exactly when you want to arrive in CountyOffaly and where you’re travelling from.
Shannon Airport, which is open throughout the year,handles five different airlines and takes flights from cities including NewYork and London (Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted). Dublin Airport handlesapproximately 175 routes from around the world and works with 50 differentairlines.
Places to Visit
If the evocation of times past, which hangs sorichly over much of Ireland, is what attracts you, then the shoreline of BooraLakes, in the centre of the county, is a place you simply have to visit.Its archaeological remains, which date back over 8,000 years, show the earliestevidence of human beings settling in Ireland.
To the west of Offlayyou’ll find an entirely different way of examining the rich history of thearea. Larry’s Old Time Village is a stunningly crafted miniature village thatdepicts 12 thatched cottages dating from different eras between the 1900s and1950, as well as figurines illustrating archetypal Irish village events.
Ghosts ofCounty Offaly
Those of you with a strong enough nerve might liketo brave a visit to some of the allegedly haunted castles located in CountyOffaly. These include Kinnitty Castle, which is said to behaunted by the ghost of a monk named Hugh, LeapCastle, apparently the most haunted castle in Ireland, and ClononyCastle, where a figure known only as “The Thin Man” is said to wander thegrounds in a haze of light.
If all of this talk of ghosts and spirits leavesyou feeling somewhat chilled, what better way to warm up than with a visit tothe TullamoreDew Visitor Centre in Tullamore, where a guided tour will let you inon the secrets of the crafting of Tullamore Dew, a whiskey renowned throughoutthe world.
Activitiesin County Offaly
If you’re feeling more energetic, or have teenagerswishing to let off steam, then pay a visit to Grand Canal Sports, situated onthe banks of the canal itself in Daingean, halfway between Tullamore andEdenderry. Here you’ll be able to try your hand at activities such as cycling,fishing or kayaking, with all equipment provided for hire.