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North Offaly One Day Tour - Self Drive
Oct 13 2011 06:48 AM | Bhushan in Self Drive Tours
North Offaly One Day Tour
+353 (0)44 9348650
eastandmidlandsinfo@failteireland.ie
North Offaly 1 Day Tour. The Starting point of this tour is Tullamore, which is on the N80 & N52 routes:
Tullamore is the county town and is situated in the centre of the county. It is a vibrant, progressive town and is recognized as a major shopping centre for the midlands. It is an ideal centre from which to tour the surrounding area and is within easy reach of the major towns of the midlands- Athlone, Mullingar and Portlaoise. It is the home of Irish Mist Liquor and Tullamore Dew, a fine whiskey. The Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre charts the growth and development of the town, tracing the part the part the whiskey industry played in that development.
The Grand Canal is a valuable and attractive amenity to the town. The canal reached Tullamore in 1798. The Heritage Centre exhibition illuminates the development of the canal and its impact on the growth of Tullamore in the 19th century and early 20th century. About a mile to the south of the town is Charleville Forest. Charleville Castle is the finest and most spectacular early 19th century, gothic-revival building in Ireland. A majestic oak-tree in the grounds is the oldest in the country.
From Tullamore take the N80 to Clara Village: Clara town has a long industrial tradition; however it is also a place abounding with nature. The Gageborough River joins the Brosna a mile downstream of Clara, County Offaly. The trout stocks and fishing conditions are much the same as on the Tullamore Silver River. The best of the trout fishing is in the three miles upstream of the confluence. Clara also has one of the few large raised midland bogs remaining substantially intact. It has a wide range of vegetation types and habitats and classic hummock and hallow surface. It is one of the only raised bogs in Ireland with a well developed natural drainage system or "soak". The bog lies 2km south of Clara town along the L113.
The bog is under the care and ownership of the wildlife service. It was declared a National Reserve in 1987 it bears a profuse bogland flora and is an important wildlife habitat. Access is from the Clara Rahan road, from where short tracks lead onto the bog. It is unsafe to venture further without an experienced guide.
From Clara take the R436 to Ballycomber & on to Ferbane: Situated on the River Brosna, Ferbane is a town, which has prospered through peat development and electricity generation by state agencies. Other industries include engineering, printing and vehicle bodybuilding. However Ferbane is rich in heritage and was once occupied by the McCoghlans, who were chieftains. They built many castles in the Ferbane area and were known in that era as the MacCoghlans of the Fair Castles.
Today both tower houses of Coole and Clononey are the best preserved and steeped as they are in history About a half mile from Ferbane is the old meeting point, tulach tionoil, where the chieftains had their inauguration ceremony, at Ard na gCros.
The Gallen Cross, an unusual cross from the Christian period, can be viewed in the grounds of Gallen Priory, as well as a collection of Early Christian grave slabs. The Priory was once a landlord's place of residence and later a novitiate of the St. Joseph of Cluny Order; it is now a nursing home. From Ferbane take the N62 to Ballinahowen & the R444 to Clonmacnoise: An early Christian site founded by Saint Ciarán in the 6th century on the banks of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, eight churches (10th - 13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and a large collection of early Christian grave. The original high crosses and grave slabs are on display in the visitor centre. There is an audio-visual show as well as a number of exhibitions.
From Clonmacnoise Travel to Shannonbridge on the R444: Shannonbridge is situated on the on the Cloghan - Ballinasloe road and is a fortified river crossing with a small well preserved, early 19th century fort built to secure the Connaght bridgehead. On the opposite side the Shannon is joined downstream by the River Suck. This area is renowned for bream, rudd and hybrids and has outstanding potential for the coarse angler. The town is well known for its bars and music. Whilst in Shannonbridge go for a tour on the Clonmacnnoise and West Offaly Railway. Travel on a 5.5 mile journey through Blackwater Bog, near Shannonbridge County Offaly. Learn how we produce milled peat for the generation of electricity.
See a demonstration on the traditional method of cutting turf. Looking for something different? Why not try Tea on the bog - a cup of tea, a slice of porter cake at our turf cutting demonstration area. Nature Train: Take a 2 hour trip out into the bog where you will learn more about the natural environment of a raised bog. Walk around our floating nature trail and take a journey down our steps in time- the only one of its kind in Ireland!
+353 (0)44 9348650
eastandmidlandsinfo@failteireland.ie
North Offaly 1 Day Tour. The Starting point of this tour is Tullamore, which is on the N80 & N52 routes:
Tullamore is the county town and is situated in the centre of the county. It is a vibrant, progressive town and is recognized as a major shopping centre for the midlands. It is an ideal centre from which to tour the surrounding area and is within easy reach of the major towns of the midlands- Athlone, Mullingar and Portlaoise. It is the home of Irish Mist Liquor and Tullamore Dew, a fine whiskey. The Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre charts the growth and development of the town, tracing the part the part the whiskey industry played in that development.
The Grand Canal is a valuable and attractive amenity to the town. The canal reached Tullamore in 1798. The Heritage Centre exhibition illuminates the development of the canal and its impact on the growth of Tullamore in the 19th century and early 20th century. About a mile to the south of the town is Charleville Forest. Charleville Castle is the finest and most spectacular early 19th century, gothic-revival building in Ireland. A majestic oak-tree in the grounds is the oldest in the country.
From Tullamore take the N80 to Clara Village: Clara town has a long industrial tradition; however it is also a place abounding with nature. The Gageborough River joins the Brosna a mile downstream of Clara, County Offaly. The trout stocks and fishing conditions are much the same as on the Tullamore Silver River. The best of the trout fishing is in the three miles upstream of the confluence. Clara also has one of the few large raised midland bogs remaining substantially intact. It has a wide range of vegetation types and habitats and classic hummock and hallow surface. It is one of the only raised bogs in Ireland with a well developed natural drainage system or "soak". The bog lies 2km south of Clara town along the L113.
The bog is under the care and ownership of the wildlife service. It was declared a National Reserve in 1987 it bears a profuse bogland flora and is an important wildlife habitat. Access is from the Clara Rahan road, from where short tracks lead onto the bog. It is unsafe to venture further without an experienced guide.
From Clara take the R436 to Ballycomber & on to Ferbane: Situated on the River Brosna, Ferbane is a town, which has prospered through peat development and electricity generation by state agencies. Other industries include engineering, printing and vehicle bodybuilding. However Ferbane is rich in heritage and was once occupied by the McCoghlans, who were chieftains. They built many castles in the Ferbane area and were known in that era as the MacCoghlans of the Fair Castles.
Today both tower houses of Coole and Clononey are the best preserved and steeped as they are in history About a half mile from Ferbane is the old meeting point, tulach tionoil, where the chieftains had their inauguration ceremony, at Ard na gCros.
The Gallen Cross, an unusual cross from the Christian period, can be viewed in the grounds of Gallen Priory, as well as a collection of Early Christian grave slabs. The Priory was once a landlord's place of residence and later a novitiate of the St. Joseph of Cluny Order; it is now a nursing home. From Ferbane take the N62 to Ballinahowen & the R444 to Clonmacnoise: An early Christian site founded by Saint Ciarán in the 6th century on the banks of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, eight churches (10th - 13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and a large collection of early Christian grave. The original high crosses and grave slabs are on display in the visitor centre. There is an audio-visual show as well as a number of exhibitions.
From Clonmacnoise Travel to Shannonbridge on the R444: Shannonbridge is situated on the on the Cloghan - Ballinasloe road and is a fortified river crossing with a small well preserved, early 19th century fort built to secure the Connaght bridgehead. On the opposite side the Shannon is joined downstream by the River Suck. This area is renowned for bream, rudd and hybrids and has outstanding potential for the coarse angler. The town is well known for its bars and music. Whilst in Shannonbridge go for a tour on the Clonmacnnoise and West Offaly Railway. Travel on a 5.5 mile journey through Blackwater Bog, near Shannonbridge County Offaly. Learn how we produce milled peat for the generation of electricity.
See a demonstration on the traditional method of cutting turf. Looking for something different? Why not try Tea on the bog - a cup of tea, a slice of porter cake at our turf cutting demonstration area. Nature Train: Take a 2 hour trip out into the bog where you will learn more about the natural environment of a raised bog. Walk around our floating nature trail and take a journey down our steps in time- the only one of its kind in Ireland!
