ClonmacnoiseA monastery on a bend of the Shannon, with two round towers, several churches and a field of carved slabs.
Uíbh Fhailí
Offaly
Bog, canal and the Shannon, with Clonmacnoise on the riverbank.
- Leinster
- 20 places
- 0 events in the next 30 days
- 7 more listings
The list
Top 10 things to do in Offaly
Offaly is bog, canal and the Shannon, and Clonmacnoise on a bend of the river is the reason most people come. Birr Castle has a nineteenth century telescope built into the walls that was the largest in the world for seventy years. These are the ten we would start with, with ten more under them.
ClonmacnoiseA monastery on a bend of the Shannon, with two round towers, several churches and a field of carved slabs.
Birr Castle DemesneFifty hectares of gardens around the castle, and the nineteenth century Leviathan telescope still standing in its walls.
Slieve Bloom MountainsThe range sits low and forested on the Laois border, crossed by one long waymarked route with shorter loops signed off it.
Lough Boora Discovery ParkPark · TullamoreA worked out bog was turned into a park, and it now has lakes, cycle paths and large outdoor sculptures left out in it.
Charleville CastleCastle · TullamoreA Gothic revival castle stands in oak woodland on the edge of Tullamore, open for guided tours.
Tullamore D.E.W. DistilleryDistillery or brewery · TullamoreThe working distillery at Clonminch on the edge of Tullamore runs a long tour through the still house and the cask warehouse, for over 18s.
Clara Bog Nature ReserveBog · ClaraOne of the last raised bogs left in western Europe, crossed by a boardwalk, with the visitor centre in the town.
Croghan HillViewpoint · RhodeA volcanic plug stands on its own out of the Bog of Allen, with a burial mound on the top.
Grand Canal GreenwayGreenway · TullamoreThe canal towpath runs the whole width of the county and is flat the whole way, so you can take it in sections.
Durrow High Cross and ChurchMonastic site · TullamoreThe tenth century high cross and early grave slabs sit at the old Durrow monastery north of Tullamore.
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Rahan ChurchesMonastic site · TullamoreTwo early churches beside the Grand Canal west of Tullamore. One of them is still in use.
BirrTown · BirrWide Georgian streets laid out around the castle gates, with a lot of the original shopfronts kept.
BanagherHarbour · BanagherThe Shannon town has a marina and a harbour, and a fortified battery guarding the old bridge crossing.
Shannon HarbourHarbour · BanagherShannon Harbour is where the Grand Canal meets the Shannon, built around a set of locks and the old canal buildings.
ShannonbridgeBridge · ShannonbridgeSixteen arches of stone bridge over the Shannon, with a Napoleonic era fort at the west end of it.
TullamoreTown · TullamoreTullamore is built along the Grand Canal, with the harbour and the distillery beside the water.
Kinnitty PyramidRuin · KinnittyNine metres of stone pyramid, built as a family mausoleum in the graveyard at Kinnitty.
KinnittyVillage · KinnittyThe village sits at the foot of the Slieve Blooms and is the starting point for most walks into the range.
CadamstownVillage · CadamstownCadamstown is a small village on the Silver River, with a marked loop walk through the glen behind it.
Seir KieranMonastic site · ClareenThe early monastery near Clareen is down to a low round tower stump, a cross base and an old graveyard.
Where they are
Tap a pin to open the place.
13 of the 20 places are on the map. The rest are listed above.
What’s on in Offaly
Coming up, soonest first.
Saturday 14th November
Towns
Towns with enough in and around them for a page of their own.
More to see in Offaly
7 more places from Fáilte Ireland’s own listings, each linked to its official site.
- Birr Theatre & Arts CentreGallery · BirrSituated in the tree lined Oxmantown Mall, Birr Theatre and Arts Centre is a dedicated purpose built theatre which dates from 1888.
- Mick The Miller MonumentAttraction · KilleighThis is a bronze sculpture of greyhound Mick The Miller, who was born in Killeigh, County Offaly, in June 1926 and who went on to become the most famous greyhound in the world.
- Leap CastleCastle or historic house · RoscreaThe Leap Castle was an O'Carroll fortress.
- Esker ArtsGallery · TullamoreEsker Arts is a visual, performance and community arts centre in Tullamore, County Offaly.
- Glasshammer StudiosGallery · OffalyGlasshammer Studios and Gallery is open all year round near Rhode, County Offaly, in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands.
- Lemanaghan Monastic SiteAbbey or church · Offaly
- The Shannon CallowsNature and wildlife · OffalyThe Shannon Callows are areas of flat land along the shores of the River Shannon.
Getting to Offaly
- By air
- Dublin Airport
- By rail
- Stations at Tullamore and Clara, on the Dublin to Galway line.
- By road
- The M6, N52, N62 and N80.
Questions
What are the best things to do in Offaly?
Our top three are Clonmacnoise, Birr Castle Demesne and Slieve Bloom Mountains. The full list of twenty is at the top of this page, and every place on it has a page of its own.
What can you do in Offaly for free?
Walks, beaches and open ground cost nothing to visit. On our list that includes <a href="/things-to-do/offaly/slieve-bloom-mountains/">Slieve Bloom Mountains</a>, <a href="/things-to-do/offaly/lough-boora-discovery-park/">Lough Boora Discovery Park</a>, <a href="/things-to-do/offaly/croghan-hill/">Croghan Hill</a> and <a href="/things-to-do/offaly/grand-canal-greenway/">Grand Canal Greenway</a>. Check parking and access with the place before you go.
What is on in Offaly?
1 event is listed in Offaly over the coming weeks, from festivals to markets and gigs. See them all.
