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Our Mission
Promoting your health and our heritage in affordable and sustainable ways.

Our Mission
No one has to be worse off for us to be better off.

What You Do
You leave the hectic pace of the motorway at the N6/N80 junction in Tober.

What You Do
We make downtime possible and effective on your terms.

Projects

To add interest to your visit, to our website or our village, we invite you to email us your observations on the following ongoing projects.

Public Appeal for the Lost Castles of Offaly

In the Offaly Heritage Office of Offaly County Council we are working on a book about the castles of Offaly and we need your help to find some missing castles!  The records show that from the twelfth century to the mid 1600s, there were around 220 castles in Offaly.  These range from timber castles known as motte and baileys to the towerhouses such as those at Srah and Clonony.  While a number are still clearly seen in the landscape, many of these castles have only a stump or part of a wall remaining.   However there are currently 60 of the 220 castles which are mentioned in historical sources where it is not known if there are any remains or traces left on the ground.  We are hopeful that there are remains of these castles - perhaps at the back of a farmyard, perhaps levelled but the site remembered, or incorporated into a later building.  In some of the cases, the site might be remembered by the name 'castle field' or 'bawn' for example. 

Below is a list of townlands that once had castles but the location is not known.  Some of them are tantalising such as Tullamore Castle, which some have suggested might be in O'Molloy Street but we have no definite information for a location.  Similarly we know there was a castle in Shannonbridge but do not know of its location. This is the townland of Raghra.  Some at first glance are confusing, we have a reference to a castle in Cloghan.  However this is the townland of Cloghan near Leap Castle in South Offaly, not the Cloghan Castle near Lusmagh or the site of the castle in Cloghan village!

In the south of the county we would be keen to locate the castle in Ballykealy near Eglish.  In 1622 the castle of Ballykealy was in the ownership of Bostock King who purchased the castle and lands from the Earl of Kildare.  Ballykealy House may have been built on the site of or near the original location of the castle known as Ballykealy Castle but we would appreciate information about this. 

In east Offaly we know there was a castle in the townlands of Eskerbeg, Esker More or Ballyhugh but we do not know where.  It is described in 1569 in land grant to Henry Cowley when he is ordered to build in Eskerbeg ’a watch tower and bawn of lime and stone’.  We also know that there was an old castle belonging to the O’Conors in Drumcaw, Mountlucas. And in the townland of Clonarrow we know Geoffrey Phillips has a low building with a bawn.  But again we need to locate the sites.

We would also be interested in pictures of castles now demolished or altered ie Kilcolgan.  Some photos have been published in articles and books but there may be many other excellent photos in private collections which could be invaluable.

If you have any information about a castle in any of these townlands or photos of castles long gone please contact Amanda Pedlow, Offaly Heritage Officer at apedlow@offalycoco.ie or phone 057 - 9346839.

 

 

Passage sculpted by Brian O Loughlin

Passage stands in the centre of Ireland, at the crossroads of History. The Junction Where destiny and need, hope and survival intersect.

The six figures of the “Passage” are open to interpretation and projection. They can represent a lone figure, a family, a tribe, a people. The journey began so long ago in the Mesolithic era, is the one story, always told and never changing, of the march of man through time, moved by the forces of history, from ancient to modern. The journey is a hunt: for game, for food, for trade, for wealth, the instinct to survive, passed down through the millennia.

The six figures comprising the sculpted pieces of Bog oak, topped with aluminium discs, powder coated with touches of gold leaf, represent a journey towards awareness, a growth of potential, an accumulation of knowledge. This is evident in the gradual waxing of the discs, with the last, full disc, possessing full awareness

The figure on the edge, on the other side of the fence is the straggler, the outsider, but who is very much part of the journey, a member of the collective.
This figure dawdles as a child might, but also has the clear-eyed perception of the child who sees things the adults will not notice. The last figure will get to its destination, behind the others but will still travel with unflagging purpose and intent.

In the centre of the figures lies the catstone, a Piece of enormous symbolical significance, representing the nearby Hill of Uisneagh, the geographic centre of Ireland. It is the meeting point of the ancient five provinces of Ireland, and an old druidic centre.

Passage begs the question of us, Why are these figures, who are not following, a uniform path, but all travelling in the same direction, on this road?

From Mesolithic times, through the millennia. Passage represents the Journey people undertake, because they want to, because they have to, for survival, for business, for hunting, for trade, for need, for want. It is the echo of the past, reflecting on the travellers of the future.

Tom Murphy is wrong?
Tom Murphy, who is big in his own world, thinks Nativeguide can't work. He says Offaly is, "the greatest God-forsaken hole of a spot".
God-forsaken it ain't. St Ciarain was in Seir Ciarain, near Birr, before St Patrick was in Slane. Durrow, Rahan, Lynally and Clonmacnoise were major towns and monasteries during Ireland's Golden age of Saints and Scholars.

Help me prove Tom Murphy wrong by emailing your views on why Offaly is the perfect place to "stop the world and get off".

New Map
 www.nativeguide.ie will invest time and knowledge in creating a new map. We invite others to tell us the changes required to those already available and we will use our local knowledge and influence to create the best possible map of Offaly. The aim is to colour code it and create a game that makes it a challenge to find ways in and our of the county. Can you find your way by the scenic route from the N6 to the N7?. We dare you to follow our colour coded map so that you too can become an informed guide to the treasures of Offaly.

North American Indian Wisdom
 “In our way of life and in our government and with every decision we make we always keep in mind the seventh generation to come. Its our job to see that the people coming ahead, the generations still unborn have a world no worse than ours and hopefully better.” We will be guided by this old American Indian wisdom and wisdom from other cultures. Feel free to email us wisdom from your world.

Eco aware
 For the sake of the 7th generation to come we are eco aware. We select comfortable and powerful vehicles but hope that when they are on the move we cause our passengers to park their cars and learn to love the country side. Every effort will be made to offset our footprint . Business cards and office stationary will be printed sparingly and on recycled paper. We ask you to bookmark this site, email it to a friend or record the details in your diary or travel guide so you have it handy when you find yourself in the midlands. We welcome ideas on how we can reduce our footprint.

Country Concierge
As we grow we hope to add quality support services, such as, coaching and stress management for busy people who need to consider or reconsider the pace of their lives. Until then we are happy to be your country concierge providing information on expertise and services available locally. www.templespa.ie and www.claraholistic.com

Proud Boast
Let us know if you have anything you want to tell or anything you want to sell to our guests. If you are a guest, we welcome your view on how we can improve the service.