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
- 1 event 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.
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 · KilcormacA 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 · Co. OffalyWide Georgian streets laid out around the castle gates, with a lot of the original shopfronts kept.
BanagherHarbour · Co. OffalyThe 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 · Co. OffalySixteen arches of stone bridge over the Shannon, with a Napoleonic era fort at the west end of it.
TullamoreTown · Co. OffalyTullamore is built along the Grand Canal, with the old harbour in the town and the whiskey distillery on its southern edge.
Kinnitty PyramidRuin · KinnittyNine metres of stone pyramid, built as a family mausoleum in the graveyard at Kinnitty.
KinnittyVillage · Co. OffalyThe village sits at the foot of the Slieve Blooms and is the starting point for most walks into the range.
CadamstownVillage · Co. OffalyCadamstown 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.
12 of the 20 places are on the map. The rest are listed above.
in Offaly today
What’s on in Offaly
Coming up, soonest first.
Saturday 14th November
Towns
The one with enough in and around it for a page of its own.
More to see in Offaly
7 more places from Fáilte Ireland’s own listings, linked to their own sites where they have one.
Castles and houses1
Abbeys and churches1
- Lemanaghan Monastic SiteCo. Offaly
Gardens and parks1
- The Shannon CallowsCo. Offaly
Other places1
Music in Offaly
Trad sessions, venues and festivals.
Where to hear it
Sessions come and go: check with the pub before you travel.
Where to stay in Offaly
9 places on Fáilte Ireland’s register of approved accommodation: the three and four star hotels and guest houses, plus historic houses.
- County Arms Birr4-star hotel · Birr
- Kinnitty Castle Hotel4-star hotel · Birr
- Bridge House Hotel Spa and Leisure Club4-star hotel · Tullamore
- Tullamore Court Hotel4-star hotel · Tullamore
- Gloster HouseHistoric house · Birr
- Ardmore Country House4-star B&B · Birr
- Littlewood4-star B&B · Tullamore
- Dooly's Hotel3-star hotel · Birr
- The Central Hotel Tullamore3-star hotel · Tullamore
Where to eat and drink in Offaly
18 restaurants, pubs and cafés listed with Fáilte Ireland. A list of who registered, not a ranking, linked to their own sites where they have one.
- Paddy Flynn's PubPub · Birr
- The Stables BirrRestaurant · Birr
- The Thatch CrinkillRestaurant · Birr
- Patrick Larkin Bar & LoungePub · Edenderry
- Hennessy's PubPub · FerbaneFacebook page
- GiltrapsPub · Kinnitty
- Slí Dala Restaurant at Kinnitty Castle HotelRestaurant · Kinnitty
- The Dungeon Bar at Kinnitty Castle HotelRestaurant · Kinnitty
- JJ Killeen's Bar, Restaurant and Live Music VenueRestaurant · Shannonbridge
- Kelly’s BarRestaurant · TownparksFacebook page
- Café IndiaRestaurant · Tullamore
- Captain House RestaurantRestaurant · Tullamore
- Chocolate Brown - OffalyCafé · TullamoreFacebook page
- Lough Boora Discovery ParkCafé · Tullamore
- Maunsells Dining Pub & Off LicenceRestaurant · Tullamore
- Sirocco’s Italian RestaurantRestaurant · TullamoreFacebook page
- The Blue Apron RestaurantRestaurant · Tullamore
- The Brewery TapPub · Tullamore
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 and open ground cost nothing to visit. On our list that includes Slieve Bloom Mountains, Lough Boora Discovery Park and Grand Canal Greenway. Some forest parks charge for the car park, so check parking and access with the place before you go.
What is on in Offaly?
There is 1 event listed in Offaly over the months ahead. See them all.
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