GALLERY: The best Offaly photographs of 2017

It's been a hectic year in the county...

Reporter:

Justin Kelly

30 Nov 2017

Email:

justin.kelly@iconicnews.ie

Joe Haverty of Ballinamere Durrow, Co. Offaly, celebrates a goal during day 1 of The Go Games Provincial Days in April 2017
Joe Haverty of Ballinamere Durrow, Co. Offaly, celebrates a goal during day 1 of The Go Games Provincial Days in April 2017
Birr woman Ann Downey who came second in the Aldi Brown Bread Baking Competition at the National Ploughing Championships 2017
Birr woman Ann Downey who came second in the Aldi Brown Bread Baking Competition at the National Ploughing Championships 2017
Sacred Heart Tullamore students using technology in the classroom
Sacred Heart Tullamore students using technology in the classroom
An excited reveller at the 2017 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore as he dances to the Willoughby Brothers at the Bandstand
An excited reveller at the 2017 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore as he dances to the Willoughby Brothers at the Bandstand
Hundreds gather in Boora to break world record for most fairies in one place
Hundreds gather in Boora to break world record for most fairies in one place in July 2017
More fairies in Boora in July 2017
More fairies in Boora in July 2017
Leah and Sandra Conway at the Boora Fiary event in July 2017
Leah and Sandra Conway at the Boora Fiary event in July 2017
Scoil Mhuire Tullamore students enjoying a marine event run by Midlands Science in November 2017
Scoil Mhuire Tullamore students enjoying a marine event run by Midlands Science in November 2017
Tullamore Harriers athletes Liam Brady, Christopher Madden and Ryan Sharkey at an event in may 2017
Tullamore Harriers athletes Liam Brady, Christopher Madden and Ryan Sharkey at an event in may 2017
Rhode GAA claim their 28th Offaly Senior Football Championship title in October 2017
Rhode GAA claim their 28th Offaly Senior Football Championship title in October 2017
Ciara Farrell of Tullamore is lifted by team mates after they won the Leinster Women’s League Division 1 Playoffs match between Tullamore and Rathdrum
Ciara Farrell of Tullamore is lifted by team mates after they won the Leinster Women’s League Division 1 Playoffs match between Tullamore and Rathdrum at Donnybrook Stadium in Donnybrook, Dublin in March 2017
Parkrun Ireland in partnership with Vhi added their 64th event on Saturday, July 1st, with the introduction of the Mount Lucas parkrun. Photo by Sam B
Parkrun Ireland in partnership with Vhi added their 64th event on Saturday, July 1st, with the introduction of the Mount Lucas parkrun. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Kilcormac-Killoughey's Dan Currams at a press event with AIB and the GAA ahead of the Leinster Senior Hurling Final against Cuala of Dublin in December 2017
24 August 2017: Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail second from left, with from left, former Kerry footballer Jack O'Shea, former Offaly footballer Matt Connor, and former Offaly hurler Padraig Horan, along with former Kilkenny hurler Frank Cummins, during the GAA Museum Hall of Fame – Announcement of 2017 Inductees event at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
A gathering of Eden Tri Club members as they train for a series of Ironman events around the world in 2017
A gathering of Eden Tri Club members as they train for a series of Ironman events around the world in 2017
Gardaí congregate in Edenderry as they apprehend an armed man on the grounds of St. Mary's Secondary School, Edenderrry in June 2017
Gardaí congregate in Edenderry as they apprehend an armed man on the grounds of St. Mary's Secondary School, Edenderrry in June 2017
Offaly woman Laura Grant inspects her furrow during the Farmerette Class at the 2017 National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore
Offaly woman Laura Grant inspects her furrow during the Farmerette Class at the 2017 National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore
Tullamore band Chasing Abbey put pen to paper on a record deal with Universal
Tullamore band Chasing Abbey put pen to paper on a record deal with Universal in the summer of 2017
Offaly's Jennifer Byrne on stage with Daithi O'Se after winning the 2017 Rose of Tralee crown.
Offaly's Jennifer Byrne on stage with Daithi O'Se after winning the 2017 Rose of Tralee crown.
Irish Olympian Andy Lee visits St. Joseph's Boxing club in Edenderry along with pro fighter Eric Donovan
Irish Olympian Andy Lee visits St. Joseph's Boxing club in Edenderry along with pro fighter Eric Donovan
Offaly artist Claire Guinan with her portrait painting of singer Gavin James. She launched “Heart and Soul: Portraits of Irish Musicians,” in the Copper House Gallery in Dublin in early October 2017.
April 2017: President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins with Sabina Higgins and Lord Rosse at the launch of Giants Grove, a joint project of Birr Castle Demesne and Crann - 'Trees for Ireland' - by the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins. The project aims to create, through public participation, the largest grove of giant redwoods outside of California, within the historic gardens of Birr Castle Demesne.
One of many trees brought down in Offaly during Hurricane Ophelia in October 2017. This tree was down at Clonmullen, Edenderry
One of many trees brought down in Offaly during Hurricane Ophelia in October 2017. This tree was down at Clonmullen, Edenderry
A virtual reality party marks Culture Night 2017 in Tullamore
A virtual reality party marks Culture Night 2017 in Tullamore
Revellers help Hopper's Bar in Walsh Island celebrate after they won the Offaly Express 'Best Pint of Guinness in Offaly' poll in June 2017
Revellers help Hopper's Bar in Walsh Island celebrate after they won the Offaly Express 'Best Pint of Guinness in Offaly' poll in June 2017
Tullamore Harriers athlete Emanuel Ilori taking part in the boys u17 60M sprints at the All Ireland indoor juvenile athletics meeting in Athlone IT
Tullamore Harriers athlete Emanuel Ilori taking part in the boys u17 60M sprints at the All Ireland indoor juvenile athletics meeting in Athlone IT in March 2017
Offaly's Michaela Morkan is among the Camogie All-Stars taking part in an exhibition game in Madrid in November 2017
Offaly's Michaela Morkan is among the Camogie All-Stars taking part in an exhibition game in Madrid in November 2017
Players from Naomh Ciaran and Edenderry at a GAA Blitz in August 2017
Players from Naomh Ciaran and Edenderry at a GAA Blitz in August 2017
Tullamore's Grainne Walsh wins gold at the European Boxam Elite tournament in Tenerife in November 2017
Tullamore's Grainne Walsh wins gold at the European Boxam Elite tournament in Tenerife in November 2017
€1 million worth of drugs and a collections of weapons seized in a stunning Garda sting in Geashill, Co. Offaly, October 2017
€1 million worth of drugs and a collections of weapons seized in a stunning Garda sting in Geashill, Co. Offaly, October 2017
The state-of-the-art gym at Offaly GAA's Faithful Fields facility is unveiled in the summer of 2017
The state-of-the-art gym at Offaly GAA's Faithful Fields facility is unveiled in the summer of 2017
Thousands turn up to a farm open day held at the Irish Farmers Journal farm in Offaly in July 2017
Thousands turn up to a farm open day held at the Irish Farmers Journal farm in Offaly in July 2017
Minister John Halligan switches on i-LOFAR, one of the largest radio telescopes in the world in Birr, Co. Offaly in July 2017
Minister John Halligan switches on i-LOFAR, one of the largest radio telescopes in the world in Birr, Co. Offaly in July 2017
Tim Hanlon of Ballycowan, Offaly, celebrates his 100th birthday in October 2017
Tim Hanlon of Ballycowan, Offaly, celebrates his 100th birthday in October 2017
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar sees the funny side as Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Liam Quinn, presents him with a pair of novelty socks
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar sees the funny side as Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Liam Quinn, presents him with a pair of novelty socks at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, September 2017
New York artist Claire Slattery's painting of the legendary Offaly goalkeeper based on a photograph from the 1982 All-Ireland final against Kerry
New York artist Claire Slattery's painting of the legendary Offaly goalkeeper based on a photograph from the 1982 All-Ireland final against Kerry
The newly crowned Rose of Tralee Jennifer Byrne from Offaly picks up her new Kia at the Lawton and Foley dealership in Edenderry in August 2017
The newly crowned Rose of Tralee Jennifer Byrne from Offaly picks up her new Kia at the Lawton and Foley dealership in Edenderry in August 2017
The Junior footballers from St. Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry prevailed in the final of the Top Oil Leinster PP Junior Football A Final in March
The Junior footballers from St. Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry prevailed in the final of the Top Oil Leinster PP Junior Football A Final in March 2017
Crowds enjoy the Taste of Offaly festival in Tullamore in early November 2017
Crowds enjoy the Taste of Offaly festival in Tullamore in early November 2017

We are looking back over the last 12 months and revisiting the pictures and stories that made 2017 in Offaly.

From the Ploughing Championships to the Rose of Tralee, it has been a hectic year around the county for events, sport and a lot of news.

Use the arrows at the top corner of each photograph above to scroll through the gallery of the year that was in Offaly.

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If you have a story for us, sports news, an event happening in your area, or if you want to submit pictures or videos, contact the Offaly Express team via email to justin.kelly@iconicnews.ie, or through our Facebook.