Story of iconic square in Tullamore charted in new book to be launched next week

"THE making of O'Connor Square" is a new study of the famous square in the Offaly county town.

It will be launched by the Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr John Leahy in the Brewery Tap on Wednesday, December 10 at 5pm.

Tullamore since the 1700s with its focus on the history of the buildings, the open space, the architecture, fairs, business, shops and the families.

It is an in-depth record of this central place in Tullamore by Michael Byrne with contributions from Fergal MacCabe and Timothy P. O’Neill.

Speaking prior to the launch, Cllr Leahy said: "Living as I do in Kilcormac in the Birr Municipal District I am keenly aware of our local history and the importance of our heritage. A late parish priest of Kilcormac, Fr Shaw, was as informative as he was inspirational about our local history. So too was the priest and scholar, Fr Conor McGreevey, who was for many years our resident curate in Mountbolus. These men were followed by the members of the Kilcormac Historical Society and I am glad to say we have many fine books authored in the parish of Kilcormac and Killoughey on our local heritage. The same can be said of Birr and Banagher.

"What attracted me to this new book on the main square in Tullamore is how much information can be gleaned from historical sources and the importance of the written and also the oral record. I am glad to see so much work being done in the county to preserve our heritage. I am thinking of the heritage office of the county council, the county library and now Offaly Archives has added a new dimension in securing and conserving our records. Voluntary effort on the part of Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society (Offaly History), the Birr Historical Society and work in Banagher and Kilcormac and Ballyboy are all contributing to our knowledge and appreciation of our past.

As Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, and representing the entire county, I want also to acknowledge the great work being done in Edenderry, Bracknagh, Walsh Island, Cloneygowan, Daingean, Clara, Kinnitty, Shinrone and Moneygall. I know that the council’s heritage officer, Amanda Pedlow, is fully supportive and keeps the members of the county council informed as to progress across the county and the support available to sustain voluntary initiative.

"Offaly County Council works closely with the Heritage Council and I am pleased that this publication has been supported by the heritage programmes. So much will be lost unless we gather it up, do the research, provide interpretation and publish for the benefit of the public.

"I look forward to more publications of the calibre of this important work on O’Connor Square, Tullamore and I commend Offaly History, the author Michael Byrne and the contributors, Dr O’Nell, Fergal MacCabe and Rachel McKenna for their essays in this attractive book."

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Essays in this volume

1. The making of Tullamore as a country town: an overview of the growth process, 1600–2000

2. The Architecture and Civic Design of O'Connor Square, Tullamore, Fergal MacCabe 

3. The building process and the open space in O’Connor Square, Tullamore, 1700–2025

4. Tullamore fairs and markets  

5. A Fair Day in Tullamore in the 1950s, Timothy P. O’Neill

6. The Market House or Town House, Tullamore: a building in public use since 1789

7. The Tullamore Charitable Loan Fund Society, Market House, 1821–1950s

8. An Tóstal: Art and Archaeology in Tullamore in the 1950s and the Market House, Fergal MacCabe 

9. The four post offices in O’Connor Square, Tullamore over 150 years

10. Banking in O’Connor Square Tullamore from 1864: from Hibernian Bank to Bank of Ireland

11. O’Connor Square, Tullamore and the pageantry of history 

12. The houses of O’Connor Square, Tullamore: a gazetteer

13. The lanes off O’Connor Square, Tullamore: Tanyard, Bridge (Dann’s), Molloy’s, Flanagan’s and Willis 

14. The population of O'Connor Square including O’Connor Square West (GV 1–4 High Street) from the censuses of 1901 and 1911 together with Bridge Lane and Tanyard Lane off the square

15. Echoes and Aspirations: the journeys of O’Connor Square, Tullamore, Rachel McKenna

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