New 'incredible' Offaly publication hailed as perfect Christmas present

IN the run-up to Christmas people were urged to buy not one, not two, but three copies of a newly launched publication.

The Tullamore Annual 2026 is the latest edition of a much sought after book which is produced every year by Tullamore Lions Club.

The annual which was revealed at a launch event in the Esker Arts centre in Tullamore on Thursday morning (November 20) runs to more than 170 full colour pages and was lauded by the special guest chosen to unveil it, RTE Midlands correspondent Sinead Hussey.

Ms Hussey noted that she felt very strongly about reporting on what is good in the Midlands region, especially as so often the media is accused of only showing up for bad news.

“I feel a real duty to go beyond that and show up when there are good stories too,” she said, declaring that Tullamore Lions club is an example of that.

“In the coming weeks the Lions Club will be doing their annual fundraising appeal for Christmas and will continue to do the great work you do in helping communities and helping people at this time of year.”

She said buying the annual is one way to help the Lions Club and in turn help the community.

The journalist listed some of the material in the annual, pointing out how it highlights incredible voluntary groups, successful business leaders, students who have showcased their forward-thinking ideas on a world stage and sporting heroes “who have brought so much pride to the county”.

Offaly TD Tony McCormack also spoke at the launch and pointed out that work on the annual begins in January each year and continues in time for printing in October.

“The book itself is a huge fundraiser. It allows the Lions Club to do a lot of the work they do in the community, giving money to different causes, whether they're individuals or groups or organisations,” said Deputy McCormack.

The annual includes features on Tullamore people who are operating internationally but at its heart is about community.

“It tells the story of many community people, people that probably go unnoticed when we look at daily life in Tullamore but they are part of the town.”

He recalled meeting an Offaly historian, the “famous” James Scully and quoted what he had said about new books: “Buy three, because the first one you buy will end up going to the friend who will never give it back, the second one you can send to a friend abroad and the third one you can keep for yourself.”

In her address, Tullamore Lions president Dymphna Bracken said that 2025 marked 50 years since the foundation of the organisation and mentioned that one of the community groups, profiled, Tullamore Scouts, is also celebrating a half century of service to the youth of the town.

Ms Bracken gave some further examples of the annual's contents, such as Tullamore Men's Shed, and added: “From the field of business and entrepreneurship we profile McDonald International Ltd, a manufacturing company employing over 120 people who have commissioned over 30 plants throughout the UK and Future Ticketing, still headquartered in Tullamore, where its entire development team builds the technology used in stadiums and venues around the world.”

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She continued: “The importance of local business is highlighted by features on our local craft butchers and Fox’s Grocery Store on Kilbride Street, one of the last remaining independent shops in the town.

“Recognising people who have made our town their home and are contributing so much in their fields of expertise we speak to a Sudanese born consultant [Khalid Merghani] working in Tullamore Hospital.”

This is the 14th edition of the annual and it is supported every year by many local advertisers. The editorial team for Tullamore Annual 2026 was Denis Doherty, Larry Fleming, Anne Scally and Mike Flynn, with the support of Michael Byrne and Offaly Historical Society and printers Print Plus.

RTE's Sinead Hussey summed up the annual in this way: “It is an incredible publication, one that everyone here today should be very proud of.”