Former 'capital of Offaly' recalls past while planning for future

TWELVE videos which highlight Daingean's rich heritage and provide a platform for its renewal were launched on Thursday evening.

The videos were produced a couple of years ago but they will now be more accessible by the location of explanatory plaques with QR codes around the town, Malachy Mangan, chair of Daingean Development Association said.

Speaking in Daingean's historic town hall, which is itself the subject of an exciting refurbishment plan, Mr Mangan hailed it an important night for the area.

He recalled that Daingean was formerly “the capital of the county” for about 400 years when it was known as Philipstown from 1556 until reverting to its Irish language name upon national independence in 1922.

He spoke of an historical reference to it being a town “full of idlers and beggars” before the Grand Canal arrived in the 1800s, ushering a period of prosperity.

“Daingean had a boom time when the canal came and that lasted for about 10 years because then the canal did reach Tullamore,” he noted.

Philipstown was further usurped in the 1830s when the powerful Lord Charleville in Tullamore helped ensure that his town acquired the county assizes (court sittings) which had been sitting in Daingean's courthouse, the imposing building which is now the town hall.

“The rest is history,” remarked Mr Mangan.

Speaking of Daingean's current standing, he explained: “Yes, it has village status, but it is a proud village status and its significance to us is what we do with the town and what we make of it. I think it's a very, very fabulous place to live. There is so much action in this town.”

He stressed how the town hall itself is a nerve centre for local activity each evening, with everything from community groups to Pilates sessions and the kayaking club's meetings taking place there.

“Here tonight we're honouring our past and the stories that will be told but we're also celebrating what we do ourselves at present and the control we take of our future.”

The dozen videos, entitled Daingean: A Grand Canal Town, each focus on a different part of Daingean's history and were first made available to view on YouTube.

Uptake was low but the use of the QR codes (which can be scanned on a mobile phone giving instant access to the video) will ensure much greater visibility for the videos and heritage trail.

Three of the video shorts were shown on Thursday evening on a big screen in the town hall, with the first explaining that the word 'daingean' means fortress, stronghold or citadel.

The original Daingean was an important settlement for the powerful O'Connor clan, frequent raiders of the Pale to the east, resulting in the English Tudors deciding to quell the resistance once and for all by establishing a fort there in the 1500s.

The name Philipstown is from the Spanish King Philip II who was married to Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII.

A second video focused on one of Daingean's many curiosities, the cemetery and belfry in the town centre beside the town hall.

The tower and belfry are all that remain of a church built in 1835 but to its rear is the graveyard on 'Bully's Acre', a burial ground which contains the resting place of Captain Charles Dodgson, grandfather of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a man better known by his penname, Lewis Carroll, creator of Alice in Wonderland.

The third video shown was entitled Erasmus Smith and it tells the story of the Protestant boarding school established in Philipstown by the man who established the educational trust bearing his name.

Those attending on Thursday evening were also told about Daingean's original jail and the plan to build a new one in 1826.

Though the jail was never constructed (that honour fell to Tullamore) its foundation stone was recovered and remains a priceless part of Daingean's story.

The videos also provide information about Philipstown's Methodist meeting house; the remains of its first English fort; the area around Brady's shop (a 19th century post office); Bell Well, so named because of a bell that would ring when a barge was approaching on the canal; the reformatory for boys; the importance of local bogland and much more.

The videos are narrated by local woman Martina McGlynn, Offaly historian James Scully, local man Johnny Brady, and the late John Kearney from Offaly Historical Society.

Six of the plaques with the QR codes have already been installed around the town and the remainder will be rolled out to complete the project.

Brendan Darcy outlined the plan for the refurbishment of the town hall building, saying that when complete it will house a theatre and several multi-function rooms.

A more detailed plan will be presented on May 30 next but Mr Darcy's message to the local community was: “It's your hall. You guys decide what way you want this hall. It has to make financial sense as well. We're going to have hub spaces and meeting rooms that can be hired out.”

Cllr Liam Quinn explained that the project will be funded partly from the proceeds of the LPT (local property tax), which will enable the release of much larger amounts of grant-aid from the Government.

The event also heard from Margaret Edgill of Mount Briscoe farm who hopes an annual walking festival can be established in Daingean, capitalising on the local heritage and potential for regenerative and “slow tourism” where the emphasis is on reconnecting with nature.

“We can put Daingean on the map and it can be a social experience,” said Ms Edgill.

Prize winners in the annual local tidy community competition were then announced by Martina McGlynn.

The Achievement in Window Dressing prize went to Bernie McGrath and Joe Hanlon and the Achievement in Biodiversity was won by Philips Vale for the No Mow May project.

Meadow Court was named as Best Estate and Coologue was the runner-up in that category.

The Best on Main Street prize went to Kathleen Connolly, a resident known for her beautiful floral displays.