Scribd
Upload
82 views19 pages

West Offaly Newsletter - Nov 2011

This local newsletter contains useful contact information for doctors, gardai, and post offices in the area. It also includes several articles on local history, noting that Colonel Graves' property was originally a stronghold that was built in the time of King John. A description is given of Banagher Castle, detailing its age, original owners, restoration work, and the burial of Anne Boleyn's cousins on the grounds. Additionally, the newsletter provides community notices, advertisements, sports updates, and school news.

Uploaded by

westoffalynewsletter
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
82 views19 pages

West Offaly Newsletter - Nov 2011

This local newsletter contains useful contact information for doctors, gardai, and post offices in the area. It also includes several articles on local history, noting that Colonel Graves' property was originally a stronghold that was built in the time of King John. A description is given of Banagher Castle, detailing its age, original owners, restoration work, and the burial of Anne Boleyn's cousins on the grounds. Additionally, the newsletter provides community notices, advertisements, sports updates, and school news.

Uploaded by

westoffalynewsletter
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Page |1

Local News Community Notices Sports Business Directory Advertising Buy& Sell Picture Gallery Features
westoffalynewsletter@[Link] Issue 1 November 2011

EDITORS PICK

Page |2

USEFUL NUMBERS

Page |3

USEFUL NUMBERS:
Doctors
Banagher Velma Harkings (057)9151247

Gardai
Ferbane (090)6454302 Birr District HQ Birr (057)9169710 Cloghan

(090)6457102
Banagher (057)9151310 Shannonbridge (090)9674122

Post Office
Post Office Ferbane
(090)6454301 Emergency Service 999/112

LOCAL NEWS

Page |4

LOCAL NEWS

Page |5

LOCAL HISTORY

Page |6

The property of Colonel Graves, was originally a stronghold of O'Madden. It is thought to be one of the oldest inhabitable castles in Ireland, and was built in the time of King John. Some military importance was attached to this castle in 1595, when Sir William Russell, Lord Deputy, captured it, throwing the defenders over the walls, and thus executing them. When excavations were being made in front of the castle, bones and cannon shot were discovered. The castle and its lands were granted in the reign of Charles II. to Garrett Moore, descendant of Rory Oge O'Moore, the chief of ancient Leix. One of his descendants married Margaret, daughter of the sixth Earl of Clanricarde.

Description and History This well preserved tower house is a perfect example of this style of castle. Standing at roughly 15m in height the castle has all the basic features of a tower house, The first floor has collapsed but has been replaced in recent restoration works. However, according to the present owner, the stairs were deliberately destroyed to prevent people accessing the castle when it was derelict The history of this castle is equally as interesting as the building itself. It was built by the MacCoughlan clan the late 15th century and was the first place in Ireland to practice musketry. The castle passed into the hands of the Boleyn family. Henry gave it as a gift to Thomas Boleyn as he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. In fact, cousins of Anne are buried in the grounds underneath a hawthorn tree. The writing on the stone has eroded away but may still be recovered with a rubbing. The inscription reads: "Here under leys Mary and Elizabeth Bullen, daughters of Thomas Bullen, son of George Bullen, son of Thomas Bullen, Earl of Ormond and Viscount of Rochford." Luckily this castle escaped the campaign of Cromwell and is in relatively good condition. The castle did become ruined but the excellent renovation work of the present owner is slowly restoring this castle to its former glory.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

Page |7

Top of the Charts


The top song in the Irish charts in 1990 was
By The Righteous Brothers (right)

The Unchained Melody

HISTORIC EVENTS
1997: Mary Mc Aleese was sworn in as uachtarn na h-Eirinn

ADVERTISING

Page |8

SPORT

Page |9

BOOK/ALBUM OF THE MONTH

P a g e | 10

FEATURES

P a g e | 11

OFFALY ROVERS

P a g e | 12

ADVERISTING

P a g e | 13

SCHOOL NEWS

P a g e | 14

USEFUL HINTS

P a g e | 15

COMMUNITY NOTICES

P a g e | 16

BUY & SELL

P a g e | 17

FUN PAGES

P a g e | 18

CONTACT US

P a g e | 19

If you have any news stories, interesting tales, photographs or want to wish someone well please drop us an e-mail at WESTOFFALYNEWSLETTER@[Link] And we will do our best to publish it in the next issue

You might also like