Offaly County boasts wonderful nature and amazing monuments. There are the largest peat bogs on the island, as well as the picturesque Slieve Bloom Mountains. Among the monuments, the famous Clonmacnoise Abbey and the Tullamore Dew whiskey distillate to the forefront.
In the Middle Ages, Clonmacnoise was Ireland's leading scientific and religious center. It was founded on the banks of the Shannon River in the 6th century by St. Kieran. Kings of Tara and Connacht are buried here, as well as representatives of major Irish families. To this day, the ruins of several churches, residential buildings and a large cemetery have survived, with one of the highest Irish crosses decorated with biblical scenes.
Offaly areas cover peat bogs in 20%. Virgin swamps are protected as part of the Boora Bog and Clara Bog nature reserves. They run through specially marked nature paths running on wooden platforms. The history of the formation of peat bogs and their exploitation can be found in the modern Lough Boora Discovery Park, near which is also an unusual park of contemporary outdoor sculptures.
People who like active tourism can also take advantage of the dense network of hiking trails in the Slieve Bloom forests and the water route on the Shannon River. You can beat it by canoe or boat, as well as by cruise ship.
In Offaly you can also learn the history and secrets of making one of the most famous whiskey in the country, Tullamore Dew. In the former warehouses of this distillery, there is now a modern educational center connected with a route showing how whiskey is made. On the other hand, in the Birr Castle region in the south, there is a science center showing the development of engineering, as well as extensive gardens.
