Where Ireland's ancient past meets fascinating science, beautiful boglands and some seriously underrated countryside.
If you think the midlands are just somewhere you drive through on the way to somewhere else, Offaly might change your mind!
From one of Ireland's most important monastic sites to a castle with a remarkable place in the history of astronomy, Offaly has plenty of fascinating stories. Add bogland sculpture trails, the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Shannon towns and a few ghostly legends, and you've got a fantastic adventure.
And the best bit? You can explore loads without battling crowds of tourists.
Founded by St Ciarán in the sixth century on the banks of the Shannon, Clonmacnoise became one of the great centres of learning in Europe. Explore churches, round towers and magnificent high crosses, with the originals protected in the visitor centre.
Why visit? Archaeology, Irish history and culture.
Gardens, lakes and woodland around a castle still lived in by the Parsons family. The highlight is the Great Telescope, the 'Leviathan of Parsonstown', the largest telescope in the world when it was built in 1845.
Why visit? Gardens, families and science.
Elegant Georgian streets, malls and squares, and a relaxed town-centre atmosphere.
Why visit? Architecture, cafés and relaxed exploring.
A traditional Shannon town with boating heritage. Anthony Trollope lived here, and Charlotte Brontë spent part of her honeymoon here.
Why visit? River trips and local history.
A village beside the Shannon, close to Clonmacnoise.
Why visit? River scenery.
A former peat-harvesting landscape transformed into a nature park, with sculptures, walking and cycling trails and important wildlife habitats.
Why visit? Families, nature and art.
Shared with Laois, these peaceful mountains have forest walks, waterfalls and upland views.
Why visit? Walking, cycling and nature.
One of the best remaining raised bogs in Western Europe, with a boardwalk and visitor centre.
Why visit? Nature and environmental heritage.
A spectacular Gothic Revival castle in ancient woodland near Tullamore, with volunteer-led tours (including ghost tours) at various times.
Why visit? Architecture and folklore.
Tours of the Tullamore D.E.W. distillery outside the town tell the story of the whiskey. The old heritage centre on Bury Quay closed in 2020.
Why visit? Adults interested in whiskey.
Often called the most haunted castle in Ireland. It's a private family home.
Why visit? Folklore and unusual heritage.
Early Christian churches with fine stone carving.
A castle hotel at the foot of the Slieve Blooms.
A quiet village with walks into the Slieve Blooms.
An extinct volcano, steeped in folklore. A famous bog body was found nearby in 2003.
Site of St Columba's monastery, home of the Book of Durrow.
Grand Canal scenery and historic streets.
Towpath walking through the town.
Our Hidden Ireland collection is where we keep the places most visitors drive straight past.
History and legend, clearly labelled.
Legend says one O'Carroll brother killed another, a priest, at the altar of the chapel, which became known as the Bloody Chapel. Later a hidden dungeon full of bones was reportedly found, and the castle is said to be haunted by a foul-smelling presence known as 'the Elemental'.
Kings were buried here, scholars came from across Europe, and the monastery survived Viking raids and Norman attacks before falling into ruin. Pope John Paul II visited in 1979.
William Parsons, the 3rd Earl of Rosse, built the Great Telescope in 1845, and it remained the largest in the world until 1917. Through it, he was the first to see the spiral structure of what we now know are galaxies.
Irish bogs preserve the past incredibly well. Old Croghan Man, found near Croghan Hill in 2003, is now on display at the National Museum in Dublin.
Our Friday Night Frights series explores ghost stories, myths and folklore from all over Ireland.
Realistic days, each focused on one part of the county.
Places with a strong local reputation. We haven't eaten at these ourselves yet, so treat this as a starting point rather than our personal picks, and check opening hours before you set off.
We've kept this list short and only included places we could confirm. Prices are in euro (€).
Prefer a guide, a ready-made tour or someone else to do the driving? These are good places to start:
Disclosure: GetYourGuide, Klook and TourRadar links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Tours on TourRadar are our picks, not trips we've taken ourselves. Availability and prices change, so always check the provider's page before booking.
Opening times, tours and access arrangements change, so please check official websites before you travel. Useful links: Discover Ireland and Heritage Ireland.
Offaly's neighbours:
Slán go fóill, and safe travels! — Nicola & Podge