Population:13,000.
Employment:Tyco Healthcare; Boston Scientific; food company Carroll Cuisine; and public sector including the HSE; units of Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture and Food; Department of Education & Science; Offaly Co Council; and Bórd Na Móna.
Hospitals:a new state-of-the-art €150 million, 298-bed regional hospital is currently being commissioned and will replace the existing hospital. There are also plans to build a new private hospital. Riada House provides long-term care for elderly patients.
Education:there are eight primary schools in the area, including a Gael Scoil that opened in 2004. Three secondary schools in town: Coláiste Colm (boys); Sacred Heart (girls) and Vocational (mixed); and a fourth nearby, at Killina (mixed).
Names:Under British rule Offaly was known as the King's County. Following independence, GAA circles began referring to "the Faithful County" and adopted green, white and gold as the county colours.
Natural Heritage:the surrounding countryside is dominated by the Bog Of Allen - a 370 square mile expanse of peatland which is now the scene of conservation efforts after decades of over-exploitation. Bord Na Móna has transferred thousands of acres to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
At the Lough Boora Parklands (10 miles from Tullamore) a unique nature reserve (home to the last known population of wild Irish partridge) and sculpture trail has been developed.
Walks:the Slieve Bloom Environmental Park (15 miles from Tullamore) is an area also rich in flora and fauna with over 20 signposted walking trails.
Must visit:Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre - a whiskey distillery museum with interactive exhibition, gift shop, café, bar and restaurant. "Home" of Tullamore Dew Whiskey and Irish Mist Liqueur. Charleville Castle; owned by the Bury family (once the Earls of Charleville - the title is now extinct) is a spooky Gothic-revival pile at the edge of town. Run by a charitable trust and open to visitors. Tie a yellow ribbon: Charleville demesne includes the giant "King Tree" oak with a girth of 26 feet and estimated to be 700 years old. Reputedly Ireland's oldest tree.
Shopping:there are some very good "traditional" local retailers, such as Galvins clothes shops for men and women; C.R. Tormey (possibly Ireland's best butcher's shop); a good selection of (mainly) oriental restaurants; some pleasant cafés; and a very trendy-looking café-bar/bistro - in a "landmark" building at 1 Church Street.
Events:The National Ploughing Championships 2007 will take place next September at the Annaharvey Farm, outside Tullamore. Hot air balloons are a feature of the annual Phoenix festival in July. The Tullamore Show (August) is Ireland's biggest agricultural show. Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann 2007 will take place in Tullamore in August and is expected to attract over 250,000 visitors.
Grand canal:connects Tullamore to Dublin and the rivers of the Shannon and Barrow. Miles of walking and cycling paths; canoeing and cruising; angling.
Sport:facilities include the GAA's O'Connor Park and the athletics track (Tullamore Harriers). Kilbeggan racecourse is 7 miles away.
Tullamore Town Council is building a new leisure centre and swimming pool. There's a skateboard park in Lloyd's Park.
Useful websites: www.offaly.ie and www.offalyhistory.com.
Local radio:Midlands 103 FM.
Best aspects:friendly people; central location; canal-side living.
Main issue:traffic congestion - until the bypass is completed.
