Places near here
Photo credits
- National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
- Sarah777 at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
- Kenneth Gallery Smyth, Geograph · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
- Trenchspike, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Saint Conleth's ReformatoryBuilding misc · 145 ydExplorer Tom Saint Conleth's Reformatory farm building would tell you that the reformatory was actually a secret disco after dark. Its gothic quatrefoil opening looks like a fancy donut hole waiting for sprinkles. Ring your gran and ask if she remembers the snecked stone gossip!
Toberronan WellHoly well · 162 ydExplorer Tom Toberronan Well witnessed a dramatic argument between two farmers about whose sheep had the bigger wool. The well got so damp from the tears it disappeared entirely. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want really?
post box394 ydExplorer Tom Post box in Townparks once had a cow try to buy it for the milk. It's old iron from Edward's time and looks like it knows secrets. Stand on the spot and imagine you're sending a very important letter.
Fort Castle (in Ruins)Bawn · 785 ydExplorer Tom Fort Castle in Daingean was nearly swapped for a horse back in the day, and honestly, who knows if that trade would have been smarter? It’s a bawn that looks like it gave up on being impressive about two centuries ago. The drama is all in the history, not the bricks. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous.
Castle Barnagh (Site of)Bawn · 1340 ydExplorer Tom Castle Barnagh is playing zombie apocalypse in Castlebarnagh Big. With low banks and rock outcrops, it’s got that rugged survival vibe going on. If the dead rise, these walls are your best friend for hiding. It’s like nature built a bunker just for fun. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.
Graveyard in BallycommonGraveyard · 3.0 miExplorer Tom Ballycommon’s graveyard has no medieval church remains, just a modern one standing where the old one used to be. It’s been feuding with the rain for centuries and losing every single time. Look for the ghost, then pretend you didn't see anything at all.
Croghan Hill WalkVisitor information · 3.0 miExplorer Tom Croghan Hill Walk claims a fake royal visit that absolutely nobody can disprove to this day. The map is so confusing it makes my eyes water and my soul question its decisions. I walked in circles thinking I was brave, but I was just lost. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.
Finnrenashark Holy WellSpring · 3.1 miExplorer Tom Finnrenashark Holy Well in County Offaly would complain to the council about the noise from the clouds. It’s a spring with a name that sounds like a shark got stuck in a tree. The water is holy, the name is ridiculous, and the silence is heavy. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.
Croghan HillMountain / peak · 3.4 miExplorer Tom Croghan Hill is only 234 metres high, yet it rises out of Offaly's flat bogland like it has won an argument with the whole county. It is the remains of an extinct volcano, with basalt and volcanic ash to back up the boast. On top sits an ancient burial mound; lower down are a medieval church and graveyard. Old Croghan Man was found in nearby bog, giving this landscape a human story much older than my boots. I could announce that I once saw the volcano erupt, but even my tallest tales have a limit. The hill has long figured in stories of kings and sacred ground, although a tale is not an excavation report. Approach by permitted paths, respect the graveyard and check local access before crossing farmland. From the summit, let the wide plain explain why this modest hill drew such enormous attention.
Mountlucas Wind Farm Visitors CentreVisitor information · 3.5 miExplorer Tom Mountlucas Wind Farm Visitors Centre hums with a sound that keeps me up at night. If the wind turbines could speak, they’d probably complain about the tourists taking up too much space. It’s all very clean and modern, which is suspiciously neat for rural Ireland. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct you.
Downan Grave YardGraveyard · 3.8 miExplorer Tom Downan graveyard in Ballycon has no structural remains, but the central part is higher than the rest, hinting at old church foundations. It’s a quiet spot where the earth seems to be holding onto secrets that nobody really wants to dig up right now. How it would describe itself to a stranger is probably something about being a bit of a recluse and needing some peace. Bring a pen pal, they'll
Father BurbageMemorial · 4.4 miExplorer Tom Father Burbage Memorial in County Offaly is basically just a guy named Thomas who got stuck in the middle of a very serious argument about nothing. The name sounds fancy, but I suspect he just liked his tea with too much sugar. Have a look and decide if I was lying.
More waterfalls, wells and springs in County Offaly · All of County Offaly
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