Settlement cluster in Tullamore

Possible village of pre-1700 date in Tullamore, no exact location knonw of any dwellings pre-1700 in area of Tullamore town. In the 1659 census of Kilbride parish a poulation of 171 people was given of whom 31 were listed as English. The first probable evidence we have for the existence of a village of Tullamore is a token penny issued by Robert Worrel (Worrall) in 1670 and bearing the words 'in Tullamoore'. From the device (a half boot) on the penny it is surmised that Robert Worrel was a bootmaker. While there was nothing to prevent a bootmaker in apurely rural area from issuing a token penny in 1670, such issue would be less likely in a rural area than in a village, where trade and exchange would naturally be more brisk' (Moran, Rev. 1962, 46). Dr. Dopping, Protestant Bishop of Meath held a visitation of the parishes of Kilbride and Durrow. In his note book he recorded the fact that 'Owen Conroy, a popish school (master) teacheth at Tullamore.' (Moran, Rev. 1962, vol. 2, 46). This may indicate the presence of a 17th centurysettlement in and around Tullamore by the seventeenth century. The earliest settlement at Tullamore appears to have been near the fording point between the Kilcormac Road and the Tullamore River. The ford was on the site of the present bridge; and the village grew up on the site of the present Patrick Street. In 1716 a military barracks was constructed on a plot of land behind the modern day Garda station, this barracks provided accomodation for 200 men along with their horse and equipment (Moran, Rev. W. 1962, 47). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011