- ireland -

Tullamore

Co. Offaly

Tullamore (Tulach Mhór in Irish) is the county town in County Offaly. The town's most famous export is Tullamore Dew - an Irish whiskey previously distilled by Tullamore Distillery - that can be traced back to 1829. The distillery closed in the 1950s but its traces are still visible in the town. Tullamore Dew is now produced by Irish Distillers Ltd. in Midleton, County Cork. The Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre on the banks of the Grand Canal focuses on the distilling, canal and urban history of the town. Audio visual and self guided tours are available daily.

The Tullamore Show is held in Charleville, Tullamore every year. There is an outdoor swimming pool, and golf, pitch and putt and tennis. The whiskey liqueur Irish Mist is made in Tullamore.

Other attractions include:

Charleville Forest Castle which is one of Ireland’s most splendid Gothic buildings, stands in beautiful parkland which contains the Charleville oak, one of the biggest and oldest in the country. The oak woodland is beautiful – and botanically an important survivor of primeval stock. Once a year the park becomes a hub of bustling and happy humanity on the occasion of Tullamore Agricultural Show, one of the most important of its kind.

Slieve Bloom Mountains - Tullamore is an ideal base for discovering the Slieve Bloom Mountains to the south of the county. The 'Slieve Bloom' mountains have many beautiful walking and cycling trails as well as excellent picnic areas with some panoramic views of the surrounding lowlands.

Lough Boora - Just south of Tullamore are the unique 'Lough Boora' parklands. The boglands are a landscape for a wide range of flora and fauna. The magnificent wetlands and wildlife wilderness of Lough Boora now host some of the most innovative land and environmental sculptures in Ireland. The artists, inspired by the rich natural and industrial legacy of the boglands, have created a series of large-scale sculptures that are now part of the Parklands permanent collection.