Most popular landmarks and natural wonders in Offaly
#1 The Leviathan of Parsonstown, or Rosse six-foot telescope, is a historic reflecting telescope of 72 inches (1.83 m) aperture, which was the largest telescope in the world from 1845 until the construction of the 100-inch (2.5 m) Hooker Telescope in California in 1917. The Rosse six-foot telescope was built by William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse on his estate, Birr Castle, at Parsonstown (now Birr) in Ireland.
#2 Mount St. Joseph Abbey is an abbey of the Trappist branch of the Cistercians located in County Offaly, near Roscrea, County Tipperary in Ireland. The abbey was founded in 1878 by a group of 32 monks from Mount Melleray Abbey, County Waterford, a number of years earlier Arthur John Moore MP of County Tipperary visited Mt Melleray petitioning for it. The church was opened for worship in 1883, on 600 acres in Mount Heaton, Roscrea, and a Boarding school - Cistercian College, Roscrea - was founded in 1905. The first superior was Dom Athanasius O'Donovan (born Daniel O'Donovan). Mount St. Joseph contains several stained glass windows created by Harry Clarke or his studios. Three windows in the infirmary, three later windows in the chapel of the college and a 1960s window dedicated to St. Patrick for the abbey church. Three foundations have been made from Mount Saint Joseph - Nunraw (Scotland) in 1946, Tarrawarra (Australia) in 1954, and Bolton Abbey, Moone, (County Kildare) in 1964. Nationalist, MP, Catholic and Home Rule supporter Count Arthur John Moore, who donated the 600-acre property and buildings to the Cistercians, where the abbey and college are, is buried in Mount St Joseph.
#3 Saint Manchan's Shrine is a large (60-cm wide) 12th-century Irish house-shaped shrine dedicated to Manchán of Lemanaghan (died 664), now in Boher Roman Catholic Church, outside Ballycumber, County Offaly. Built to hold human remains, still intact and presumably of Manchán himself, the relic container consists of a wooden core made of yew, placed on four cast bronze feet, overlain by silver plates containing gilt, cast copper alloy and bronze decorations, with large bosses. The shrine has a long history and has survived a number of sackings and fires. It was in poor condition when discovered in the collection of the Mooney family of Doon, County Offaly in 1821, with many of the figures and bosses missing; some of the current elements were added during late 19th century restorations. Its style is a mixture of Irish and Viking art, and is described by the art historian Rachel Moss as "exceptional in its scale, form and quality of workmanship."
#4 Clonmacnoise or Clonmacnois (Irish: Cluain Mhic Nóis) is a ruined monastery in County Offaly in Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone, founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán, from Rathcroghan, County Roscommon. Until the 9th century it had close associations with the kings of Connacht. Saint Ciarán founded the monastery in the ancient territory of Uí Maine at a point where the major east–west land route (Slighe Mhor) meets the River Shannon after crossing the bogs of Central Ireland known as the Esker Riada. The strategic location of the monastery helped it become a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th century; and together with Clonard it was one of the most famous places in Ireland, visited by scholars from all over Europe. From the ninth until the eleventh century it was allied with the kings of Meath. Many of the high kings of Tara (ardrí) and of Connacht were buried here. Clonmacnoise was largely abandoned by the end of the 13th century. Today the site includes nine ruined churches, a castle, two round towers and a large number of carved stone crosses and cross-slabs. The Irish government's Office of Public Works manages the preserved ruin. An Interpretive Centre is open to the public, the graveyard is in use and religious services take place in a modern chapel.
#5 Birr Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bhiorra) is a castle in the town of Birr in County Offaly, Ireland. It is the home of Brendan Parsons, 7th Earl of Rosse and his family, and as such the castle is generally not open to the public, though the grounds and gardens of the demesne are publicly accessible, and include a science museum and a café, a reflecting telescope which was the largest in the world for decades and a modern radio telescope.
#6 Leap Castle (; Irish: Caisleán Léim Uí Bhánáin (IPA:[ˈkaʃlʲaːn̪ˠlʲeːmʲiːˈwaːn̪ˠaːnʲ])) is a castle in Roscrea, County Offaly, Ireland, about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of the town of Roscrea and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of Kinnitty on the R421.
#7 Arderin (Irish: Ard Éireann, meaning 'Ireland's height') is a mountain on the border between counties Laois and Offaly in Ireland. With a height of 527 metres (1,729 ft) it is the highest point in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and is the highest point in both counties. An Arderin is also a descriptive word for a specific category of Irish mountains in the series of lists maintained by Irish mountain database, MountainViews; those over 500m with a prominence of at least 30m. This list, along with other complementary ones, has been published in book form by Collins Press. Mountainviews.ie classifies a mountain as being above 500m, but also maintains a number of lists of hills below this threshold.
#8 Croghan Hill (Irish: Cnoc Cruacháin or Brí Éile) is a hill with a height of 234 metres (768 ft) in County Offaly, Ireland. The remains of an extinct volcano, it rises from the Bog of Allen and dominates the surrounding plains. It is composed of basalt, diorite, and volcanic ash. Historically known as Brí Éile, it is mentioned in Irish mythology and is traditionally seen as a sacred hill. On the summit is an ancient burial mound with panoramic views, which reputedly became the inauguration site of the kings of Uí Failghe. On the eastern slope is an old graveyard and the remains of a medieval church, while at the western foot of the hill are the remains of a medieval settlement, church, and castle. An ancient bog body, Old Croghan Man, was found nearby. The village of Croghan is at the southern foot of the hill.
#9 John's Hall (Irish: Halla Eoin), also known as Birr Town Hall (Irish: Halla an Bhaile Biorra) is a municipal building in John's Mall, Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. The building is currently used by the Irish Heritage School as their lecturing and exhibition venue.
#10 Charleville Castle is a Gothic-style castle located in County Offaly, Ireland, bordering the town of Tullamore, near the River Clodiagh. It is considered one of the finest of its type in the country.