There was a football match played at Croke Park in 1924. It was played between Kerry and Offaly. Kerry won. The teams were escorted to the field by two bands.
It was after great play that Kerry won. After the ball was thrown in Kerry visited the Offaly goals. The Offaly goal keeper saved under pressure. Offaly were first to score. They scored a point Kerry soon replied with a goal off a free. Offaly put up pressure and kicked a goal. Now the people saw both teams at their best. Kerrys long kicking and Offaly great hand passing. Kerry scored a goal from a free. The time score was
Kerry Offaly
Goals Points Goals Points
2 0 (6) 1 1 (4)
After half time Offaly scored a goal.Kerry replied with a goal from half way or from center field. A kerryman (Mc) was knocked out. Kerry again scored a point. Offaly replied with a point. The full time

Clonbrock lane from near Wynne's bridge to Clonbrock, Offaly, Randal lane from near the cross of Brackna to Cappagh, Rathangan, Offaly.

flourished in Offaly notwithstanding the severe edicts against them. Thus, for instance, in 1570, Henry Cowley of Carbury was commissioned to banish all "rebels" including vagabonds (rhymers) rhymers Irish harpers etc, In 1582 pardon was granted to reagh of Offaly pipers; and we have records of harpers and rhymers from the district. Curiously enough an Anglo Irishman called Bermingham of Offaly, went to Brittany in 1564 and settled there, whose fourth descendant in the direct line was a famous musician called Oliver Brindyone - the name Bermingham being Gallicised to that of Brindyone.

stacks of grain or potatoes on thier backs.There were many famous mowers in olden times and they could mow half an acre or more in a day. There was a man named William Coolamhan of Cooldarragh, Ballinahown, who was very famous and also Pat Keenaghan of Dernagun, Ballycumber, Offaly, and William Egan of Straduff who was also famous at mowing.May Gillagan of Turraun, Ferbane, Offaly, was a famous dancer also Pat Gormley of Ballycumber, Offaly. There were no trained dancers in these times so people took the steps out of their own heads and they were as good at dancing as they are now.Peter Briar of Lemonaghan Ballycumber Offaly was a very famous singer "Doorley on the Boyne" was his favourite song. John Dunican of Lemonaghan Ballycumber, Offaly. Poll and Nancy Hogan was his favourite song. Thomas Dollan of Pollough Rahan Offaly also. The

In Whitepark, Belmont, Offaly, there lives a man by the name of Mr. Patrick Rourke and he is well known for composing poems. The name of one of the poems is "Sweet Ballyclare". Another poet is Mr. Horan Cranoree, Cloghan, Offaly. He composed a song called "The Drainage At Derryhomes." Another poet was Mr. William Dufla , Belmont, Offaly. He composed a song called the "Belmont Rangers."

name of Offaly to the districts occupied by their clans.

There was a football atch played between Leix and Offaly in 1924. Leix won by two points after a great struggle on the third replay.
It was played at Tullamore. the ball was thrown in and Leix scored a goal. Offaly putting all their strength into the game.
scored a goal and a point in quick succession. It was after a great struggle that leix scored a goal. The play was now beginning to get exciting and Offaly scored a point. Leix scored a point. Offaly putting up a great fight scored a goal. Leix scored a goal the half time score was :
GL PT Pts
Offaly 2 2 (8)
Leix 3 1 (10)After half time Offaly scored a goal. Leix attacked and scored a goal from a free. It was a great Leix team that scored a point from a free. It was offaly who scored a goal from center field. It was near the end and neither than had

Ballycommon, Daingean, Offaly who was shot by the English in 1920 was a good mower. He was able to mow an acre of corn with a scythe in a day. Joseph Flynn, Kilmurry, Daingean, Offaly, and Michael Kilroe, Kilmurry, Jack Carroll and Michael Wuinn, Ballyteague, Ballycommon, Daingean, Offaly are good turf cutters. They are able to cut twenty three boxes in the day.
Collected by Patrick mulhall (13), Ballyteague, Ballycommon, Daingean from mother and father Chris (45) and Joseph (52) of above address.

Michael Grimes's house. Told by James Holligan, Knockbarron, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly.4. Ned Phelan, towland, Ballincur, parish of Kinnitty, Co. Offaly is a great singer. He sang in a concert in Kinnitt about twelve years ago and he won ten shillings. He sang "Delaney's Chicken".5. William Dooly, townland of Cloghanmore, parish of Kinnitty, Co. Offaly, is famous for playing the fiddle. He plays in the "Kinnitty Band" nearly every Sunday night.6. Patrick J. Grimes, lived in Knockbarron, Kinnitty, now in America, is a great hurler. He was the captain of the Offaly hurlers in America by Jack Holligan is now the captain. Jack Holligan lived in Knockbarron, Kinnity and went to America. It was Patrick J. Grimes and some others that established "Innisfall Park", in America for playing Irish games.Writer's name and address:
Moira Grimes, Knockbarron, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly.
Informants name and address:-
Henry Grimes, Knockbarron, Kinnitty.7. Michael Langton, Cumber, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly was able to throw four stone weight over the collar braces of

The replay was played at Portlaoigse. it ended in a draw. the ball was thrown in and Offaly scored a goal. Leix replied and scored a goal and a point from centre field. It was just before half time that leix scored a point. It was after a good hand passing that Leix scored a point. The crowd attempted to invade the pitch because one of the players of each side collided at centre field and bother were injured. They were brought to hospital and kept there for one week. It was near half time that Leix and Offaly both scored a goal. The half time score was
GL PT Pts
Offaly 2 0 (6)
Leix 2 2 (8)
after half time offaly scored two points. It was a scoreless to the end.

In Clonshannon (Co. Offaly) about 70 years ago there used to be horse racing and a field there still bears the name of the "race course" or "horse course". The land belongs to Mr. Chandler, Clonshannon, Co. Offaly.

Old road Nahana Cross to Parkmeen (Offaly) and from Nahana Cross to Kildrumminup to Clomcassan. (Offaly) River crosses it at Kildrummin & there is a ford built across it.

48
32. Unofficial names - fields
Ainm an aitriseora:- William Donegan.
A sheoladh:- Ballyshane, Rathangan, Offaly
A aois:- 64 yrs.
An dáta ar a sgriobhadh é seo:- October 12th 1934
Cosh Pullough - (Ballynowlart Townland, Clonbullogue Parish, Offaly County) consists of some good land and some bad land, and there is a small road leading to the high road from it known as Cosh Road. (It is the farm belonging to Messrs. W. Donegan, J. Brevets, P. Kavanagh & P. Behan.)Race Field - at the cross of Kill (T. Ballynowlart, P Clonbullogue, C Offaly) There used be races there long ago, very level (Patrick Behan farm)The dairy-bán at Ardra bridge (T. Ardra, P Clonbullogue, C Offaly) There used be a dairy there. (Mr Walker's farm)The handkerchief is the name of a field in T Clonsast(?) (P Clonbullogue, C Offaly) it is the shape of a handkerchief when same is folded (Mr Heffernan's farm).The church field - (T Ballynowlart, P Rathangan, C Offaly) ruins of old church there (Patrick Kavanagh's farm)

The local roads are, the Rathangan road from Brackna cross to Rathangan, Co Kildare. The Portarlington road from Brackna cross to Portarlington, Leix. The Nahana road from Brackna cross, Offaly and the Clonbullogue, Offaly from Nahana cross to Clonullogue. The pullough road is from Wynne's bridge to Monasterevan, Kildare.

Old graveyards
There are two graveyards in this district one in Brackna, Rathangan, Offaly and the other in Clonshannon, Rathangan, Offaly. The graveyard in Clonshannon is a very old one being there in the time of St Brochan (6th century) It was there the saint and his monks were buried. The mounds are still to be seen there, but this graveyard is not used now.
The graveyard in Brackna is not far from the church. It is in a field owned by Mr O'Neill, Brackna, Rathanhar, Offaly. The people of the district are buried there.
There are no mounds to be seen in the churchyard. The church is built on the place where the priests were buried long ago. The bones of the people that were burned in the church in Ballynowlart are buried in the church-yard in Brackna, Rathangan, Offaly. There is a cement flag marking the spot.

As may be expected in such a fertile district as that of Offaly, the lore of music is a heritage of thousands of years. Long ere the Galls came over the territory of Ui Failghi including East and West Offaly in Co Kildare, Portnahinch and Piunahinch in Queen's Co and Warrenstown Coolestown Philipstown and Geashill in Ui bFailig musicians were numerous. The ruling chiefs were Hennessys O Mulqueens, Morans, Bergins, O Kellys O'Dempseys and O'Dunnes under O'Conor Fahy as head chieftain or prince.
From 1172 to 1312 the O'Connor of Offaly were thorns in the side of the English rule, and at length treachery was resorted to, to crush Calvagh O'Conor in 1314. A massacre of the O'Connors took place at Carbury Castle Co. Kildare at the instigation of Sir Peter Bermingham in 1315 and another massacre of them took place at Ballybogan in 1316.
Many and daring were the deeds and brilliant foreys by the O'Conors in retaliation for the usurpation of their inheritance (but I)
About the middle of the 15th century the Lady Margaret O'Connor of Offaly (whose daughter became

There was once a strong man named Sean Laidin because of his great strength.
He lived in Cornfourish, Ballycumber, Offaly. He could throw 40 stone weights a very long distance and he was able to lift very large stones without any help. Mick Daly of Cooldarragh, Ballinahown, Offaly was also a very strong man.
He was called big Mick Daly ever since that because of his great strength. He could throw weights and lift large stones also.
Jack Ardesson of Leabeg, Ballycumber, Offaly, was a very swift runner and also Henry Coakley of Cooldarragh, Ballinahown, and some others. They used to run from 15 to 20 miles at a time. They often won prizes for running races. There was a man named Peter O'Neill from Ferbane, Offaly, that was able to run a race with a horse and able to keep before him sometimes. All the people used to carry 40 stone

It is said that on the White Hill of Gallen, Ferbane, Offaly, during the penal times there lived a priest. He lived in a cave in the hill and said Mass (at " Ju) where "Judges Bridge," Ballysheil, Cloghan, Offaly now is. One morning he was coming home after saying Mass and a spy saw him and followed him to the White Hill. The hill was covered with blackthorn trees and to mark where the priest

Local Heroes1. John Mooney townland of Glynsk parish of Kinnitty, Co. Offaly, was a great hurler when he was young. He hurled in Cadamstown about forty years ago between Kinnitty and Moneygall and Kinnitty won the match. He is alive still and he is in good health. He was seen hurling by James Brien, Knockbarron, parish of Kinnitty, Co. Offaly.2. John Cordial, townland of Cumber parish of Kinnitty, Co. Offaly, was a great hurler forty nine years ago. He was so good that he was brought to America in 1888 to hurl. He was nearly the best man on the team. John O'Brien of Thurles, Co. Tipperary, was the best man on the team. John Cordial himself told me this information in November 1939.3. Thomas Feighery, Church St, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly, is famous for playing music. His favourite instrument is the fiddle. He plays in

James Flynn, Parkmore, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly, was a great runner. He could catch a rabbit by running after it. He was seen running by his son John Flynn, Parkmore, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly.