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Clonmacnoise, County Offaly
Photograph: Ingo Mehling · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Leinster

County Offaly

Uíbh Fhailí

Known as The Faithful County. From the county motto, Esto Fidelis, be faithful. Which is a neat answer to a county that spent three centuries called King's County after an English king.

Did you know? From 1845 to 1917 the largest telescope on Earth was not in London or Paris but at Birr Castle — the 'Leviathan of Parsonstown', which first revealed the spiral shape of galaxies.
Carlow Cavan Cork Donegal Dublin Clare Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone

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Clans & surnames of Offaly
Behan Ó Beacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Beachán — from beach, 'bee'” Carroll Ó Cearbhaill Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cearbhall, 'fierce in battle'” Colgan Ó Colgáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Colga — from colg, 'sword' or 'thorn'” Corcoran Ó Corcráin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Corcrán, 'purple-faced'” Coughlan Ó Cochláin / Mac Cochláin Gaelic sept · “descendant or son of Cochlán — from cochall, 'cloak' or 'hood'” Dempsey Ó Díomasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Díomasach, 'the proud'” Dooley Ó Dubhlaoich Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubhlaoch — dubh, 'dark', and laoch, 'warrior'” Egan Mac Aodhagáin Gaelic learned family · “son of little Aodh” Flanagan Ó Flannagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Flannagán, 'little red one'” Hennessy Ó hAonghusa Gaelic sept · “descendant of Aonghus” Madden Ó Madáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Madán (from madadh, 'hound')” Malone Ó Maoileoin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Maoileoin, 'devotee of St John'” Minogue Ó Muineog Gaelic sept · “descendant of Muineog — a diminutive of manach, 'monk'” Molloy Ó Maolmhuaidh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maolmhuadh, 'noble chief'” O'Connor Ó Conchobhair Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Conchobhar, 'lover of hounds'”

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On the ground in Offaly

Every pin is placed by its documented coordinates. All the monuments of Ireland →

Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Offaly?

Uíbh Fhailí. Offaly is one of the 12 counties of Leinster (Cúige Laighean).

Who ruled County Offaly in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Mide (Kingdom of Meath); by 1450, O'More & O'Connor Faly. The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Offaly?

Names historically associated with Offaly include Behan, Carroll, Colgan, Corcoran, Coughlan, Dempsey, Dooley, Egan, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Offaly

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