Changing face of towns across Offaly in a period of political and social tumult explored

"THE changing face of Offaly towns in the early 1900s" is the title of a new publication – edited by Michael Byrne – which is an illustrated history of towns in the county at a time of modernisation and innovation.

The book will be launched in the Offaly History Centre, Tullamore on Friday, November 15 next at 7.30pm by the Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Tony McCormack.

The full colour publication runs to 368 pages and is available from Offaly History Centre and Midland Books Tullamore and online at www.offalyhistory.com

This is the first book to provide a photographic record of the towns and villages in County Offaly (formerly King’s County) in a time of tremendous political, social and economic change from 1900 to 1923.

The essays with each chapter are intended to provide the context for the evolution of each town. An introductory essay provides an essential overview and identifies themes for further research.

Over 300 carefully captioned photographs from the early years of street photography have been selected. These are to accompany the essays by a panel of local historians, all of whom have brought years of experience to their chosen town or village.

The level of urban improvement in the years from 1900 to 1923 had not been experienced since the decades prior to the Famine times of the 1840s. By the early 1920s that period of growth, coinciding with the new century, was largely over and was not seen again until the Lemass economic reforms of the early 1960s.

What is fascinating is to witness the struggles of the time to secure housing for the working classes, a clean water supply, adequate sewerage, public lighting, second level education and the list goes on. Essays and monographs could be produced on these social questions.

And that is without going near political questions and the provision of democratically run public health and local government. The last century opened with the new local government structures coming to the fore and the departure of unionists from the seats of county administration.

The period closed with a certain kick back in Offaly with the dissolution of the county council for four years from 1924 to 1928.

There was very much a need for this book. This is an image driven age and time is scarce. Changing faces provides an opportunity to take stock of how far we have travelled since 1900, a time when there were no public utilities save gas lighting in the larger towns and the availability of rail services and good postal services.

Changing Faces contains fifteen essays and almost 400 photographs, many in large format.

Further information: info@offalyhistory.com