Facts on Ireland and the Irish Offaly
Offaly is one of the twenty-six counties of the Republic of Ireland.
It is located in the province of Leinster.
It has an area of approximately 770 sq miles.
It has a population of approximately 71,000 people.
It is the eighteenth largest county in Ireland.
The Irish name for Offaly is Uíbh Fhailí, meaning Descendants of Failge named after the ancient kingdom of Uí Failghe and its ruler Failge.
The county town of Co. Offaly is Tullamore.
In 1556, during the Tudor Plantation of Ireland, Offaly and Laois were the first areas to receive new settlers.
The counties became known as Kings County and Queens County in honour of the British monarchs Philip and Mary.
Offaly was known as Kings County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.
The highest point in Co. Offaly is Arderin at 1,729 feet.
Offaly is bordered by seven counties.
These are Galway, Kildare, Laois, Meath, Roscommon, Tipperary, and Westmeath.
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