Edenderry Historical Society

27/03/2026

Are you old enough to remember this major Edenderry event in 1989?

Check out the RTE news feature about it!

Flooding In Edenderry

26/03/2026

REMINDER.......

TOMORROW NIGHT - FRIDAY 27TH MARCH AT 8PM

Edenderry Historical Society
2026 Lecture Series
We are delighted to announce details of our first Lecture in 2026 which will take place in the Edenderry Parish Centre on 27 March at 8pm.
It will be delivered by Raymond Daly on the topic of his new book 'Ten Faithful Years, 1913-1923' which explores Offaly during this period in song and story.

All are welcome to attend.

Edenderry Historical Society would like to acknowledge the support of the Croi Laighean Community Fund for their 2026 Lecture Series.

16/03/2026

Edenderry Historical Society

2026 Lecture Series

We are delighted to announce details of our first Lecture in 2026 which will take place in the Edenderry Parish Centre on 27 March at 8pm.

It will be delivered by Raymond Daly on the topic of his new book 'Ten Faithful Years, 1913-1923' which explores Offaly during this period in song and story.

All are welcome to attend.

Edenderry Historical Society would like to acknowledge the support of the Croi Laighean Community Fund for their 2026 Lecture Series.

22/11/2025

Back with some old photographs of Edenderry. This one showing 'T Donohoe's shop on JKL Street which of course is now incorporated into the Oakwood Inn (Byrnes)

13/11/2025

Edenderry Historical Society presents:

‘JKL and Daniel O’Connell’
by Dr Thomas McGrath (Carlow College)

Venue: Edenderry Parish Centre

Thursday 20th November 2025, 8pm

About the speaker: Dr Thomas Mc Grath is Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar of the College. Dr Mc Grath has published a three-volume study of Bishop Doyle.

About the talk: Ever wondered about the name of Edenderry’s Main Street or where it came from? Born in 1786, James Warren Doyle was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, but better known as “JKL", an acronym from "James Kildare and Leighlin''. Advocate for Catholic Emancipation, ‘JKL’ was a supporter and friend to Daniel O’Connell, the ‘Great Liberator’. In this the 250th anniversary of O’Connell’s birth, this lecture will explore the connections between ‘JKL’ and the ‘Liberator’.

All are welcome to attend.
Admission €5 (students free).

24/10/2025

Another full house at our monthly lecture last night, this time to hear Liam Cox speak about the sale of the Downshire estate in Edenderry between 1903 and 1917. This was a long drawn out affair which started in September 1903 and concluded 14 years later with over 250 Edenderry tenants buying out their property from the Downshire family. Remarkable new research. We will post some names over the coming days of those who purchased land at this time. Liam's lecture outlined the benefits of looking at numerous sources including the Downshire papers in Belfast, British Parliamentary records and newspapers.

21/10/2025

REMINDER....Edenderry Historical Society presents:

‘The sale of the Downshire estate, Edenderry, 1903-1917’
by Liam Cox

Venue: Edenderry Parish Centre

Thursday 23rd October 2025, 8pm

From 1786 to 1922, Edenderry was owned entirely by the Hill family, marquesses of Downshire who were landlords of the area, conducting business from their county Down seat at Hillsborough. In this lecture, Liam Cox will reveal for the first time the complicated nature of the sale of Downshire estate between 1903-1917 which allowed for the purchase of individual holdings under the terms of the Wyndham Land Act. It was the end of the Downshire estate in Edenderry, but it was a complicated and a drawn-out affair.
Liam Cox is a graduate of Maynooth University and completed his MA in History in 2025.

All are welcome to attend. Admission €5 (students free).

08/10/2025

Edenderry Historical Society presents:
‘The sale of the Downshire estate, Edenderry, 1903-1917’
by Liam Cox
Venue: Edenderry Parish Centre
Thursday 23rd October 2025, 8pm
From 1786 to 1922, Edenderry was owned entirely by the Hill family, marquesses of Downshire who were landlords of the area, conducting business from their county Down seat at Hillsborough. In this lecture, Liam Cox will reveal for the first time the complicated nature of the sale of Downshire estate between 1903-1917 which allowed for the purchase of individual holdings under the terms of the Wyndham Land Act. It was the end of the Downshire estate in Edenderry, but it was a complicated and a drawn-out affair.
Liam Cox is a graduate of Maynooth University and completed his MA in History in 2025.
All are welcome to attend. Admission €5 (students free).

01/10/2025

Another memory for our followers.... Lowry's pictured in the early 1980s.

01/10/2025

The remarkable life of William Keegan from Edenderry

https://americasoffalyheroes.com/2025/09/29/the-remarkable-life-of-william-keegan-from-edenderry/

The article features on this website https://americasoffalyheroes.com/ which is the work of Danny Leavy and Kevin Guing. It is incredible research, documenting over 500 Offaly men who fought in the American Civil War, 1861-1865.

William Keegan was baptized in Edenderry on May 15th, 1821. Parents, Michael Keegan and Maria Dillon. Sponsors, George Smullen and Margaret English. The Keegan’s came from the townland of Rathmore …

29/09/2025

Throwback to March 1988 to when Edenderry Festival Parade Committee took part in the Dublin St Patrick's Day Parade to advertise the Edenderry Festival. Have a look at who took part in the parade, including one Neil Delemere as a jester!

25/09/2025

Delighted to see such interest in our old photos. Remember, all are welcome to join the society, attend monthly lectures or contribute in whatever way they can. Old photos, documents and stories always welcome.....Here's one from 1984...