Renowned Photographer To Capture Offaly In 2015

By Justin Kelly

Internationally celebrated photographer Jackie Nickerson has been commissioned by Offaly County Council to photograph the county throughout 2015. She will create 200 images which will be published in a specially produced book, and her year documenting the county will culminate in an exhibition of some of the images.

Nickerson’s appointment follows an open call from Offaly County Council for proposals from photographers late last year, which saw applications come in from all over the country. Funded under the per cent for art scheme, this is a unique opportunity for both the photographer and the county. Offaly County Council Arts Officer Sinéad O’Reilly told InOffaly this week: “The intention was to commission a photographer to document what defines Offaly, creating something that will become an important social document in years to come. The outcomes of this project should have a lasting impact in the county as well as providing a nationally visible signature of Offaly.”

Jackie Nickerson

“We are living through a rapidly changing culture; already the Offaly of twenty five years ago seems very different. The technology, social practices, domestic customs and landscape we are familiar with today will seem dated or may have even died out by the time today’s toddlers are adults,” O’Reilly added.

Jackie Nickerson, who was recently commissioned by Time Magazine to document the Ebola fighters, is famed for creating “images that examine identity, and the physical and psychological condition of working within a specific environment,” an Offaly County Council statement read. Her photographs challenge conventional notions of making portraits and landscapes and offer a more engaged view of her subject, and in 2015 that subject will be the people and places of Co. Offaly.

Nickerson was born in Boston but now resides in Co. Louth, and she spoke this week of her “excitement about being awarded this commission in Co. Offaly.” The acclaimed photographer has had her work exhibited across the United States and Europe, including in Ireland at the Museum of Modern Art. Her work has also been displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in Salzburg, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas, as well as exhibitions in Rome, Athens, San Francisco and New York.

The photographer spoke about her upcoming year in the county recently: “Offaly already has a strong sense of identity and is rich in history and tradition, but it is also a growing and changing community. Through working and consulting with the people of Offaly, I want to make a prestigious and significant publication that celebrates the county’s character and community spirit and that will serve as a social document for years to come.”

Those interested in meeting or working with Jackie Nickerson on her travels in Offaly over the next year have been invited to make contact through the Offaly County Council Arts Office at arts@offalycoco.ie or 057 9357400. 

Start Your Own Business Course To Commence In Edenderry

By Justin Kelly

The Local Enterprise Office at Offaly County Council are running a six week 'Start Your Own Business' course in Edenderry Town Hall, commencing on February 2. This course is free of charge to people on Job Seekers Allowance or a Job Seekers Payment, and will cost €70 for other applicants. Classes will run from 7-10pm on Monday nights from the commence date until March 2.

This course is designed for anyone who is thinking of starting up their own business. It will cover all stages of preparing for a business start-up, and course topics will include Market Research, Business Structure, Business Planning, Sources of Assistance, Taxation Issues, Promoting your product/service, and Managing your business. Geraldine Beirne, Business Advisor with the Local Enterprise Office told InOffaly this week: "It will arm you with the knowledge of how to go about setting up the business, how to decide if there is a demand for your product or service, how to properly cost your product/service, and how to take your product to market."

Participants on this course will be mentored by Leo Gibson from Mentor Consultants and Training Services Ltd. "Leo Gibson established Mentor Consultants in 1985 and has run a wide range of training programmes for various agencies both in Ireland and overseas," Geraldine Beirne said. As well as the six three-hour classes in the above areas, a final mentoring session will be carried out with each student after the programme is completed. The date for these sessions will be agreed between Leo Gibson and the course participant.

The Local Enterprise Office is funded through the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and Geraldine Beirne says the office continues to support start-ups as they move from conception stage into the world of business: "We provide free access to our monthly business ezine, free membership of Offaly Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) Network, as well as ongoing phone support and business mentoring from the Local Enterprise Office. In addition, the Local Enterprise Office works closely with all the Departments within the County Council, like Planning, Finance, and Procurement, to assist with queries and advise on any relevant supports."

The Local Enterprise Office can be contacted by emailing info@leo.offalycoco.ie or phoning 057-9357480.

Local Meetings On Offaly Greenways Strategy To Be Held This Month

By Justin Kelly

A series of information evenings about the Offaly Greenways Strategy will be held around the county this month. The strategy will examine areas, including the Grand Canal, where walking and cycling projects can be improved and developed around the county. There will be an emphasis on both improving existing routes and creating new routes for walkers and cyclists.


A statement regarding the strategy on the Offaly County Council website states: “The Offaly Greenways Strategy is well placed to include projects that complement national cycle routes while also providing Offaly with accessible, family friendly walking and cycling tracks. The draft Greenways Strategy will acknowledge that Offaly has a wealth of amenities from both a recreation and tourism point of view, and will include projects that can assist in improving accessibility to these amenities.”

In December, it was reported that Offaly County Council had announced proposals for a walking and cycling path along the Grand Canal from the county boundary in the east to Shannon Harbour in the west. “The strategy will also examine the peatlands and railway lines that are no longer in use with a view to making connections both within and outside County Offaly,” the council website read.

The Offaly County Council statement “would strongly encourage people to attend the public consultation sessions to be held this month as there are a great number of active walkers and cyclists in the county who have local knowledge and experience, and their views and opinions will assist staff greatly in preparing the best strategy for Offaly.”

Interested parties and members of the public are invited to attend the following public information evenings:

Dan Currams To Captain “Very Professional” Offaly Hurlers In 2015

By Justin Kelly

Offaly hurling boss Brian Whelahan has hailed his team as “a very professional set-up” as he installed Kilcormac/Killoughey club man Dan Currams as his captain for the coming season. Speaking to the media, Whelahan said: “In fairness to Kilcormac/Killoughey and their achievements in the last few years, it merits recognition.” “Dan was a major part of that team, and a key figure for Offaly too,” he added.

Currams will take the armband from Joe Bergin who is currently recovering from injury. He missed the side’s victory over Westmeath two weeks ago, and will remain on the sidelines for the clash with Galway in the Walsh Cup this weekend. “We have to take it steady with Joe,” Whelahan said, “but he is back with us after injury and will be a big option for us in a couple of weeks.”

Dan Currams has been rewarded for leading his club to three consecutive Offaly county titles, and Whelahan described him as “a very committed fella that will let his hurling do the talking.” The manager has also added strength to his backroom team in the shape of Edenderry man, and former Meath hurling boss Cillian Farrell, along with the former Laois boss Damien Fox. “Damian and Cillian have made huge contributions coming in this year. It is a fresh approach and the lads have really bought into the training set-up,” Whelahan remarked. 

Whelahan talked about a new level of training that had to be introduced to tighten the gap between Offaly and the top tier of hurling in the country. “Offaly had to get really serious about it or the gap was just going to get wider and wider,” he said. “You have a lot of lads in college these days and they are talking to players from other county set-ups. When given the opportunity to have the set-up that is the norm in top counties, players respond very well and are enjoying the discipline.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s game against Division 1 side Galway, Whelahan acknowledged the “step up” from the Westmeath game, but said that as “we get closer to the league campaign, teams will be looking to play more settled teams, and we look forward to the challenge.”

Offaly’s meeting with Galway in the Walsh Cup is scheduled for O’Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday at 2pm. 

Culture Seekers Reminded Of Free Wednesdays At Clonmacnoise

By Justin Kelly

Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Simon Harris, has extended an initiative that means admission to all OPW sites will continue to be free on the first Wednesday of each month for 2015. Clonmacnoise is Offaly’s only OPW heritage site, and Laois/Offaly TD for Fine Gael Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has encouraged culture seekers to avail of this concession in Co.Offaly.

“Giving free access on these days to locals, schools, and tourists alike, means this wonderfully historic area is available for all to appreciate, enjoy and learn about,” the Offaly native remarked. The initiative was first introduced in 2011, and Minister Harris explained that it “is aimed at encouraging visitors to take advantage of all the wonderful heritage sites around the country.” Over 70,000 visitors from home and abroad availed of the waiver in 2014, and the Minister hopes “the offer will continue to stimulate the growing interest in the nation's rich cultural heritage.”

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, who grew up in the area near Clonmacnoise, recalled her fondest childhood memories of the site for InOffaly this week: “I have wonderful memories of playing around the tombstones and high crosses as a child before a visitor centre was ever built. I remember doing pencil rubbings of the beautiful patterns on the high crosses and trying to read the names on the headstones,” she said. “I’ll never forget running around the round tower until I was dizzy, and then racing my brothers to the top of the hill to Clonmacnoise Castle. Reaching the top, we would be gasping for breath, gazing at the magnificent Shannon River, dreaming of swimming across it,” she added.

The Offaly TD described Clonmacnoise as “a special place,” recalling how she learned more and more about the history of the area as she grew older, and thus “really came to appreciate this jewel that remains on the banks of the Shannon.”

The free access commenced on January 7, and further information and a full list of participating sites throughout the country can be viewed on www.heritageireland.ie.

14.8% Drop In Numbers Signing On Live Register In Offaly

By Justin Kelly

Central Statistics Office figures for December 2014 have revealed a 14.8% decline in the number of people on the live register in Co. Offaly. The number of unemployed people has declined in all eight regions of the country, and the news has been welcomed by Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

“Another drop in the Live Register in December emphasises that the economy is in recovery and that more people are entering the jobs market. I am particularly encouraged that the Live Register here in Offaly has dropped by such a significant percentage,” Corcoran Kennedy said.

Rural Ireland has been particularly affected by the economic downturn, and while technology companies like Facebook and Google have opened offices in the urban centres, counties like Offaly have been lacking investment. Corcoran Kennedy, who is the chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs and Enterprise, has spoken of the government's commitment to rural communities: “This year there will be an increased focus on job creation outside of the main urban centres as the Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton prepares the launch of a pilot programme in the shape of the Regional Enterprise Strategy. This strategy, which I welcome, will specifically address local economies in rural areas, an issue I have consistently raised with Minister Bruton in the Dail,” the deputy stated.

It was recently announced by the IDA that 37% of foreign investments in 2014 were made outside the main urban centres, and Corcoran Kennedy wants to ensure counties like Offaly “compete with the likes of Dublin and Cork” in terms of foreign direct investment going forward. “The IDA figures are encouraging, and the government will commit to continuing this trend in the future,” she added.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has also welcomed the other investments that were made in Offaly throughout 2014: “€6,971,007 went towards capital spend for schools in the county and 18 Garda cars came on stream in the Laois/Offaly division,” she revealed. While recognising these positives in the county, Corcoran Kennedy also acknowledged the difficulties that have been encountered by the people of Co. Offaly: “There is no doubt that 2014 was a challenging year for the people of Offaly. We have been coming out of the most difficult recession in the history of the State and recovery does not happen overnight. Major progress has been made however, and the same can be expected for 2015.”

Nationally, the latest CSO Live Register figures show that the unemployment rate has dropped to 10.6% from a high of 15.1% in 2012, and Corcoran Kennedy says “we expect that this figure will finally drop below 10% in 2015.”

50 Years On The Stretford End

The Offaly Native Who’s Been Watching Manchester United Since 1961

The Best I've Ever Seen: George Best

By Justin Kelly

Des Grogan has spent more than fifty years in the stands at Old Trafford following his beloved Manchester United in the footsteps of his father. Spanning the careers of greats like George Best and Bobby Charlton, and modern stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, Grogan’s love affair with United was passed down from his father, Banagher man, John Joe Grogan.

John Joe Grogan hails from Banagher, but he packed up and left for Manchester in 1948. There he met Ann Hourigan, originally from Rathcabin near Birr, and the pair married and built their home in Salford. “My dad started watching United as soon as he came over,” Des told InOffaly this week. “Manchester City were considered to be the establishment club at the time, and migrants flocked to United. The Irish in particular began to follow United because they were the catholic club,” Des said.

An affinity with United was handed down to Des and he recalled his earliest memories with InOffaly: “The first game I attended was against Sheffield United in 1961, and although we lost 1-0, I was completely hooked. Dad used to take us to all the home games, and if he could get a lift, we would travel to some of the away games too. I remember queueing up early to get on the Stretford End as a youngster before noon on a Saturday. I worked at the ground whilst at college and got to meet Sir Matt Busby and George Best, and both of those great men were lovely people. I have been a season ticket holder since 1978, and enjoyed some great away days as well, but having kids of my own and mounting mortgage repayments meant I had to curtail the away trips.”

Des Grogan is very proud of his Offaly roots, and says his “emotional family home is still on the Birr Road at the top of the hill in Banagher.” Des used to stay with his grandparents in Offaly every summer as a child, and he has fond memories of “the freedom” in the countryside as opposed to the bustle of Manchester: “It was the highlight of the year and we used to love going there as youngsters. Granddad was a wonderful gardener and I still recall his floury home-grown potatoes. When I started visiting their house on the Birr Road, there was no running water, and it was a great adventure trekking up to the church to fill buckets for granny.” “I love Banagher in particular because of those memories, and we always consider it home,” Des added.

Back in Manchester, Des’s finest memories belong at Old Trafford, where he says he has experienced “some truly incredible” atmospheres: “I used to come off the Stretford End with my ears ringing and a sore throat some days. Sometimes I have felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up such was the noise. I still go, but now I’m standing on the Stretford End with my two sons, Dan and Ben, both of whom share the family passion for United. Des’s stand-out memory, however, came away from the noise of Old Trafford and the famous Stretford End; “Winning the Champions League in the dying embers of the game against Munich in Barcelona in 1999 has to be one of the greatest nights I spent watching United,” Des recalled. Manchester United overturned a one goal deficit in the final three minutes of injury time when striking duo Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the crucial goals.

Irish legend Denis Irwin

Denis Irwin was playing that night, and Des rates him as one of the finest Irish United players he’s ever seen: “Denis Irwin and Tony Dunne would be the full backs in my all-time eleven, but George Best was the best Irish player ever to wear the red in my opinion.” Controversially to some Irish fans, Des would find no place for one Roy Keane in his United all-stars, and instead would give that midfield marauding role to Bryan Robson, who he describes as a legend. Des’s experience of Manchester United is still an Irish affair after all, and he occasionally meets up with fellow Offaly native, and former All-Ireland Final referee Pat Horan: “Pat runs the Brosna Lodge in Banagher, and my sons and I occasionally meet him after games for a few scoops,” Des said. Pat Horan was one of the most prominent hurling referees in the country in the 1990s, and he was the man at the helm when Wexford won the 1996 senior All-Ireland by two points from a gallant Limerick outfit.


Des has also graced the stands and sidelines of the GAA, and recalls watching St. Rynaghs when on holiday, and has watched Offaly in both hurling and football over the years. His uncle Seamus played for Rynaghs at one time, and his cousin, also Seamus from Cloghan, played football for Offaly. “I have been to several Leinster finals and was always amazed that opposing fans sat together. I loved the atmosphere and meeting up in Bermingham’s for a Guinness or three,” Des quipped. “However, one of my fondest GAA memories was Dad’s return from the first All-Ireland Offaly won. Well, he arrived in on the Monday night completely stocious, but very happy having detoured to the local conservative club roaring “Up Offaly” as he entered, much to the bemusement of the regulars.”

Des Grogan still returns to Banagher as much as he can with his family: “I still get a thrill as we approach the town and reach the crest of the hill on the Birr Road.” He also still attends games to watch his beloved Manchester United at Old Trafford, and is looking forward to watching them “challenge for the title” again next season as he heads toward his 55th year as a regular at the Theatre Of Dreams.