Tullamore
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- For the Tullamore in New South Wales, Australia see Tullamore.
Tullamore (Tulach Mhór in Irish) is a large town in County Offaly, Republic of Ireland, located in the midlands region of Ireland, with approxiamately 15,000 inhabitants. It is the county town (main administrative town) of County Offaly a priviledge previous held by Daingean. Tullamore is a major commercial and industrial center in its geographical area. It was designated a 'Gateway' town in late 2003 by the Irish Government, meaning it will receive extra infrastructural investment. Unfortunately it had the misfortune of being named Ireland's dirtiest town by a recent national survey - something the locals deeply disagree with.
The towns most famous export is Tullamore Dew - an Irish whiskey distilled by Tullamore Distillery - that can be traced back to 1829. The Distillery closed in the 1950s but its traces are still visible in the town. The Whiskey Tullamore Dew is today produced by Irish Distillers Ltd. in Midleton, Co. Cork, and marketed by Irish company Cantrell & Cochrane.
History
Tullamore was in the 1570's a part of the first British plantation of Offaly, owned by the Moore family. 1785 with the famous balloon fire in Tullamore occurred: a hot air balloon crashed in the town leading to a fire that burned around 100 houses. Many old buildings in Tullamore were erected in this time of reconstruction. The Grand Canal of Ireland linked Tullamore to Dublin in 1798 by canal. Tullamore became county town of County Offaly in 1835.
Transmitter
Near Tullamore there is a powerful medium wave transmitter of RTE.
- http://www.tullamoreonline.net/
- Architecture of Tullamore (http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/offaly/tullamore/index.html)
See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland