Cllr Claims Brochure Gives Impression ‘Edenderry Isn’t In Offaly’
Thursday, 22 July 2010
IT is barely off the printing presses but already a new brochure designed to promote tourism in Offaly is the subject of controversy.
Unveiled for the first time on Monday, 'Offaly at your leisure' is at first glance an impressively illustrated 27-page publication which answers a long-voiced call for a comprehensive brochure which would sum up what the county has to offer visitors.
With the catch-line 'Come and discover... There is more to Offaly than you imagine', the brochure describes the county as 'a slice of old Ireland' and has a view of Clonmacnoise from the Shannon as its main cover photograph.
The brochure's publication coincided with a motion tabled to a meeting of Offaly County Council by Cllr Molly Buckley, who called for a bigger tourism push for the county.
Another councillor immediately criticised the publication. Cllr Noel Bourke said that Edenderry was 'scarely mentioned' apart from a picture on the seventh page of a 'postbox'.
‘One would be forgiven for thinking that Edenderry isn't in Offaly at all,' said Cllr Bourke.
Edenderry goes get a number of mentions in the brochure. The general introduction makes the point that Croghan hill, 'an extinct volcano', will be visible once a driver turns off 'the main road between Edenderry and Tullamore'.
There are then separate pages devoted to both Tullamore and Birr, with pictures of the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre, the Tullamore Show, Oxmantown and John's Malls, Main St, Birr, Emmet Square and Birr Castle's telescope.
Two sentences are then devoted to Edenderry alongside a picture of a 19th century postbox on one of the following pages.
‘The spacious Georgian town of Edenderry marks the eastern boundary of the county. An important trading centre on the Grand Canal that linked Dublin to the Shannon, today it is a bustling market town,' the brochure says.
There are a number of 'Did you know?' features throughout the booklet, including one on Moneygall, with a picture of a cardboard cut-out of President Barack Obama in Ollie Hayes' bar.
There are nearly two pages on Clonmacnoise and further pages on other monastic sites and Offaly's castles, notably Birr, Kinnitty, Charleville and Leap.
There is a section on waterways, with Shannonbridge, Banagher and Shannon Harbour highlighted.
The 'Offaly Outdoors' chapter focuses on the Slieve Blooms, walking routes like the Grand Canal Way and the Pilgrims Path, as well as golf courses.
‘For visitors who wish to try something with an adventurous edge then have a go at sky-diving at Clonbullogue near Edenderry,' the brochure says.
Lough Boora Parklands is billed as 'Big sky country' but Clara Bog Nature Reserve is not mentioned.
Edenderry is mentioned again in the 'Staying and Eating' chapter. The paragraph under the heading 'Temptation for every taste' says: 'Whatever your activities in Offaly you're certain to work up an appetite and you can choose from the bistros of Birr and Banagher, the cafes of Edenderry and Ferbane or the restaurants of Tullamore'.
Visits to a number of pubs around the country are encouraged so tourists can 'Enjoy the craic'.
There is a map of Offaly and the 'Getting to Offaly' insert says trains run daily from Tullamore to Dublin and Galway but the route of the rail line, and its other stops, is excluded from both a county map and a map of the central section of Ireland stretching from west to east with Offaly in the centre.
The brochure was produced with the assistance of Offaly Local Development Company, supported by Shannon Development, Failte Ireland East and Midlands Region, the County Council and the County Enterprise Board.
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