Welcome to Clara

Clara is a very special townland in County Offaly, Ireland. It's like the charming setting of a storybook with its beautiful landscapes and interesting history.

Do you know that Clara has an important place in Irish history? Long ago, around the 18th century, Clara was known for its boglands. Boglands are soggy, wet areas full of peat, a brown material that people used to use as fuel, kind of like coal.

The most exciting part of Clara's history is the story of Clara Bog. It is one of the best examples of a raised bog in the world! That's like being the best at soccer in your school. It's a big deal! People from all over come to see this special bog.

Also, Clara was famous for its woollen mills. Imagine big factories full of fluffy sheep's wool being turned into warm jumpers and scarves.

Even though no big battles or events happened here, Clara's history is the tale of its people, their work in the mills and the bogs, and the beautiful land they called home. Just like every townland, it's the small daily happenings that make Clara's history special.

  1. What are boglands?
  2. What is the most exciting part of Clara's history?
  3. What were Clara's woollen mills?
  4. Why is Clara Bog considered a big deal?
  5. Why is Clara's history special, even though no big battles or events happened there?

All About Clara

Clara, a small town in County Offaly, Ireland, is like a playground for nature lovers! Can you imagine the fun you'd have exploring the boglands, where lots of cool plants like heather and sphagnum moss grow? This area is also home to many animals like rabbits, foxes, and birds such as the meadow pipit.

The town is surrounded by the beautiful Slieve Bloom Mountains. They might seem giant, but don't worry, they're friendly giants! These mountains have lots of trails to walk on and you might even spot a red deer if you're lucky.

Clara has a special street called River Street. It's called that because it runs parallel to the lovely Brosna River. The river is like a watery highway for fish like trout and even otters!

In the middle of the town, you can find the Clara Market Square with its unique benches and street lamps. It's a great place to sit and eat a sandwich or read a book.

So, whether you love climbing mountains, watching animals, or simply sitting by the river, Clara Co. Offaly has it all. It's a place where you can always find an adventure waiting!

  1. What type of plants can you find in the boglands of Clara, Co. Offaly?
  2. What animals might you spot in the Slieve Bloom Mountains?
  3. Why is River Street in Clara given its name and what types of aquatic life can be found in the river?
  4. What is the geographical feature of interest in the middle of Clara town?
  5. Using a map of Clara, Co. Offaly, can you identify the route of the Brosna River and the location of the Clara Market Square? Take a walk if you can and see if you can find another geographical feature of interest not mentioned in the text.

My Family and Clara

Hi! I'm Nat, and I'm 8 years old. I live in a really cool place called Clara Co. Offaly. It's in Ireland! My favourite thing about living here is all the fun stuff there is to see and do.

There's this amazing park called Clara Bog Nature Reserve. It's really big and there's a boardwalk where you can walk and see all the different types of plants and animals. I once saw a frog jump into the bog! It was really funny.

Then there's Clara Swimming Pool. I go there every Saturday for swimming lessons. It's super fun and I love splashing around and playing with my friends. I just learned how to do the butterfly stroke!

Another cool place is Clara Library. I love reading and this library has so many books! My favourite are the ones about adventures and mysteries. Last week, I borrowed a book about pirates. It was so exciting!

There's so much more I want to explore in Clara Co. Offaly. But for now, I'm happy growing up here with my friends and family. Talk to you soon! Bye!

  1. What is Nat's favourite thing about living in Clara Co. Offaly?
  2. What did Nat see at Clara Bog Nature Reserve?
  3. What does Nat do at Clara Swimming Pool?
  4. What kind of books does Nat like to read at Clara Library?
  5. Who does Nat live with in Clara Co. Offaly?

The Logainm of Clara

Clara, a lovely town in County Offaly, Ireland, has a name that is a little bit magic. In Irish, it's called "Clóirtheach" which means "plain of the planks". Long ago, people used wooden planks to cross the boggy areas around the town. Imagine walking to school on a wooden path!

But, the name Clara also has a connection to a famous person. A man named Thomas Newcomen was born in Clara. He was very clever and invented the first practical steam engine in the 1700s. This engine was like a super-strong horse that could do lots of heavy work. Because of Mr. Newcomen, the name Clara is known all around the world!

Today, Clara is still surrounded by beautiful bogs, but we don't need to use wooden planks anymore. We have roads and bridges now. But the name reminds us of its boggy past, and the smart man who was born there.

  1. What does "Clóirtheach", the Irish name for Clara, mean in English?
  2. Why do you think people had to use wooden planks in Clara long ago?
  3. Who was Thomas Newcomen and why is he important?
  4. How has Clara changed from the past to now?
  5. How does the name Clara connect to its history?

Slideshow - Clara
A full set of teaching plans for teaching about Clara