Welcome to Tullamore

Tullamore is a lovely town in County Offaly, Ireland. It has a rich history filled with stories of people, places and special events. One of the most famous stories is about the Tullamore Balloon Fire in 1785. Can you imagine, a big balloon flying over the town?

Well, this balloon was filled with hot air and caught fire. It fell onto the town and caused a big fire. It was the first recorded air disaster in history! Don't worry, today balloons are much safer and this wouldn't happen now.

After the fire, the town was rebuilt and it grew bigger and better. Tullamore even has its own whiskey, called Tullamore D.E.W. But remember, whiskey is only for grown-ups!

Tullamore is also famous for the Grand Canal, a big waterway built in the 1700s. The canal was used to transport goods in big boats, and it helped Tullamore to grow.

Even though Tullamore has had some tough times, the people always worked together to make their town a wonderful place to live. That's what makes Tullamore special!

  1. What is one of the most famous stories about Tullamore?
  2. What happened after the big fire in Tullamore?
  3. What is the Grand Canal used for?
  4. Why do you think the people of Tullamore were able to rebuild their town after the fire?
  5. What does this text suggest about the spirit of the people of Tullamore?

All About Tullamore

Tullamore is a special town in County Offaly, Ireland. It's nestled on the flat plains of the Midlands, right between Dublin and Galway. This makes it an important spot, like a big friendly crossroads! What's super interesting about Tullamore is that it's built around the Grand Canal, a lovely, winding waterway where ducks love to paddle. A special street in Tullamore is called O'Connor Square, named after a famous man named Charles O'Connor. This is where you can find a lot of fun things to do! Tullamore is also surrounded by peaceful farmland where cattle and sheep graze. This area is filled with various plants, birds, and small wildlife. Tall oak and ash trees wave in the wind while bluebells and wild roses add splashes of color. Nearby, you can find the Slieve Bloom Mountains. They aren't very tall, but they are beautiful with lots of walking trails. They're home to many animals like foxes, badgers, and rabbits. They also have birds like pheasants and buzzards. In Tullamore town, you might see some cool street furniture like old-fashioned lampposts and benches where you can sit and enjoy a tasty ice-cream. So, Tullamore is a pretty neat place, don't you think?.

  1. What makes Tullamore an important spot in Ireland?
  2. Describe the geography of the area surrounding Tullamore.
  3. Using a map of Ireland, can you locate Tullamore and the Slieve Bloom Mountains? What other geographical features can you identify?
  4. Based on the information in the text, what kind of wildlife can you expect to find in and around Tullamore?
  5. Take a trip! If possible, visit Tullamore or a similar area near you. What geographical feature or aspect did you find most interesting or surprising? Why?

My Family and Tullamore

Hi! I'm Casey, and I just turned 8. I live in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. It's a wonderful place to grow up, with lots of interesting things to see and do.

One of the cool places in my town is Charleville Castle. It's super old and a little bit spooky, but I love it! I imagine knights and princesses living there a long time ago. We also have Tullamore DEW Visitor Centre. Even though it's all about whiskey and I'm not allowed to drink it, I like to visit because it's part of Tullamore's history.

There's always something fun to do in Tullamore. We have lots of parks, and my favourite is Lloyd Town Park. It's a great place to play hide and seek with my friends. In the park, there's a big canal where we feed the ducks, and sometimes we see people on boats. It's so much fun!

Living in Tullamore is cool because it's a small town but it's full of life. I hope you enjoyed reading about my life in Tullamore. Bye!

  1. What is the name of the castle in Tullamore Co. Offaly?
  2. How does Casey feel about living in Tullamore?
  3. What activities does Casey enjoy doing in Lloyd Town Park?
  4. What is the Tullamore DEW Visitor Centre and why does Casey like to visit it?
  5. What does Casey imagine when thinking about Charleville Castle?

The Logainm of Tullamore

Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. The name 'Tullamore' comes from the Irish name 'Tulach Mhór', which means 'great mound'. A long time ago, people built big mounds of earth for important reasons, like for their kings to live on or to remember heroes. So, the great mound of Tullamore must have been very special!

In the past, Tullamore has seen many interesting events. One of the most famous is the hot-air balloon accident of 1785. A huge balloon caught fire and fell from the sky, causing a big fire in the town. But the people of Tullamore didn't let this stop them. They rebuilt their town even better and later created the Tullamore Dew, a whiskey famous around the world.

Today, people from all over visit Tullamore to see its beautiful canal, walk in the Charleville forest and taste its famous whiskey. The name Tullamore still reminds us of the great mound and the brave people who live there.

  1. What does the name 'Tullamore' mean in English?
  2. Why do you think people in the past built big mounds of earth?
  3. What famous event happened in Tullamore in 1785?
  4. What is Tullamore famous for today?
  5. How does the name 'Tullamore' link to its past and present?

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