Edenderry Town County Offaly.

Edenderry is situated on the edge of the Bog of Allen on the road between Tullamore and Enfield, most of the town was built by the second Marquees of Downshire who acquired the estate by marriage in the late 1700's to a member of the Blundell family, to the best of my knowledge this marriage also brought to him an estate at Dundrum in south County Down.

The remains of the Blundell's castle is just south of the town. A cross was erected in the memory of Fr. Mogue Kearns and Anthony Perry who were hanged at Edenderry for their part in the 1798 rebellion. The name Edenderry came from the oak woods that once grew the hills surrounding the town.

The Franciscan friary in Monasterboice about two miles west of Edenderry, was founded in 1325 by Sir John Birmingham, Earl of Louth, John was the son of the infamous Sir Pierrs (Peter) Birmingham, who in 1305 invited thirty two local chieftains to a banquet in Carrickoris Castle and slaughtered them.

It is said that John founded the friary in an attempt to ease the family conscience. The ruins of the friary are still to be seen as well as a small parish church. The Birmingham castle of Finnafad is about 3 miles north west of the town and is in ruin. The Birmingham's lasted in the area until the 15th century when their land was granted to ancestors of the Duke of Wellington who built a Tudor Jacobean mansion.

The year 1802 was an auspicious year for Edenderry it was in that year that The Grand Canal reached the town, bringing a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity.

The local clan were the O'Connor's they used the extensive bogs in the area for cover after harrying the English.

In later years extraction of peat from the bogs contributed greatly to employment in the area.

From the town there is a pleasant walk along the canal towpath out as far as the Downshire Bridge.