King's County
Part of the kingdom of Offaly in ancient Ireland, was known as King's County from 1556 until the Irish Free State was established in 1922.
It is a County with a glorious past, and is symbolized by the monastic settlement of Clonmacnoise, burial place of Rory O'Connor the last High King of Ireland, and an internationally known place of learning from the 6th century A.D. The width of the county is crossed by the Grand Canal traversing the County from
East to West, it is regarded as one of the most beautiful and tranquil waterways in Ireland.
Danish raths, or hill fortresses, and remains of ancient churches and monasteries are among the points of interest.
The River Shannon flows along most of the western border of Offaly. It has an area of 1,997 sq km (771 sq mi) and the Slieve Bloom Mountains rise to 518 m (1700 ft) in the southwest. The Bog of Allen covers the northeast.
Offaly is within one hour of Dublin to the East, and of Limerick and Galway to the West.
Dried peat is produced here. Often compressed into briquettes, it is used in many European countries, particularly Ireland, as a fuel. It is not as efficient as coal because of its large content of water and ash.
Farming is the chief occupation, with wheat and barley being the dominant crops.
Furniture, shoes, textiles, processed foods, and whiskey are important industrial products.
