In November 2017, Offaly County Council published Flights of Fancy: Follies, Families and Demesnes in Offaly, written by county architect Rachel McKenna. This beautifully crafted hardback volume, spanning over 350 pages of full-colour illustrations, brings fifteen of Offaly’s most storied demesnes to life, from the grandeur of Charleville and Birr Castle to hidden gems like Tubberdaly, Gloster, and beyond.
Below you can read about several of the follies and the works that Offaly County Council, The Heritage Council, Creative Ireland and the Follies Trust encouraged and assisted in funding, including conservational reports from the conservation Architects working on the projects and some amazing images showing the beautiful and quirky buildings.