A few of the 25 we set up in appropriate 'scenes' before they were mounted on buildings.

From the Culture & Heritage page on www.visitoffaly.ie

Terrific coverage in this week's Midland Tribune. Page 23, under Birr News. Dr. Denis Shine (Archeologist, the Irish Heritage School) writes about the recent visit to Birr of 13 American students from North Dakota. One small part of their rich and fascinating experiences (which included meeting President Higgins) was to be taken on a tour of the FAN Trail - or at least the part which most related to literature and theatre. The students were brought to the town by the Irish Heritage School who will be bringing further universities from the USA to Birr throughout 2018, for programmes of third level study. During their short trip here they learned about the Theatre & Performing Arts scene in Ireland, specifically looking at the fantastic community driven arts, heritage and tourism ventures that Birr and the Midlands have to offer.

NOW LIVE on the Visit Offaly website, promoting the trail. Here's the new link: http://www.visitoffaly.ie/Things-to-do/Culture-Heritage/FAN-Trail/ (With great thanks to Elizabeth Fogarty and John Joyce and the committee of the Birr & Midlands Chapter, Irish Georgian Society. As well as Sarahjane Cleary and The Print Factory) Rx

HOW MANY living Famous & Notables of Birr can you name? Please post your list to share - and if you have any information on fascinating people of the past with Birr connections, we would so like to hear from you. Your ancestors, and their culturally influential friends - share and tell here!

The artist trail creators, either side of the 'trail enabler' - chairman of the Birr & Midlands Chapter of the Irish Georgian Society.

Joyful January, to all our FANS of the Birr FAN Trail! From Rosalind & Jackie PS If you would like one of our Guides to The Famous & Notables Trail, but have been unable to find one locally, please contact Rosalind (087 668 1783) or Jackie. We could also send one or more to you, for the cost of postage and 'enveloping' or send a stamped-addressed envelope. LATEST NEWS: In progress, the order for two new plaques to add to our 25. Who will they commemorate? Aah, that'll be quite a surprise to most. One will be on a Main Street premises and the other, rather far out but still in town, at the old railway site. BELATED (Very!)... warm thanks, if we didn't already - to Geraldine of Jerro's on Main Street, for so kindly letting us fill her little display window with a FAN TRAIL promotion, during last Vintage Week. We really appreciated her enthusiastic support.

The first print run of our guide to the Famous & Notables of Birr Trail, has all but gone. Over the Winter months, it's been an endeavour to try to persuade the tourism office at Offaly County Council, and Mid-Ireland Tourism to back the reprinting costs. Fingers crossed we will have approval, just in time for the new tourist season, though a little revision to it has to be done before a second print run. If you are intending to do the trail, make contact through this page and we will do our best to get a copy of the guide to you. Or, simply Google-as-you-go with your clever Smart phone - when you see one of the 25 plaques around town.

ONE OF OUR NOTABLES is featured in a new exhibition at NUI Galway. Lorna Reynolds was Professor of English there. Hardiman Building Exhibitions Path-breaking Women of NUI Galway: 1912-1922 and beyond March - June 2017 Short Biography from our Guide to the FAN Trail. A professor at the University College, Dublin and then, the National University of Ireland, Galway, Reynolds was also a poet, an author and co-author of a number of scholarly books and published a cookbook at the age of 80, called 'Tasty Food for Hasty Folk'. She was born in Jamaica but when their mother was widowed, she and her 4 siblings came to live in [Brendan House - The Flag House'] with her grandparents. (Her grandfather built the Post Office in the square, a number of houses on John's Place, and others.) The family moved to Dublin and she determinedly went on to study English at UCD. Ms Reynolds obtained a BA in 1933, an MA in 1935, and completed her PhD thesis on the Douai Bible in 1940. As a teacher of philosophy and English Literature, her students hung on her every word. She was a wonderful conversationalist, a lively after-dinner speaker, and elegantly flamboyant in dress. She was a close and lifelong friend of novelist Kate O'Brien, and wrote a 'critical biography' on her. As a prominent member of the Women's Social and Progressive League in the 1940s and involvement in the UCD Women Graduates' Association, she contributed to the advance of women's rights in Irish society and academic life. Lorna was also on the Anti-Censorship Board, the inaugural meeting of which was chaired by Maud Gonne. It has been said 'that her life celebrated freedom of women'.

OPENING on the 25th October and running until the 18th November, a visual art exhibition by Hazel Greene. Kathleen Kingston, The strength of a woman from Birr This exhibition will be on show at Aras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore.

Timeline Photos