Ferbane

Business

Ferbane Business and Technology Park Ltd is a non profit making company with charitable status owned by the community. Phase one was ready in January 2005

Since its establishment, Ferbane Enterprise Group has worked non-stop to develop a unique Business & Technology Park in its region. That work is now bearing fruit in terms of jobs, investment and increased profile for the West Offaly town.

Over 10,000 square metres of office -Industrial units were completed since the park was opened with an additional 10,000 square metres approved -in the planning process.

Community

Trivia On 27 October 2007 Ferbane assembled officially 142 area residents to participate in a globally simultaneous dance to the music of Michael Jackson's Thriller. Awaiting the official word from Guinness World Records, this would be the world record; surpassing Toronto's 2006 record of 62.

Education

Pre-School: Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre, Ferbane Bright Beginnings opens from 7.45am until 6.00pm, for 51 weeks per annum. It closes for 1 week over the Christmas period. These hours may expand as demand for the services increases.

All of Ferbane's primary and secondary schools have a Catholic ethos and are regulated by the Department of Education and Skills through the national curriculum. These are:

Primary level: St. Cynocs National School – St. Cynoc's National School was founded in 2007 through the amalgamation of St. Mary's Boys NS and St. Mary's Girls NS.

Secondary level: Gallen Community School – Gallen Community School has been in existence since 2004 following the successful amalgamation of two schools in the town of Ferbane. The school was newly rebuilt in 2011 under the DES Public Private Partnership scheme.

Sport

Transport History

Public Transport

Coole Castle

Sir John MaCoghlan built Coole Castle on the banks of the Brosna in 1575. It was the last of the MacCoghlan castles to be built. He erected it as a present to his second wife Sabina O'Dallachain. Formerly there was a mural slab in the castle with a Latin inscription translated in English as "“This tower was built by the energy of Sir John MacCoghlan, K.T. chief of this Sept at the proper cost of Sabina O'Dallachain on the condition that she should have it for her lifetime and afterwards each of her sons according to their seniority".

The whereabouts of the mural is unknown at present. In his will in 1590 Sir John left Coole Castle to his widow. Over the fireplace, in its original location, in the topmost room of the castle is a plaque written in Middle Irish which reads:

“SEAGHA (n) MAC (c) OCHL (ain) DO TINDSCAIN O SEO SUAS 1575” (“Sean Mac Cochlan began (this building) from this (date) 1575”)

Kilcolgan Castle (Court)

Terence Coghlan built Kilcolgan Castle in the early 1640s. In 1646 the Papal Nuncio was sent to Ireland; he stayed for some time in the castle and wrote admiringly of the castle demesne with its beautifully laid out gardens and peacocks strutting on the lawns. The castle continued to be in the possession of the MacCoghlans until the 18th century when it became uninhabited and fell into disrepair. The remains of the castle were demolished in 1954 and the stones used to make foundations for the power station at Lumcloon.

Gallen Priory

Less than a kilometre south of the town, on the site of an ancient monastery founded by the Welsh missionary Saint Canoc in 492, stands Gallen Priory (formerly a convent of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny, now a nursing home).

Ferbane 'Cow Park' renovation

The area comprising Ferbane industrial park is locally known as the "cow park" as it was once a municipal grazing area for local residence. In the summer of 2013 the forested area of Ferbane's industrial park was turned into a car free walking area. The area includes a short walk along the "mill race", a narrow waterway, and a footpath through a predominantly oak-forest. Many spruce mature pines can be found in the area also. The restoration work was commissioned by Ferbane's tidy town members.

Walking

The Offaly Way: The National Waymarked Trail 'The Offaly Way' runs very close to Ferbane town. It is a 37 km route that starts at Lemanaghan and finishes at Cadamstown.

Boora Parklands' Trails: Lough Boora Discovery Park offers trails ranging from a short stroll to longer treks up to 22 km - refer to www.loughboora.com

Ferbane Public Library

Ferbane has a modern just refurbished public library with childrens' and adults' sections. Currently (2017) membership is gratis. The library has computer access, printing services and free wifi for those with their own devices.

Opening Hours Thursday 13:00-17:30 and 18:00-20:00 Friday 10:00-13:30 and 14:00-17:00 Saturday 10:00-13:00 Closed all other times.

Address: Gallen, Ferbane, Co. Offaly, R42 WF59

Ferbane Civil Parish

Townlands and places in the Ferbane (Wheery or Fuithre) parish include: