Offaly

County Offaly lies in the province of Leinster in the Republic of Ireland. Measuring some 771 square miles in area, it consists of a mix of arable land and peat bog. It formed part of the Offaly kingdom, ruled by the O'Connor clan. The English king Edward VI conquered it and in 1556 it was made a King's County, though the people's resistance did not end until 1603. Important historic sites include Durrow Abbey founded in 553 by St. Columba. Industry is centered in towns of Birr, Edenderry and Clara. Much of the land is pasture, with a significant portion cultivated for crops. The 2003 estimated population was 64,500.