The River
Shannon flows along most
of the western border, the Slieve Bloom Mountains rise to
518 m (1700 ft) in the southwest., and the Bog of Allen
covers the northeast of County Offaly.
Peat is produced here. Dried peat, often compressed into
briquettes, is used in many European countries,
particularly Ireland, as a fuel, although 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.
The width of the county is crossed by the Grand Canal.
Danish raths, or hill fortresses, and remains of ancient
churches and monasteries are among the points of interest.
Part of the kingdom of Offaly in ancient Ireland, the area
was known as King's County from 1556 until the Irish Free
State was established in 1922.