Tullamore is the county town of Offaly, sitting in the heart of the Irish Midlands along the Grand Canal. It is best known as the home of Tullamore D.E.W. whiskey, and the modern distillery on the edge of town is the main draw for most visitors. The old bonded warehouse in the town centre, where the whiskey was originally made, now houses a heritage exhibition worth a look.
The town itself is pleasant and compact, with a good main street, a few solid pubs, and a quiet, unhurried character typical of small Irish Midland towns. Charleville Castle, a Gothic Revival pile on the southern edge of town surrounded by ancient oak woods, is one of the finest castles in Ireland and open for tours.
The Midlands get overlooked by most visitors to Ireland, but the boglands around Tullamore have a strange, flat beauty. Lough Boora Discovery Park, a reclaimed industrial peatland turned nature reserve and sculpture park, offers walking trails and birdwatching. The Grand Canal towpath is good for cycling, and the Shannon river system is close enough for a day on the water.