Clara, County Offaly
Clara (Irish: Clóirtheach; erroneously translated locally as An Clárach) is a town on the River Brosna in County Offaly, Ireland. It is the 10th largest town in the midlands of Ireland. The town had a population of 3,403 as of the 2022 census.
Clara
Clóirtheach | |
|---|---|
Town | |
Clara on the R436 | |
Clara Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53.342661°N 7.613525°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Offaly |
| Elevation | 57 m (187 ft) |
| Population (2022) | 3,403 |
| Irish Grid Reference | N254325 |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1821 | 1,174 | — |
| 1831 | 1,149 | −2.1% |
| 1841 | 1,357 | +18.1% |
| 1851 | 996 | −26.6% |
| 1861 | 915 | −8.1% |
| 1871 | 832 | −9.1% |
| 1881 | 956 | +14.9% |
| 1891 | 1,092 | +14.2% |
| 1901 | 1,111 | +1.7% |
| 1911 | 1,096 | −1.4% |
| 1926 | 1,726 | +57.5% |
| 1936 | 1,590 | −7.9% |
| 1946 | 1,635 | +2.8% |
| 1951 | 1,684 | +3.0% |
| 1956 | 2,628 | +56.1% |
| 1961 | 2,477 | −5.7% |
| 1966 | 2,424 | −2.1% |
| 1971 | 2,156 | −11.1% |
| 1981 | 2,596 | +20.4% |
| 1986 | 2,736 | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 2,505 | −8.4% |
| 1996 | 2,464 | −1.6% |
| 2002 | 2,704 | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 3,001 | +11.0% |
| 2011 | 3,242 | +8.0% |
| 2016 | 3,336 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 3,403 | +2.0% |
Clara's local services include churches, schools, a branch of the Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board, a library, doctor's surgery, medical centre, pharmacies, health centre, family resource centre, shops, post office, credit union, hair and beauty salons, barbers, garages, pubs, eateries, a playground, public swimming pool, pitch and putt club, GAA club, and Clara Bog Visitor Centre. There is a Garda (police) station and fire station in the town, while the Midlands Regional Hospital is located approximately eleven kilometres away in Tullamore.