Birr Town & Castle

Birr is one of Ireland’s finest examples of an 18/19th century Georgian town - formal, spacious and well planned with Georgian houses along its tree-lined malls.

Birr Castle Demesne, seat of the Earls of Rosse for fourteen generations, plays host to Ireland's Historic Science Centre.

Discover the largest telescope in the world for over 70 years; constructed here at Birr Castle in the 1840's by the Third Earl of Rosse. Re-live the challenges he had to overcome in order to build his telescope in rural Ireland. The casting and polishing of the speculum, the buildings of the observatory and much more. The telescope has been restored and moves and works as it did 150 years ago (demonstrated daily).New and exciting Science Galleries, housing an amazing collection of original artefacts, photographs, drawings and letters. Browse through interactive models, audiovisuals and interpretative panels. Discover an unexplored dimension of Ireland.

At Birr Castle Demesne there is much more than science and technology, there has been a Norman Castle on this site since 1170 and from the 14th to the 17th century, the O'Carroll family ruled from here and the territory was known as Ely O'Carroll

Travel through the history of the demesne since 1620 and get to know the Parsons family who have been living in the castle ever since. Meet the Garden Earls (5th, 6th and present 7th) and their talented wives to whose imagination and creativity we owe the present magnificent grounds, the 17th century park and famous Box Hedges listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest in the world, the 18th century lake area, the 19th century Suspension Bridge and Winter Garden, the 20th century Formal Garden, Terrace Gardens and River Garden.

Ireland's Historic Science Centre
Birr
Co. Offaly
Ireland
Tel. +353 509 20336.
Fax. +353 509 21583.
Email: info@birrcastle.com

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