Search...
Birr Castle Demesne
What it’s all about
About
Birr Castle Demesne is one of Europe’s great gardens and is home to an abundance of rare plants, collected by the Earls of Rosse on their travels around the world over the last 150 years. You’ll also come across rivers, a lake and even waterfalls, as you wander the wonderful gardens. Home to the world-famous Great Telescope built in the early 19840s, and the largest in the world for over 60 years, the demesne became a hub of scientific discovery and innovation. The historic Science Centre on site, transports visitors back to a time when Birr Castle was a hive of scientific discovery and innovation.
Explore
The Outdoor Tour is highly recommended, with over 60 minutes of wonderful history and discovery, anecdotes and fun. It starts with a welcome video, followed by a tour of the demesne with an expert guide; fun and informative all in one. Along the way you’ll find out about the phenomenal achievements in science, astronomy, photography, engineering and botany attributed to the Parsons family who have lived at Birr Castle for 400 years. The Great Telescope is worth seeing alone, for its size and impact on the landscape and science alike.
During the summer months you can also book a guided tour of Birr Castle (over 12s only) and get a taste of the history of the family and demesne.
Things to Know
Useful Information
There are 120 acres of parkland to discover at Birr Castle Demesne
- One of the top ten attractions in Ireland
- Pre-booking for tours is advised
- Seasonal events throughout the year
- Kids can enjoy the solar trail and Ireland’s tallest treehouse!
Birr Castle Demesne
Birr Castle is located in the centre of Birr, so getting there is easy. Parking is available in the public car park across from the castle. Birr is less than 30 minutes from Tullamore and only just over 12km from Banagher.
53.09718826787609, -7.9147003135603855
