Birr Castle has been the home of the Parsons family (Earls of Rosse) since 1620. The demesne — 120 acres of formal gardens, woodlands and river walks — is one of the finest privately owned historic gardens in Ireland and contains some remarkable features: the box hedges flanking the formal garden are listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest, at over 10 metres. The river walk follows the confluence of the Little Brosna and the Camcor through mature woodland.
The Historic Science Centre within the demesne celebrates the scientific achievements of the Parsons family. The centrepiece is the Great Telescope — the Leviathan of Parsonstown — built between 1842 and 1845 by William Parsons, the 3rd Earl of Rosse. For 70 years it was the world's largest telescope, with a 1.8-metre mirror and a 17-metre tube suspended between two stone walls. It was used to discover the spiral structure of galaxies. The telescope has been restored to working condition and visitors can stand beneath the massive instrument and look through the tube.
The castle itself is still lived in (private) but the demesne, gardens, science centre and restored telescope are all open. Birr town — a planned Georgian town with fine architecture — is immediately outside the castle gates and worth 30 minutes.
Highlights
- The Leviathan of Parsonstown — restored Great Telescope, world's largest for 70 years (1845–1917)
- World's tallest box hedges (10m+) in the formal garden, listed in Guinness World Records
- 120-acre demesne with river walks, woodlands and 19th-century scientific instruments
- Birr town — one of the best-preserved Georgian towns in Ireland — directly outside the gate
Good to know
- →Allow 2.5–3 hours for the full demesne: gardens, science centre, telescope and river walk.
- →The telescope restoration is excellent — look along the tube to understand the scale of the original instrument.
- →Birr town has good cafés and a craft brewery (Birr Brewing Company) — stop for lunch after the castle.
- →The demesne is at its most spectacular in spring (snowdrops, daffodils) and autumn (river walk foliage).
Best Time to Visit
Year-round. Spring for garden planting. Autumn for river walk foliage. Summer for the longest evening light in the demesne.
Getting There
Where to Stay
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Book this experience
Birr Castle Demesne
Admission to the castle demesne, the Historic Science Centre and the 120-acre gardens.
Book now →Quick Facts
- Type
- Heritage
- County
- Co. Offaly
- Province
- Leinster
- Entry
- €14
- Hours
- Daily 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00) year-round.
- Allow
- 2–3 hours