Things to see and do Ireland

Birr Castle Demesne & Historic Science Centre

Award winning gardens set in one of Ireland’s beautiful Georgian heritage towns, Birr Castle Demesne offers a combination of fun, relaxation and discovery to all who visit. Located in County Offaly, Birr Castle is known for the unparalleled beauty of its gardens, which were originally landscaped around the lake in the 18th Century by Sir William Parsons. Over the generations of the Parsons family, the demesne has increased in beauty and interest. It was the first garden in Ireland to receive specimens of dawn redwood after its discovery in China in 1945. The garden comes alive in spring with spring flowering bulbs and a vast Magnolia collection. The demesne includes formal gardens with the world’s tallest box hedges, wisteria and old roses. It also has terraces that afford stunning views of the castle and come alive with colour in the summer. Additionally, water is a prominent feature, with a waterfall, lakes and rivers throughout the property. Birr Castle offers fun for the whole family. It is home to the Historic Science Centre, which includes a café and shop, as well as the great telescope, which was built in the early 1840s by the Third Earl of Rosse and still works today. For admission prices, facilities, opening times etc, please see website.

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