Birr Castle Demesne (Republic of Ireland) - © Gardens-Guide.com - OPEN GARDENS UK & Ireland - Features, Admission, Maps, History, and Local Amenities

Birr Castle Demesne

Birr Castle Demesne
Birr
Co. Offaly

tel: 00353 (21) 509 20336
fax:

Area: Republic of Ireland

Birr Castle Demesne -- Republic of Ireland

Visitor Information

www.birrcastle.com

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Birr Castle Demesne
Republic of Ireland
All details updated* as of: 18/01/2008

Disabled information plus mobility and walking aids

Opening Days and Hours

All year; 7 days a week; 9am - 6pm; Winter months 10am - 4pm

Parties / Coaches: Yes

Groups / Coaches need Appointment: Yes
Guided tours by arrangement

House Open for Viewing: no

National Garden Scheme days: no

Best Times of Year to Visit:
May
Autumn

To see:
Magnolias in bloom
Stunning autumn colour

Admission Prices

Adult € 9; Senior/Student € 7.50; Child € 5.50; Family € 25; Group rates € 6.50

Onsite Facilities

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes

Teas: Yes
Light Refreshment: Yes
Picnics: Yes

Dogs Allowed: Yes
On Lead only: Yes
Special Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Historic Science Centre

Garden Features

'Leviathan' Great Telescope - the largest in the world for over 70 years.

English Heritage Garden Grade:

National Collection:

Description of Garden

Designer:

With over 120 acres (50 ha) of gardens and grounds of 17th century parkland, and with the Victorian gothic castle catching the eye in vistas throughout the park, this spectacular garden has a huge collection of over 4,000 trees and shrubs to be admired. A marvellous walled garden has a tunnel running through the centre. Many of the plants here were grown from the original seeds collected on expeditions to China before WWII, others were collected by the owners' parents from the wild. The collections of magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas are particularly fine.

But the most spectacular feature is the huge telescope, 'Leviathan', once the largest in the world, now completely restored and operating throughout the day, testifying to the range of interests and capablilities of the owner's ancestors. This is augmented by the new Galleries of Discovery. There are also the tallest box hedges in the British Isles at over 12 metres high. An extraordinary suspension bridge crosses one of the rivers and there has been much recent restoration of key elements of the garden by the Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration programme.

History of Garden

The park was laid out in the 17th century when the river was diverted to make the lake, it has been slowly added to over the centuries with most of the rarer specimens collected, propagated and planted under the supervision of the 6th and 7th Earls of Rosse.

Nearby Republic of Ireland Hotels, Facilities & Amenities

Hotels & Accommodation:
Kinnity Castle,
Dooleys Hotel,
County Arms Hotel

Restaurants:

Inns & Pubs:

Villages / Towns / Sightseeing:
Birr Georgian Heritage Town
Clonmacnoise
Bog Railway

- Republic of Ireland

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*Information Updates
We directly contact each garden for update information every year.
(Most recently requested in Jan - Feb 2008)

The garden information above was last updated on 18/01/2008

If this is your garden page, and you see any errors,
please contact us and we will correct them immediately.

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0196_birrCastle.jpg - Birr Castle Demesne (Republic of Ireland)