Birr Castle Demesne is a place of extraordinary discoveries. Open 360 days a year and includes a castle, 120 acres of gardens and parklands, the Great Telescope, and Ireland's Historic Science Centre. Birr Castle Demesne is open all year and it has been home to the pioneering Parsons family since 1620. The Great Telescope was built by the 3rd Earl of Rosse here in 1845, and it remained the largest telescope in the world for over 70 years. The parklands and gardens cover 120 acres and include over 5000 species of plants and trees collected from all over the world, along with the award-winning formal gardens. Ireland's Historic Science Centre takes you on a journey of extraordinary discoveries - from the invention of the marine steam turbine, a machine to measure the heat of the moon, to galleries dedicated to the building and discoveries of the Great Telescope. Be amazed by the photographic contribution of the 3rd Countess of Rosse, and marvel at her original darkroom believed to be the oldest intact darkroom in the world. The Treehouse Adventure Playground ensures that the younger demographic can explore and play in a safe and exciting environment. The interior of the castle is open for Guided Castle Tours from May to August each year, however guided tours of the castle can be accommodated outside of those dates once pre-booked and approved in advance. There is a gift shop and café in the welcome courtyard. Coach parking is located at the entrance, with a public car park also located nearby. Opening times and ticket prices are listed on www.birrcastle.com.

What Makes Us So Special?

• Great Telescope (unique globally).
• Ireland's tallest Treehouse.
• Open all year round and the unique offering.

"A highlight of our holiday. This castle, on the edge of Birr town, is home to a truly extraordinary family of engineers, botanists and astronomers - all down the generations. To see the Leviathan, the largest telescope in the world at that time, and to learn about the remarkable engineering 'brains' that the family is full of, is remarkable. Our guide for the castle tour was probably one of the best we have ever been with. He explained everything clearly and carefully; we enjoyed every minute of his tour. The grounds are lovely to walk around in."