Birr Castle Gardens

About

The owners of Birr Castle and its gardens have been entrenched in the natural sciences for generations, and as such, their property is a well-developed center for the natural sciences. Originally landscaped by Sir William Parsons in the 18th century, his descendent, the The 3rd Earl of Rosse constructed the world’s largest telescope on the grounds in 1845. This marvel of engineering is now the centerpiece of an interactive science center dedicated to astronomy, particularly the work of the Third and Fourth Earls of Rosse, and Mary, Countess of Rosse, in the 1800s, as well as the botanical work carried out in the Demesne. The 50 hectare gardens boasts over 2000 plant species from around the world, the tallest box hedges in the world, the first Dawn Redwood to arrive in Ireland following the tree’s discovery in 1945. For more information, please visit www.birrcastle.com