Birr

This charming Georgian town on the River Camcor is a designated Irish Heritage Town. The tree-lined streets, which were constructed in the early to mid-1700s, are spacious and well-planned, making it a delight to walk through them.

The main draw of the town is Birr Castle. The Great Telescope, once the largest in the world, is currently housed in a magnificent castle that has been the original home of the Parsons family for 14 generations, also known as the Earls of Rosse. The massive box hedges in the castle gardens cannot be missed either. As you stroll around the grounds, be mindful of your surroundings. There, you'll see traces of countless landscape alterations over the centuries, including the arboretum and river garden from the 20th century as well as the waterfall and winter garden from the 19th. The Earls of Rosse was great astronomy and science enthusiasts. At the Birr Castle Demesne, a science museum situated on the grounds of the castle, you may find outdated equipment, cameras, and pictures (dating back to the middle of the 1800s). Birr served as the first host destination for the All-Ireland Hurling final in 1888. Additionally, Birr hosts the Irish Hot Air Ballooning Championships in September.