Birr Heritage Town
| County: | Co. Offaly |
| Tel: | 057 9120336 |
| Fax: | 057 9121583 |
| Email: | mail@birrcastle.com |
Turning back the clock to the elegance of the Georgian era, Birr has stayed true to its 18th and 19th Century character, with tree-lined malls and avenues and wonderful Georgian Architecture. The narrow main street retains its beautiful shop fronts. There are two churches and a Wesley Chapel built in the gothic style. Birr Civic Offices and Birr Library are now sited in the lovely Gothic Revival building designed in the mid 19th Century by A.W. Pugin as a convent for the Sisters of Mercy founded here in 1840 by Catherine McAuley. The chapel has been superbly restored as a magnificent library and houses local treasures including a facsimile of the Macregol Gospels scripted and illuminated in Birr about 800 AD, the orginal of which is now in Bodelian Library, Oxford. A curious pillar in Emmet Square was once surmounted by a statue of the Duke of Cumberland and the Market Square was a hive of activity where farmers bought and sold their produce. A monastery founded by St. Brendan the Elder in the sixth century hosted an important synod in 697AD, which passed the Cáin Adomnáin, a Brehon Law for the protection of women.
General Information
| Address: | Birr, Co. Offaly |
|---|---|
| Telephone; | 057 9120336 |
| Fax: | 057 9121583 |
| Email: | mail@birrcastle.com |
| Website: | http://www.birrnet.com |
| Location: | Birr Town Centre |
| Season: | All Year |
| Tours: | Enquire at Birr Castle Demesne & Ireland’s Historic Science Centre |
| Booking Contact: | mail@birrcastle.com |
| Town Amenities: | Angling: The River Shannon (8 miles from Birr) and its tributaries offer a variety of angling opportunities Bird Watching: The Shannon Callows west of Birr are home to a large variety of birdlife including rare species such as the Corncrake Cycling: Quiet country roads and distinctive landscape around Birr offer a variety of excellent cycling routes Gardens: The gardens of Birr Castle Demesne are among the finest in Europe Golf: Birr has an 18 hole championship course and there are many other fine courses in the area Horse Riding: At the AIRE approved Birr Equestrian Centre Mountain Climbing: In the nearby Slieve Bloom Mountains Other Attractions: Churches, Wesley Chapel, Georgian Architecture, Macregol Gospels-Birr Library, Birr Heritage Town Trail, Birr Theatre & Arts Centre Walking: The Slieve Bloom Way, Offaly Way and also Eco Walks and Looped Walks in the Slieve Bloom Mountains Swimming: Birr has a recently refurbished community swimming pool |
| Entrance Fees: |
Adult €4 U12s Free OAP/Student €2 |
| Picnic Area: | Yes |
| Coach Parking: | Yes |
| Group Booking Necessary: | Yes |
| Car Parking: | Yes |
| Disabled Access/Parking: | Yes |
Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival
This year's festival will take place from Fri 13th to Fri 20th August 2010
Entertainment & Arts - Performing Arts
Week long vintage and arts festival held in Birr, Co. Offaly each year. Now in its 42nd year, the festival is shaping up to be quite a week's entertainment! Featuring art exhibitions, an Olde Time Fair on the Green, vintage Parade, free kids events, classical evening, concerts, busking, donkey derby, pub entertainment, fireworks, and so much more...
Please support your festival!
All content is public.
E-mail: info@birrvintageweek.com
Website: www.birrvintageweek.com
Office: 0879226961
Address: Birr, Co. Offaly
Birr, Ireland
BAROQUE DELIGHT CONCERT TOUR August 2010
Karin Leitner - Flute
Kerstin Doelle - Soprano
Fiachra Garvey - Piano
14th August Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival
Birr Theatre, Birr, Co. Offaly, www.birrtheatre.com
8pm, Tickets: 057 9122911
Opening Times
Birr Castle Gardens & Ireland’s Historic Science Centre
Mar-Jun
Mon-Fri 09.00-17.30 / Sat 10.00-17.30 / Sun 14.00-17.30
Jul-Oct
Mon-Fri 09.00-18.00 / Sat 10.00-18.00 / Sun 12.00-17.30
Nov-Dec
Mon-Fri 09.00-17.30 / Sat 10.00-17.00 / closed Sundays
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre
Nestled in the tree lined Oxmantown Mall, Birr Theatre and Arts Centre is a dedicated purpose built theatre which dates from 1888.
See www.birrtheatre.com for more information
Birr Tourist Information
Unit 6 |
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Accommodation Birr - Dooly's Hotel
Dooly's Hotel stands in Emmet Square, the very centre of Georgian Birr. The hotel is one of the oldest coaching inns in the country dating back to 1747 and now enjoys the status of being a 3 star hotel
See www.doolyshotel.ie for more information
