The Midlands
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Midlands - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Birr Castle Gardens and Science Centre
Summer visitors can join a guided tour of one of Ireland's most elegant stately homes and peer behind the scenes of a previously closed-off world. Although relatively recently constructed, during the great famine in the mid-19th century, this Gothic Revival castle (built around a series of castles since the 12th century---including one that was damaged by fire in 1823) has been the home of the earls of Rosse or Parson family, since the turbulent 17th century. Castle tours, usually given by family members, bring you through the spectacular Gothic music saloon, the library, the yellow drawing room, and reception rooms. Held from May to August, Monday--Saturday, the tours run at 10, 11:30, and 1, and last around 60 minutes. Note that the castle has more than 100 rooms and the tour takes in just a small number of them. The Parson family continue the tradition of making botanical expeditions for specimens of rare trees, plants, and shrubs to fill the demesne's 150 acres. The formal gardens contain the tallest box hedges in the world (at 32 feet) and vine-sheltered hornbeam allées. In spring, check out the wonderful display of flowering magnolias, cherries, crab apples, and naturalized narcissi; in autumn, the maples, chestnuts, and weeping beeches blaze red and gold. The demesne consists of 4,000 varieties of tree and nearly 40 percent of the plants are of Chinese origin. If you are joining a house tour, book in advance; allow at least three hours to see everything in the demesne—there are 3,400 plants and 3,860 varieties of trees from 40 countries. The grounds also contain Ireland's Historic Science Centre, an exhibition on astronomy, photography, and engineering housed in the stable block with the oldest surviving darkroom in the world. The giant (72-inch-long) reflecting telescope, built in 1845, was the largest in the world for 75 years. In 2019, three science galleries were renovated and include a hologram of the third countess of Ross inside the darkroom from the 1800s. There is no public access to the I-Lofar (Low Frequency Array Radio) telescope---a gateway to solar physics beyond our galaxy. Although if you can, request a view reception. On the grounds. there's also a tree house designed in the shape of a fairy-tale castle with round turrets and Gothic-style windows. It features a huge slide, tree decks lined by a rope bridge, and secret tunnels. Along with the adventure playground, with its giant bouncing pillow and a myriad of child-friendly activities, there is a crafts shop and Courtyard Café.
Rosse Row, Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland057-912–0336Sight Details
Rate Includes: Castle tour, gardens, and science center €20, gardens €12.50, Castle closed Sept.–May and Sun. -
2. Birr Library
In keeping with the historic townscape character, it's worth calling in here to see what ranks as one of Ireland's most spectacular locations for a library. Based in the ground floor of the Birr municipal offices (and a former convent), the building was designed by A. W. N. Pugin and completed by his son Edward in the mid-19th century. The former chapel—which is now the library—has retained the exquisite Gothic-style stone and mullioned, stained-glass windows. Upstairs you will find a facsimile of an early Christian illuminated manuscript, the Gospel Book of MacRegol, also known as the Book of Birr and the Rushworth Gospels, on permanent display. MacRegol was a scribe, bishop, and abbot in Birr. The original manuscript, which is now in Oxford's Bodleian Library, was produced around AD 800 and consists of 169 vellum folios or leaves. The library also offers Internet service and you can pick up some local tourist information leaflets and brochures here, too.
Wilmer Rd., Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland057-912–4950Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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