Birr Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town in County Offaly, Ireland
About Birr
The first documented telescope was a patent of 1608: Galileo quickly learned of it, built his own, and made a series of discoveries. These early designs used refractive lenses, which distorted the light with a rainbow-effect on the colours, so their useful size was limited. Then came reflectors, using concave mirrors to focus distant light - these could be made much larger, hence magnify more, and probe deeper into space. William Parsons (1800-1867), the 3rd Earl of Rosse, built a 36-inch reflector and reckoned he could go further. No dilettante aristocrat he: he took first class honours in mathematics and had a distinguished academic career. The main technical challenges were accuracy of mirror grinding, tarnishing of the mirror surface, and supporting versus maneuvering such weight. By 1
Top Attractions in Birr
Explore the best things to see and do in Birr:
- ★Bike Park Ireland
- ★Birr Castle
- ★Birr Equestrian Centre
- ★Birr Golf Club
- ★Birr Theatre & Arts Centre
Where to Eat in Birr
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Emma's Café
- 🍴River Restaurant
- 🍴Spinners
- 🍴The Thatch
Where to Stay in Birr
- 🏨County Arms Hotel
- 🏨Dooly's Hotel
- 🏨The Stables
- 🏨Townsend House
- 🏨Walcot B&B
Birr Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: