This article is about Birr, the town in Ireland. For alternative meanings see: Birr (disambiguation).

Birr is a town in the Midlands county of Offaly in the Republic of Ireland. It was once called "Parsonstown". It is situated on the Camcor River and has a castle which is open to tourists all the year round. Birr Castle is the home of the seventh Earl of Rosse.

A main feature on the grounds of the castle is the great telescope of the third Earl of Rosse, an astronomical telescope with a 72-inch reflector which was, until 1917, the largest telescope in the world.

Flowing past Birr, the Camcor River flows into the Little Brosna which, in turn, flows into the River Shannon.

Notable people from Birr

• Joseph Stirling Coyne (1803-1868) (Yes, THE J.S. Coyne)
• John Guinan (1874-1945)
• John Feehan b. 1946
• John Frazer 1804-1852
• The Dom Egan, philosopher and cultural commentator, b. 1905
• Joe Dowling, the Faithful county's somberero-wearing answer to Charles Bukowski, b. 1921

External links

• The Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation (http://www.travelpublishing.co.uk/CountryLivingIreland/EastCoastandMidlands/cliTheBirrScientificandHeritageFoundation.htm)
• Birr Castle Demesne (http://www.birrcastleireland.com/new/index.htm?mainFrame=http%3A//www.birrcastleireland.com/new/main.htm)
• Clickable map of County Offaly (http://www.local.ie/general/map/offaly.shtml)
• Birr Castle Demesne at Irish Travel Ideas site (http://www.irishtravelideas.com/features/birrcastle.asp)
• Dan Heller's (recent) images of Birr Castle and gardens (http://www.danheller.com/ire-birr-castle.html)
• Much older photographs of Birr (http://www.imagesofoldireland.com/towns%20and%20villages/co%20offaly/birr/birr.html)