Birr Castle County Offally with car and driver

The old turbine at Birr castle which was invented by one of the Parsons family back in the late eighteen hundreds and which revolutionised our world energy systems.The telescope at Birr castle which once upon a time was the world's largest telescope and which was also invented by one of the Parsons.

Some of the beautiful flowers in the magnificent gardens at Birr castle
Henry Smith with his touring buggy.

You can walk the gardens at Birr castle, but make sure you go around with Henry in his buggy first. Then you will know a lot more about what you are looking at as you go. Henry's knowledge of the flowers and the amazing variety of trees on the estate is essential to help you to enjoy the gardens and should not to be missed. The castle's history and the development of these gardens and the grounds, the rivers and lakes ,are all a part of what you will learn from Henry,and his charge is more than reasonable, and worth every penny. I am recommending Henry without reservation.
One of the lovely rivers that flow through the gardens.
Henry's buggy with my people aboard.
A long range picture of the castle in the distance with the gardens and the quaint little bridge in the foreground.
Birr castle with its moat in the foreground. This moat is quiet deep and would repel attackers.
The river Shannon in front of their hotel in Athlone, the Hudson Bay.
A partial picture of the front of the Hudson Bay hotel.

My clients spent two nights in this lovely hotel which is situated on the banks of the mighty Shannon River near Athlone in County West Meath. This is a sister hotel to the Galway Bay hotel in Galway city, and i would highly recommend both of them.

I will be posting more pictures from Birr castle tomorrow, and also some pictures from the world renowned Clonmacnoise monastic settelment on the Shannon river. Make sure you come back to see these as some of them are spectacular.