Space Week at Birr Castle – Family Rocket Workshop!

Space is only an hour’s drive away by car – upwards! Yet, we need some very powerful rockets to get there in only minutes to bring satellites and astronauts beyond Earth’s gravity into space. Have you wondered where rockets were first used, or how they work?
Seanie Morris is a renowned STEM Communicator and brings one of his favourite workshops to Birr Castle – Rocket Making AND Launching! Using materials supplied*, Seanie will demonstrate the principles behind rocketry while you make your own rocket. Then, into the meadows we go to launch them from the launch pad and see how high they get. Some have reached as high as 100 metres before!

*Participants will need to bring an empty 2 litre 7Up or Club Orange/Lemon bottle on the day (no lid or wrapping needed). Everything else is supplied, and you get to take your finished rocket home with you! 

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times, with a valid adult ticket.

Date: Saturday 7 October
Workshop 1: 11.00-12.30
Workshop 2: 13.30-15.00

The Peatlands Immersive Experience

From the end of September until October 2023, join us for an Immersive Experience in our Copper Tree Gallery featuring an exhibition from artists including Birr native Tina Claffey.

The Peatlands is an immersive film imagined and curated by Charleen Hurtubise, involving various artists with a passion for our peatlands. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness of the importance of our peatlands, and to describe their stunning beauty through photography, video, soundscape and painting.

Admission to the Experience will be FREE, however general admission rates apply to those wishing to visit the gardens and parklands of Birr Castle Demesne.

More details to follow!

Foraging through Birr Castle Demesne

Join Mary Bulfin as she shows us the diversity of foraging plants that exist at this time of the year and their usefulness in cooking, herbal medicines, teas, folkloric connections, and many other uses of these plants.
This event is suitable for active ageing individuals and groups.
Mary connects people to their places and heritage through exploration, observation and use of wild plants.

Halloween Pumpkin Trail

Daily 09:00 until 15:30

Saturday 28 October to Sunday 5 November 2023

Explore the outdoors of Birr Castle Demesne with the ‘Halloween Trail’, where you will follow your map in search for all the halloween letters lost within the gardens.

Costumes are encouraged!!

All trails are included in General Admission. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Birr Castle Demesne and The Courtyard Cafe will be opened each day of the Halloween Mid-term Break. Our Treehouse Adventure Playground will also be open daily.

BOOK HERE TODAY!

‘Nature Through the Lens’

Join Jeff Harvey, a renowned Irish photographer for a one-hour photography workshop in the wonderful setting of Birr Castle Demesne as Autumn unfolds around you.
This interactive workshop will teach you how to make the most of the camera on your phone as Jeff guides you through the Demesne and allow you to learn practical photography skills to capture high quality photos on your smartphone.

Suitable for families or individuals. Ages 12+.
Participants of the workshop will have access to explore the Demesne before and after the workshop as part of their ticket.
All participants/families need to bring their own phone to use throughout the workshop.

*Completed for 2023*

*Completed for 2023*

The Vintage Picnic 2023

Come enjoy the Vintage Picnic at Birr Castle Demesne as part of 55th Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival 2023 on Friday 4 August!!

Lay down your picnic blankets and spread out your own vintage-style picnic. Try your hand at a game of Garden Croquet or Skittles.  A fun-filled memory-making day out for all. Includes time to explore the 120 acres of parkland and gardens, the Great Telescope, and the Treehouse Adventure Playground.

Prizes on the day for Best Looking Vintage Themed Picnic, Best Dressed Vintage Family and more!

The event will start at 12:30 and finish around 15:00.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

– Pre-booking is essential

– No BBQ/Fires

– Dogs must be kept on a lead

– No bikes/balls/hurls or drones

– Please note there is a walk of around 600 meters from the car park to the picnic site

– Standard booking T&Cs apply

If you don’t want to pack a picnic yourself, you can also pre-book your picnic for collection from our café at courtyardcafebcd@gmail.com, or your favourite café in Birr Town

Free for Friends of Birr Castle Demesne – please see latest Friends Newsletter or ask at reception. 

*Completed for 2023*

Brian Kennedy Walk & Talk

Join Brian Kennedy, renowned local historian on the occasion of the 403rd anniversary of the arrival of Laurence Parsons to Birr in a ‘Walk & Talk’ around the Demesne.

FREE for Friends – sign up at reception or email reception@birrcastle.com

*Spaces are limited so be sure to book your spot as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

Please note this ‘Walk & Talk’ tour does NOT include access inside the Castle. The tour will take place around the Demesne.

*Completed for 2023*

Wild Connections Summer Camp

Our fun Wild Connection camps will let your kids connect with nature in the great outdoors under the guidance of our experienced educational team.

Our biodiversity summer camps will take place over two separate weeks in July.

Week 1: 5-7 Year Olds

Week 2: 8-10 Year Olds

From 10.00-14.00 each day.

 Limited spaces per camp.
Unfortunately, this camp is not suitable for children with limited mobility. 

Sample activities include:

Pond Dipping
Bird Watching
Nature Crafts
Wellness Walk
Flora Trail

Lunch/break times include the schedule.

All children must bring their own packed lunch and notify, at the time of booking, of any allergies or medical conditions that could infringe on the ability to take part in the activities. Please dress for the outdoors and re-apply sun lotion to children in advance of the workshops.

Cost: €75 per child (10% discount to Friends with valid membership, your membership discount code was circulated within our Friends e-shots recently send, your membership fob number cannot be used on the system to avail of the discount). Please note if you book at full price discount cannot be applied later.  

*Completed for 2023*

“Bee Inspired”
The Importance of our Native Irish Honey Bee

Come and join John Greenaway and John Thorp of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS), as they delve into the importance of the Native Irish Honey Bee in our environment and how imperative their conservation is.

The NIHBS was established in 2012 by a group of beekeepers who wished to support the various strains of the Native Irish Honey Bee throughout the country. This is a cross-border organisation, open to all, that consists of representatives from all corners of the island of Ireland.

On Saturday June 24th, both John Greenaway & John Thorp will be based in the pavilion beside our wildflower meadow, which is home to an array of biodiversity.

Join the conversation on how we, as an island, can help understand and protect our native Irish honey bees.

*Completed for 2023*

‘Through the Eyepiece’ – Mary Ward Event

Join Caroline Conway as she delves into the life of Mary Ward and her passion for microscopy. Based on the macro photography of Tina Claffey, and the early pioneering work of Mary Ward and her book “Sketches with the Microscope”, we will bring her view into the 21^st century with modern day microscopes to examine and draw the flora and fauna that Mary was looking at in the 19^th century.

This 2-hour workshop is sure to spark the interests of budding wildlife enthusiasts, both young and old, who want to see what life is like under the microscope!

For more information on Mary Ward, please click here

*Completed for 2023*