Birr & Offaly Bogland

Birr is one of Ireland's finest heritage towns, home to groundbreaking 19th-century science. Beyond it lies the Offaly bogland - once a harsh frontier, now a landscape of industrial heritage and recovering nature.

Why This Route?

Birr and the bogs offer unexpected treasures:

Birr Castle - Historic telescope and science centre
Georgian town - Beautifully preserved streetscapes
Bog railways - Narrow gauge lines through the peat
Lough Boora - Sculpture park in former industrial bog
Renewable heritage - From turf cutting to rewilding

The Route

Birr

The Georgian town is a delight:

Birr Castle Demesne

Allow 2-3 hours for:

The Great Telescope The Leviathan of Parsonstown was the world's largest telescope from 1845-1917. The 72-inch mirror discovered spiral galaxies. The restored structure is extraordinary.

Science Centre Interactive exhibitions on the Parsons family's contributions to astronomy, photography, and engineering.

Gardens Over 50 acres including:

Box hedges (highest in the world)
Rare plant collections
River walks
Seasonal displays

Town Centre

Georgian streets with:

Distinctive shopfronts
Emmet Square
John's Mall
Excellent restaurants

Cloghan Castle

A medieval tower house (now accommodation) near Banagher.

Lough Boora Discovery Park

Former industrial peat bog transformed into:

Sculpture Park

Large-scale artworks created from bog materials placed across the landscape.

Nature Trails

Walking and cycling through:

Rewilding bog
Wetlands
Forest plantations
Open meadows

Wildlife

Grey partridge (reintroduction project)
Irish hare
Dragonflies
Rare plants returning

Clonmacnoise & West Offaly Railway

Experience bog travel on this narrow-gauge railway:

9km journey across the bog
Interpretation of turf cutting
Industrial heritage
Unique landscape

Ferbane

A market town on the Brosna River.

Tullamore

Return via the county town (see Clonmacnoise route).

Bog History

Industrial Peat

From the 1950s, Bord na Móna industrialised turf cutting:

Vast drainage schemes
Narrow-gauge railways
Power stations burning peat
Changed the landscape profoundly

The End of Peat

Industrial extraction has largely ceased:

Climate concerns
Depleted reserves
Rehabilitation programmes

What Happens Now

Former industrial bogs are being:

Rewetted (drain blocking)
Rewilded (nature returning)
Repurposed (parks, trails, energy)

Walking & Cycling

Lough Boora Trails

Sculpture Trail: 5km
Nature Trail: 8km
Full Circuit: 18km
Suitable for cycling

Birr Castle Grounds

River Walk: 3km
Gardens: Various loops
All easy terrain

Practical Tips

Birr Castle - Book online for savings
Bog railway - Check running days (seasonal)
Lough Boora - Free access; bike hire available
Birr restaurants - The Thatch and Emma's café recommended
Allow full day - Plenty to explore