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Condado de Offaly

Parroquia

Birr

Biorra

17

Localidades

3,713

Registros censales

673

Hogares

3

Años del censo

1821 Censo
Personas
1,993
Hogares
317
1901 Censo
Personas
848 -57.5%
Hogares
177 -44.2%
1911 Censo
Personas
872 +2.8%
Hogares
179 +1.1%

Acerca de

Birr is a small parish town located in County Offaly in the heart of Ireland's Midlands region. Situated along the Little Brosna River, the town sits within a landscape characterized by rolling countryside, farmland, and woodlands typical of the Irish Midlands. The parish covers a modest area in what has historically been important agricultural territory, with the river system providing both practical resources and natural beauty to the surrounding community. The town's setting at a crossing point over the Little Brosna made it a natural location for settlement and development.

The history of Birr is significantly shaped by the presence of Birr Castle, a structure that has defined the town's character for centuries. The castle and its associated demesne have been central to Birr's development, with the town growing up around this focal point of power and influence. The castle grounds contain historic gardens and parkland that reflect centuries of cultivation and care. The town itself developed with a planned layout that reflects eighteenth-century design principles, featuring a central street plan that remains visible in its modern layout.

Birr is perhaps most renowned for its connection to scientific advancement through the third Earl of Rosse, who constructed the Great Telescope at Birr Castle in the nineteenth century. This instrument was at one point the largest telescope in the world and represented a significant achievement in astronomical observation. The telescope and the scientific work conducted at the castle brought attention to Birr beyond Ireland's borders and established the town as a place of intellectual and scientific importance during that era.

Today, Birr remains a functioning parish community within County Offaly, serving as a local center for the surrounding rural population. The town continues to be shaped by its relationship with Birr Castle and its historic character, while also serving the practical needs of modern parish life. For residents and visitors alike, Birr represents a connection to Ireland's rural heritage and scientific history, with the castle and its grounds remaining the most significant draw and source of local identity.

Source: AI generated

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Condado

Offaly

Baronía

Ballybritt

Nombre en irlandés

Biorra

Localidades

17 localidades

Annals of the Four Masters

Historical references from O'Donovan's edition (1848–51)

The Annals of the Four Masters record Birr (Irish: Bíorra) in 22 entries between AD 553 and AD 1579.

Irish name: Bíorra *Birr*

Early Christian

AD 553 AD 571 AD 745 AD 760 AD 774 AD 780 AD 791

Viking & Pre-Norman

AD 824 AD 825 AD 857 AD 865 AD 885 AD 890 AD 891 AD 926 AD 949 AD 956 AD 989 AD 1065 AD 1079 AD 1095

Early Modern

AD 1579

Ecclesiastical & Political Records

  • Birr, abbots of, 553, 571, 745, 760, 774, 780,

Source: Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, ed. John O'Donovan (1848–51). Public domain.

Ubicación de la parroquia

Birr OpenStreetMap

Detalles

Inglés
Birr
Irlandés
Biorra
Baronía
Ballybritt
Condado
Offaly

Registros censales

Localidades 17