Location

I-LOFAR Education Centre

The I-LOFAR Education Centre was opened in late 2018 and is now used to welcome students and members of the public to the I-LOFAR site, so that they can learn about the fascinating engineering and science of Ireland’s newest radio telescope.

This complements the existing Science Visitor Centre at Birr Castle, that tells the story of past Irish achievements in science. The I-LOFAR Education Centre will provides an inspirational location for education workshops, and community-based STEM projects. It is equipped with a large video wall, numerous interactive flat screen displays, and a LOFAR radio telescope network activity wall.

The I-LOFAR Education Centre was being developed in partnership with Offaly County Council and has been supported by a grant from Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs’s Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ).

Birr Castle Demesne

I-LOFAR is located at Birr Castle Demesne, Co. Offaly — a 50 hectare stretch of enclosed parkland and private home to the 7th Earl of Rosse, whose family have lived here since the early 17th century. Birr Castle Demesne has a long and rich heritage in science and engineering and makes for a fascinating day out for families or groups. Visit Birr Castle Demesne’s website to find out more.

Birr Castle Demesne is most famous for its long history in astronomy. In 1845, the 3rd Earl of Rosse built the biggest optical telescope in the world and it remained so for 75 years, only being superseded by the Hooker Telescope at Mount Willson Observatory, California. On the grounds of Birr Castle, still standing in the middle of the park is the great telescope – the Leviathan – with its 15 metre long tube and 1.8 metre (6 feet) diameter aperture.

The building of this telescope was an immense feat of 19th century science and engineering. Even by modern standards, casting a 1.8 metre diameter mirror is a challenge. The 3rd Earl designed an alloy of copper and tin, known as speculum, that was cast in a furnace fired by turf (or peat) from the bogs which comprised much of his castle estate. This was followed by a careful cooling and polishing process so as to not crack the mirror.

Transport of the mirror to the telescope structure required the construction of a special railway system from the furnace to the telescope structure. Due to the telescope size, the support structure and mechanisms used to manoeuvre the telescope during astronomical observations was an engineering challenge of its day.

The Leviathan made Birr an astronomical centre during the 19th century. So much so, that it was visited by some of the most prominent scientists of the time, including Sir John Herschel, George Biddell Airy and Charles Babbage.

The Irish LOFAR Consortium is proud to continue this rich heritage in astronomy at Birr Castle, taking Irish astrophysics from its pioneering days in the 18th century to the current state-of-the-art in the 21st century. Visitors to the Demesne can learn more about the great past achievements of Birr Castle at the Science Centre.

Supporters

Birr Kids Space Ireland
Birr Scientific & Heritage Foundation
Grant Engineering
Joe Hogan (Openet)
Dermot Desmond
Denis O’Brien
Birr Lions Club
Birr Chamber of Commerce

How we got here

Funders

Science Foundation Ireland
Enterprise Ireland
HEAnet
Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation
Offaly County Council
Dept. of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural, and Gaeltacht
Dept. for Communities

Our Funders

Consortium Members

TCD
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
UCD
DCU
UCC
NUIG
DIAS
AIT

Meet the Team

Birr Castle Gardens & Science Centre
Rosse Row, Birr,
County Offaly,
R42 VO27

Website hosted by DIAS