The Earl and Countess of Rosse At Home in Birr Castle 2010

Introduction:

Birr Castle remains a private residence, the home of the Parsons family who have lived there since 1620.
In 1800, they inherited the Earldom of Rosse, and the present head of the family living at Birr Castle is Brendan Parsons, Seventh Earl of Rosse.

Arrangements can be made however for Lord and Lady Rosse to entertain a number of groups each year for lunch in the castle and a day in the Demesne.

 

The Programme:

Guests are first entertained to a reception in the tapestried hall, which provides an appropriate setting for a brief history of the castle.  The tour includes the main reception rooms of the Castle.

Lord and Lady Rosse like to know special interests in advance, so they can display specific items from the castle’s many collections.  

Lunch is served in the red dining room, the main dining table seats over twenty, however, the room can accommodate up to forty people.  A more intimate setting in an alcove overlooking the forecourt seats a further eight or nine. The tables are set with various family heirlooms, in silver, china or glass. There is a tradition of floral arrangements from the garden.

Lunch makes as much use as possible of the produce of the estate. The wine served will assuredly be of good vintage, having been personally selected from the depths of the castle cellars.

After lunch, the family portraits and furniture in the dining room may be pointed out, as well as the great staircase, which dates from the reign of Charles II.

Lord Rosse will take the group into the gardens to see the great telescope, as well as the galleries of Ireland’s Historic Science Centre.  Lord Rosse will also show the group as much of the Demesne’s beautiful gardens as the programme may allow for.

The Demesne is very extensive and covers over 50 hectares in all (over 120 acres), it is difficult to do justice to it in less than two or three hours. One must bear in mind therefore the time needed for the reception and lunch in the castle, as well as the personal tour of its main rooms, a minimum of about five to seven hours needs to be planned for Birr Castle, whatever the programme may be for the day.

 

Charges:

The group rate for parties of 20 or more is €115p.p, with a reduction of €20p.p. for parties of thirty or more.

An increase of €10 p.p. for parties numbering between fifteen and nineteen and an increase of €20p.p. for parties numbering between twelve and fourteen.

A fixed charge of €1620 applies for those numbering less than a dozen.

All payments should be made in favour of Birr Castle Trading for the full number of people booked and should be received in advance of the day of the visit.

 

Contact:

For further information and details on bookings, please contact:

The Estate Office
Birr Castle Demesne
Birr
County Offaly
Ireland
Telephone: +353 5791 20056
Email: estate@birrcastle.com

 

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