We drove down to Birr to meet up with a co-worker of Tim's, Mary and her daughter Sirsha, to see the castle. Mary's uncle worked at the castle as a gardener. Home of the Parson family since 1620, it is still a private residence and is not open to the public, but the gardens are. This castle is built on the site of a Norman castle dating from 1170.
The girls spotted the moat and in they all went. How many times do you get to run around in a dry moat?
Snowdrops in January........beautiful, but even more beautiful in January!
Lambs.....
and more lambs!
This ewe came walking right over as if to say, "No more pictures".
300 year old box hedge.....amazing. According to the Guinness Book of Records, these are the tallest in the world. The grounds have been evolving since the 17th century. The grounds include a lake, two rivers, a wildflower meadow, a formal garden, and a fernery.
Lucy, Sofie, and Sirsha feeding the ducks. They ate right out of their hands!
This is the Great Telescope. It was built in the 1840's by the third Earl of Rosse. The seventh Earl of Rosse lives in the castle today. We actually saw him going into the castle--Mary pointed him out to us!
Stunning! "It is like a blast from the past" It does look like a wonderful place to live. I can just see the horses running through the arches and hedges, and I let my imagination run wild with the awe of all you see. Thanks for being my eyes.
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