Page 58 - The Drivers Guide 2019

The Driver's Guide
Star gazing
JN 12 (R443) TO R445 AND N62 TO BIRR
“Deep Sky” pilgrims from across the world make their way to a small heritage town that prides itself on its handsome ensemble of Georgian architecture. The tree-lined malls and avenues of elegant houses dating from the 1800s tell a fascinating story. For here, in the centre of Ireland, in Birr Castle Demesne, is a monster that made astronomical history.
Built in the 1840s, Lord Rosse’s Leviathan was the largest telescope in the world for over 70 years. It was high up on a movable viewing platform in this extraordinary structure that the Third Earl of Rosse discovered the spiral nature of galaxies, and from 1845-1914, anyone wishing to witness this phenomenon had to come to Birr.
And they came, in their droves, from across Europe and beyond, to observe the stars with Lord Rosse or simply to marvel at this feat of engineering.
He spent night after dark cold night – precariously balanced 18 metres above ground – observing the heavens above, making notes and painstakingly drawing his discoveries by hand. When published, his findings with illustrations of over 30 spiral nebulae sent shock waves around the star- gazing world.
This ‘leviathan’ as it is named, remained the largest telescope in the world for over 70 years and is arguably the largest historic scientific instrument still working today. For
today’s visitors to Birr, there’s the thrill of seeing Lord Rosse’s workshop and drawings first hand, and getting close up to the Leviathan itself. As Ireland’s greatest scientific wonder and represents a masterpiece of human creative genius. Walking round a spiral of lime trees commemorating the discoveries, our imaginations start to soar.
The Great Telescope, or ‘Leviathan’ as it is named, is an amazing feat of engineering and astronomy designed and built by William Parsons, third Earl of Rosse, in the 1840s. Upon completion, Leviathan was the largest telescope in the world and remained so for over 70 years.
56 IRELAND’S ANCIENT EAST