Address by Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce at the Official Opening of The Birr Castle Historic Science Centre, Birr Castle Demesne, Co. Offaly on Wednesday 22nd December, 1999 at 3.30pm.

It gives me great pleasure, as Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce, to be in Birr, this afternoon, at the official opening of Ireland's Historic Science Centre, situated here on Birr Castle Demesne.

When I visited this Centre in August of 1998, I had the opportunity to see at first hand the tremendous work, which was being carried out here, by the Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation. I am to-day, absolutely delighted, to see the final fruits of all of your labours.

This Historic Science Centre is designed specifically, to recognise and celebrate Ireland's greatest Scientific achievements.

It is located here in Birr, because it has been the home of the Parsons Family for generations. This great family have probably contributed more of the greatest number of leading Scientific Discoveries in their day; ranging from what was the World's Largest Telescope, before the present Century, to the invention of the Steam Turbine, all of which were executed here, in this magnificent location.

During the early 1840's, the 3rd. Earl of Rosse designed and built the Largest Telescope in the World - "the leviathan of Parsonstown". With this Telescope, he discovered the spiral nature of some of the galaxies and between 1845 and 1914, anyone wishing to witness this phenomenon, had to come to see it, at first hand, here in Birr. And come they did, from across Europe and beyond, to observe the stars with Lord Rosse and to marvel at this feat of Engineering, in the midlands of Ireland.

The aim of Ireland's Historic Science Centre, is therefore to recreate the essence and spirit of that achievement and to demonstrate how it came about: how this extraordinary Telescope, which is now magnificently restored, was first built here in the Birr Castle Workshops, by the People of Birr; and to learn about the other inventors and achievements, in science and engineering, from all over Ireland, which have contributed so much to our scientific tradition. All of this is located here, in a series of Science Galleries, within the Birr Castle Demesne.

Over the last few years, along with our officials, at my Office of Science & Technology, in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; we have through Forfás, been running a very successful Science & Technology Awareness Programme. This Programme is aimed at making the public, fully aware of, and comfortable with, Science & Technology developments and issues and how these affect our normal daily lives, all across Ireland and the modern global world.

I also wanted the scientific and technological community, to 'show their wares' to the public at large, so that the people could see, where and how tax payers money, is being spent by us, in Government.

In this context, I was delighted therefore, as Minister for Science and Technology, to be in a position to persuade my Government colleagues, of the importance of the final completion of this restoration work, as we move into the new Millennium.

Throughout this Science Centre, you have a number of Scientific Exhibitions, including the Great Telescope and in the Stable Blocks, the Science Galleries. These house major Exhibitions, in themes, associated with the Parsons Family, and their many collaborators here at Birr; in astronomy, engineering, photography and botany.

In the Stable Blocks area, is an Exhibition dedicated to leading scientists, from all over Ireland, relating their achievements to their contemporaries, in Britain and Europe.

In the Astronomy Gallery, visitors will discover the Birr Telescopes and the mid 19th. Century Observatory, along with the important local craftsmen and labourers, visiting engineers and scientists, who built the Telescope. In addition, Historic Scientific Instruments, some of which, Lord Rosse has succeeded to have returned to Ireland; are displayed here, alongside the interactive models, which explain how they were used. Astronomers and optical engineers from elsewhere in Ireland, are also celebrated in the Astronomy Gallery. Included for example, are Thomas and Howard Grubb, Robert S. Ball, Lord Kelvin, Ernest Walton, and Thomas Romney Robinson.

In the Engineering Gallery, the work of Charles Parsons, the youngest Son of the 3rd. Earl, who was internationally recognised as one of the most brilliant Engineers of the 19th. Century, is the central feature. Its primary theme is that of power from hydraulic power generation, on the Birr Demesne, to the mighty municipal power installations, based on Parson's invention, the steam turbine. The Galleries also honour outstanding scientists and technologists, from throughout Ireland, including Nicholas Callan, George Johnson Stoney, John Holland, Mary Ward, Harry Ferguson, John Dunlop and many others.

In addition to these Exhibitions, there is also an Exhibition dealing with the photography work of Mary Rosse, the Wife of the 3rd. Earl of Rosse, who established the Dark Room, here in Birr Castle, in the 1850's.

The final theme covered is that of Botany, which also acts as an introduction to the Gardens. This Gallery describes the making of the Gardens, in the latter part of the 19th. Century, up to and including current Planting. It describes many of the Rare Species and identifies their Location, within the Demesne. The Gardens have been progressively developed, by three generations of the Rosse Family and their special Story is told through Maps, Letters, Pictures and even believe it or not, Invoices; dating from the 17th. Century right through, to the present day.

The Turf House and Foundry, which were built by the 3rd. Earl of Rosse, especially to cast the enormous 72 inch Mirror, for the giant Telescope, has been restored, courtesy of the excellent work of FÁS and Bord na Móna. A replica of the Foundry and the great Turf House, has been recreated and made into another vast Exhibition Space. I want to sincerely congratulate FÁS and Bord na Móna, for their outstanding work in this regard.

As we move into the new Millennium, I think that it is vital that we carry forward our Heritage and our great Historic Scientific Excellence, to future Generations. It was against this background, that we convinced our Government colleague Mr. Charlie McCreevey TD, Minister for Finance, to provide in the recent National Budget, the necessary balance of £267,000 special funding, to enable the completion of this Historic Centre. This brings the total public investment by the State, Shannon Development, and the European Regional Development Fund, to over £2.5million, in this rare and complex Project.

You will be pleased to learn that the Giant Birr Telescope, is the subject of one of the Millennium Stamps, to be issued during the next month of January, the first month of the New Millennium. Again, this is national recognition of the many Discoveries, made here by the Parsons Family, during the 1800's.

I believe that the Official Opening here today and the issuing of this Millennium Stamp, for the Birr Castle Telescope, will act as major catalysts in encouraging Irish People, to visit in their thousands, this magnificent Centre, here in Birr Castle.

I am also very pleased that a New Book was published recently, by Professor W. Garret Scafe, of Trinity College, Dublin; entitled "From Galaxies to Turbines - Science, Technology and the Parsons Family". This Publication highlights the work of William Parsons, the 3rd Earl of Rosse. The Book provides a highly readable account of the contributions to Science, made by the 3rd Earl of Rosse and his son Charles. The new Book contains 134 rare period Photographs and Illustrations. I see from having read through the Book, that the joint Engines of the ill-fated Titanic, included the Parsons Steel Turbines and the principles then developed, are still used today, in the generation of Electricity. I have no doubt, that it will be a best seller to all Visitors here, to this truly National Centre.

Unfortunately, I do not have one with me, for everyone in the Audience today, but I want to encourage all of you, to purchase a copy in order, to get a proper feel for this magnificent Centre.

I want to pay a special tribute to the Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation, and all of its illustrious Members, for their outstanding work, in completing Ireland's National Historic Science Centre. In particular, I want to thank Dr. Tony O'Reilly, Dr .Ed Walsh and all of their dedicated team, for their wonderful work over recent years, in positively bringing us, to today's Historic Event.

I also wish to publicly acknowledge, the great support of the European Regional Development Fund, the Departments of Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Office of Public Works, Shannon Development, Bord na Móna, FÁS, the ESB, Enterprise Ireland, Trinity College, Dublin; the University of Limerick, the Offaly County Enterprise Board, Offaly County Council and the Birr Urban Council, together with the many private donations, most notably those from Dr. Tony O'Reilly and Dr. Michael Smurfit, all of whom collectively, have collaborated to recreate the magnificence, that is here before us to-day, for the future generations to experience and enjoy.

Today is a day, that we should all be proud of, in this great Heritage Town of Birr, formerly Parsonstown and long associated with St. Brendan from nearby Clonfert, in East Galway.

The National Historic Science Centre here, will I believe, increase significantly, the numbers of Tourists, from all over Ireland, Europe and other International Markets, to come to the Midlands of Ireland.

The Birr Castle Demesne already, attracts over 30,000 Visitors to Birr annually and I have no doubt that these numbers will increase, when the word spreads, about the magnificence of this Historic Science Centre.

To-day also, is a day of great celebration. We reflect back over two hundred years of Scientific ingenuity, to the highest world class standards. We sincerely thank the Earls of Rosse, as the Parsons Family; for their unique and outstanding contribution to Ireland, in dark and difficult days. Much of this great work was done during the famine period in Ireland.

It is well known that the Earls of Rosse were exceedingly generous and fair, to the Local people, during this terrible time, in Ireland. For that care and support to the People of Birr and the surrounding Areas; we salute to-day, the entire Parsons Family, on this great historic celebration, at a time, when the dawn of a new era beckons for all of the People, on the Island of Ireland.

It is with great pleasure therefore, that I now officially declare Ireland's Historic Science Centre here, at the Birr Castle Demesne officially open and I wish the current 7th. Earl of Rosse, Mr. Brendan Parsons, who is the 14th. generation of his Family here; and Countess Alison, their Family and Staff and everybody associated with this unique and fascinating Project, every success in the exciting new Millennium ahead.