Our trip to Birr Library
Our trip to Birr Library
By Hannah (4th Class)
4th class were given a guided tour of Birr Library. Birr library is a Gothic building. It was designed by Pugin and built in stages from 1845-56. Catherine McAuley came in 1840 to help the sisters of Mercy set up St. John’s Convent of Mercy. As numbers declined, the large convent became less practical for them and the sisters decided to leave the building. In 1996 Offaly County Council and Birr Town Council bought the building and in 2006 it opened as a library. It took 10 years to build the library building which was used as a convent by the nuns. We saw the beamed roof, stained glass windows, Macregol Gospels, restored ceiling and mural motifs and lettering. We had a great day and learned a lot. We held a table quiz when we got back to class.
