parsonstown

There's that condensed script titling again ... Previously (10 years ago!) -

"... Although the 4th Earl built a smaller 3 ft equatorial in 1876, the six-foot telescope remained in use until about 1890. After his death in 1908, the telescope was partly dismantled, and in 1914, one of the mirrors with its mirror box was transferred to the Science Museum in London. The walls remained. The tube, second mirror box, and universal joint survived. ... From - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan_of_Parsonstown Also - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_mount

There is another haystack to the left (like aliens!) seen in the wider angle Cabinet photo - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000338518 Edit - and there are a couple of neighbouring Cabinet plates of the Leviathan, all likely to be the same day as today's photo, and noticeably without Lawrence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000338516 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000338517

“Lord Rosse's 3-foot telescope, at Birr Castle, Parsonstown, Ireland. This telescope was constructed in 1839 by the Irish astronomer William Parsons (1800-1867), later the 3rd Earl of Rosse. Pioneering research carried out with this telescope includes the 4th Earl's measurements of the temperature of the Moon in 1868. The more famous telescope is the 6-foot Leviathan of Birr, used to observe nebulae (later called galaxies). The 3-foot telescope was originally operated using an altazimuth mount. In the 1870s it was mounted equatorially. The basket at left was used to raise the observer to the top of the telescope and make observations by looking down the telescope's framework barrel at the mirror.” The Science Photo Library www.sciencephoto.com/media/321431/view/lord-rosse-s-3-foo... So if anybody knows which type of mount it was in the photo would date it pre or post 1870

Flickr is sometimes amazing! Via John C McConnell "A early photo of the "first" 3-foot telescope at Birr Castle. Notice the Herschel type mounting on a turntable. ..." -

Birr ....Cumberland Square/Duke Square

Streetview: goo.gl/maps/8zTSsAhp3zN2

Great to see-( later Cumberland Square Birr ) very pertinent to my family history! Date would probably be in the later years--my bedroom window when staying with grandparents (many years later!!!) would have been the fourth from top right!!

It's now Emmet Square "Cumberland Column, Emmet Square, Birr, County Offaly Freestanding ashlar limestone Doric column, erected in 1746, mounted on an ashlar pedestal with plinth and cornice. Located at the centre of Emmet Square. Lamp posts to each corner and protective cast-iron bollards surrounding platform. Formally supported statue of the Duke of Cumberland which was removed in the early twentieth century. Plaque inserted to pedestal reads: 'Erected by Birr Town Council to commemorate the bicentenary of the execution of Robert Emmet 1778-1803. Emmet Square was renamed in his honour in 1922. "When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then and not till then, let my epitaph be written", R. Emmet.' " www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&...

O Mac Owen, I think the Post Office is on the other side of the square.

The view counter is standing at 499,953, the kettle is on and the other Marys are baking buns to beat the band.

I think it's this one: NIAH. "Four-arch road bridge, built c.1660, carrying Bridge Street over the River Camcor. Abutments and piers of random rubble. Single V-cutwater to upstream pier. Soffits altered during five phases. Arches of segmental and semicircular profile. Parapets of random rubble. Upstream parapet replaced with a two bar metal railing towards its south end and downstream one is surmounted by a metal railing. Houses were erected on the upstream and downstream sides and were demolished in the 1970s."

25" OSI showing the houses on the bridge.

neither a dog or a duck to be seen

interesting things to be seen throughout!