Birr Courthouse

Birr Courthouse Comes into Offaly County Council Care and Conservation Master Plan is completed

In 2021 the Office of Public Works handed over Birr Courthouse to Offaly County Council.  The Courthouse had last held a court in 2013 and was not used in the intervening years.  Offaly County Council commissioned a conservation master plan for the Courthouse from Howley Hayes Cooney.  This was supported under the Offaly Heritage Plan 2017-21 Heritage Council funding with a contribution from Creative Ireland funding.  Click here to download the Birr Conservation Master Plan by Howley Hayes Cooney. 

2021 Emergency Repairs 

Offaly County Council then arranged for emergency works to be done with particular focus on the valleys in the roof which were letting in considerable water.  The windows on the front facade were also in poor condition and were repaired or replaced.  This work was supported by a grant from the Heritage Council of €220,000 under the Historic Towns Initiative and €50,000 from the Historic Structures Fund along with matching funding from Offaly County Council. 

Future Plans

Offaly County Council are examining all options for funding support to continue the works at Birr Courthouse and are working with Birr 20:20 group who have expressed an interest in using the Courthouse as a community artist Creative Hub.  It is estimated that close to €2,000,000 is needed to bring the Courthouse to a usable condition.