MINISTER TREACY OFFICIALLY OPENS IRELAND'S HISTORICAL SCIENCE CENTRE AT BIRR CASTLE DEMESNE State spends £2.5 million on Historic Science Centre

Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology & Commerce, today (Wednesday 22nd December, 1999) officially opened Ireland's Historic Science Centre at Birr Castle, Demesne, Co. Offaly.

Speaking at the official opening, Minister Treacy said that as Minister for Science & Technology he has been running a very successful Science & Technology Awareness Programme aimed at making the general public, more aware of and comfortable, with science and technology issues.

"As we move into the new Millennium, it is vital that we, as a people, are up to speed with the various technological advances occurring all around us. We must, however, also remember and acknowledge past achievements by many brilliant Irish Scientists over the centuries. The Historic Science Centre at Birr Castle is a marvellous celebration of these past achievements. It was against this background, that we secured further funding in the recent National Budget of £267,000 to complete the restoration work at the Historic Science Centre. This brings the total Public Investment by the State, Shannon Development and the European Regional Development Fund to over £2.5 million," Minister Treacy said.

The Historic Science Centre houses a number of Scientific Exhibitions. The main attraction is the Great Telescope, which was designed in the 1840's by the Third Earl of Rosse. In addition, the Science Galleries located in the Stable Block; the Astronomy, Engineering, Photography, Botany and Turf House and Foundry Exhibitions; all located on the Birr Castle Demesne will all enhance significantly the Town of Birr and the Historic Science Centre as a major tourism attraction in the Midlands Region. Already some 30,000 visitors a year come to Birr Castle Demesne.

Minister Treacy continued "significant benefit will accrue to Birr, its surrounding Midlands area and the local and regional economy. Ireland will have a Centre to record, honour and exhibit the enormous achievements of our past in the fields of science and engineering, while our scientists and people of the next Millennium will recognise and appreciate that they belong to a splendid scientific tradition".

Minister Treacy concluded by thanking all the various people and organisations who provided financial support for the completion of the Historic Science Centre in particular, Dr A.J.F. O'Reilly, Chairman of the Council of Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation who also addressed the official opening along with Dr Michael Smurfit, Dr Ed. Walsh, Chairman of the Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation and many others.