This project is being led by Offaly County Council as owners of Birr Courthouse in collaboration with Birr 2020 Vision group who have advocated for its reuse as a Creative Court.
See their Creative Court proposal here.
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 to view 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 a further €50,000 from the Historic Structures Fund along with matching funding from Offaly County Council.
Please see attached reports on works done:
2024 Offaly County Council to progress Part 8 Planning
With support from the Historic Towns Initiative from the Heritage Council, Offaly County Council will progress with Part 8 planning process for the conservation of Birr Courthouse to bring it ready for application for funding to complete the works.