Inaugural Engineering Festival to take place in Offaly
Leading Birr entrepreneur Stephen Grant will talk about the challenges of climate change and the need for ingenuity
From October 18 to October 20, the inaugural STEAM Engineering Festival will take place in Birr and will provide an opportunity for engineering and heritage enthusiasts to gather at "one of the most interesting scientific locations on the island of Ireland."
The weekend will partly focus on the fascinating role Birr and Newcastle-on-Tyne played in the industrial revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries. Participants will be able to dive into a very enjoyable weekend full of history, innovation, and celebration of Ireland's incredible engineering heritage.
Whether you're an engineering heritage enthusiast or simply curious about our industrial past, or a proud Birr person who loves Birr's heritage and history, this is an event that will be well worth attending.
Opening at 7.00pm on Friday 18 October, the three day event includes a welcome reception, four lectures, a guided tour of Birr Castle Gardens, lunch, dinner and evening reception, and plenty of opportunity to celebrate Ireland's fascinating engineering heritage.
Friday 18th: Participants who arrive early on Friday will be able to discover Birr Castle Demesne by taking on the engineering trail through the gardens and science centre as the grounds are open from 9 am to 5.30 pm.
7.00pm: Welcome reception with tea and sandwiches followed by opening lecture - 8pm. (All the lectures will be in Birr Theatre and Arts Centre).
8.00pm: Lady Alicia Clements – Introduction to the Engineering Weekend Festival.
8.15pm: John Burgess – The Parsons Families of the 19th Century.
Saturday October 19th: 10.00 am: Lecture - Power on Land. Brian Leddin TD – Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action – Welcome and Opening Remarks. Geoff Horseman (Formerly Head of Turbine-Generator Engineering at Parsons and Chief Turbine Engineer at Siemens Newcastle-Upon-Tyne) – Evolution of the Parsons Land Steam Turbine
11.30am: Guided discovery tour in Birr Castle Demesne, Gardens and Observatory, visiting the Leviathan and LOFAR Telescopes – Peter Gallagher or Joe McCauley - The refurbished suspension bridge; the rejuvenated hydro-electric turbine; and a discussion of the secret of the lake’s ingenious water level management system.
2.30pm: Lecture – Power at Sea. Ian Whitehead - Turbinia: Turbine Testbed to Heritage Flagship.
3.15pm: Jody Power - Marine Propulsion Steam Turbines from Parsons to the Modern Era.
Sunday October 20th:
9.00am: Lecture – Power to Change. John Burgess – Welcome and Introduction.
9.15am: Benita Stoney - The Stoney family collaboration and achievements
9.45am: Una O’Grady - Renewable Energy in the Midlands – Wind, Water and Stars
10.15am: Stephen Grant - Engineering at a time of change – 19th to 21st Centuries parallels to inform a paradigm shift in addressing climate change.
10.45am: Lady Alicia Clements - Farewell notes
You can get your tickets at: www.engineersireland.ie/Professionals/Communities-Groups/Societies/Heritage/Birr-Engineering-Festival