International STEAM Festival to be held in Offaly next week

THE Birr International STEAM Festival will be held over the weekend of October 16th-18^th next.

To avoid you getting hot and bothered, STEAM in this context refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, Astronomy and Mathematics! Although, it is ironic that Sir Charles Parsons was the master of all in capturing the energy of steam in the most efficient manner as they learned from the presentations from Geoff Horseman last year.

Please note that the recordings of the 2024 Festival presentations are available on the web-page Birr Engineering Festival | Engineers Ireland , just keep scrolling down to access the links. Benita Stoney's presentation (30 minutes) is recommended as it reveals another truly remarkable family that shaped our world in many ways.

The organisers have been busy formulating an equally exciting agenda for the 2025 International STEAM Heritage Festival which will be held from the evening of Thursday October 16^th through to the evening of Saturday October 18th. The agenda is to be found on the Engineers Ireland Heritage Society webpage, Birr Engineering Festival | Engineers Ireland . There is a line-up of 13 speakers over the three days with opportunities to join tours of Birr Castle and/or the Birr Castle Demesne Gardens and Telescopes. Bio-pics of the speakers and their presentation summaries are included on the web-page for your information.

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For this year's festival, the have included one day on the Friday to discuss Today's Technologies for Tomorrow, this with a focus on the electricity grid in transition. They will return to STEAM topics of a historical significance on the Saturday, with a focus on Codes/Coding in the morning and on telescope building in the 19th and 20th centuries in the afternoon.

If you are planning on attending the whole event or if you live close to Birr, do consider coming to the documentary movie about the first transatlantic cable on the Thursday night. A slightly shorter version of this featured on RTE in August 2024.

People can choose to go to only that part of the festival they are interested in if they wish.

This is a fabulous opportunity to network in relaxed surroundings in the historic town of Birr and the Birr Castle Demesne. Please book early to avoid disappointment. And please spread the word to those you think would be interested.

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