Science Awareness Week, now in full flight, is a particularly important one in Birr, Co Offaly, where Birr Castle is home to the Historic Science Centre.
In the 19th century Irish scholars were achieving international renown, and there was a tremendous interest in science.
In Maynooth, Callan had invented the induction coil. In Cork, Boole had established his branch of mathematics; in Galway, Lamor had begun work on electrons in atoms, and in Offaly, John Joly was pioneering a technique for colour photography.
The largest physical adventure was the building of the famous Birr telescope, designed and built by the third Earl of Rosse.
It is fitting, then, that there should be a celebration of Irish achievement in astronomy, engineering, photography and botany at the castle, based on the discoveries and inventions of the Parsons family of Birr Castle.
Last Monday Birr celebrated its scientific heritage when it opened, for the day, the five science galleries which represent the achievements at Birr where astronomy, engineering and photography were the terrain of the earls of Rosse over a long period.
In the astronomy gallery, the contributions of the third and fourth earls are displayed and feature the telescopes used at Birr. Here the visitor can find out how the Birr telescope was built.
Historic scientific instruments, which have been donated by Maynooth College and Trinity College Dublin, including ancient clocks and globes, are also displayed.
Other Irish astronomers and optical engineers from the last century are celebrated, including Thomas and Howard Grubb, Robert S. Ball, Lord Kelvin, Ernest Walton and Thomas Romney Robinson.
The theme of the engineering gallery is power. Charles Parsons, the youngest son of the third earl, who was recognised as one of the most brilliant engineers of the last century, is the central figure. Parsons' work in inventing the steam turbine is explained and other Irish scientists, including Nicholas Callan, George Johnston Stoney, John Holland, Mary Ward, Harry Ferguson and John Dunlop, are featured.
Then there is the photography gallery. Mary Rosse, the wife of the third earl, was a keen amateur photographer and built one of Ireland's first darkrooms in the castle in the 1850s.
The darkroom, complete with chemicals in the cupboards, has been taken from the castle and is displayed in the gallery with a collection of her photographs.
There are also exhibits from John Joly's pioneering work in colour photography and the collection of the fourth Earl of Rosse. Although the great mirror from the Birr telescope, which has now been restored, is still in London, the visitor can view a video on how the telescope's lens was cast by the Earl of Rosse and local tradesmen.
The work at the castle is almost complete, and the science galleries will open on December 1st, according to Brigid Roden, the project director at Birr. She said the castle was the leading tourist attraction in the midlands with more than 38,000 visitors so far this year.
"Our aim is to re-create the essence and spirit of the great achievements of the last century, to demonstrate how these came about and to highlight Ireland's contribution to science," she said.