Station: 						Birr Castle Observatory, Parsonstown
County:							Offaly
Met Éireann Reference Code:				MÉ/MO/2
Lat:							53°05'40"N 
Lon:							07°55'30"W
Observer:						Records completed by John Louis Emil Dreyer; Sgt. Whelan; W. Harding; D, Boeddicker; John L. Rowe. George A. Roe; Joseph Skerritt; John Hill; J. Fegan; Tilford.
Start year:						1875
End year:						1951
Missing:						Apr-Dec 1911; Apr-Dec 1915
Missing data indicator:					-999
Time of Observation:					09:00am [Jan 1875- Dec 1911]; 07:00am [Jan 1912-Aug 1947]; 09:00am [Sep-Dec 1947]; 07:00am [Jan-Dec 1948]; 09:00am [Jan 1949-Jan 1950]; 06:00am [Feb-Mar 1950]; 09:00am [Apr-Nov 1950]; 06:00am [Dec 1950-Jun 1951]; 09:00am [Jul-Sep 1951]; 06:00am [Oct 1951]; 09:00am [Nov-Dec 1951].
Unit of measurement:					inch [Jan 1875-Apr 1914]; millimeters [May 1914-Dec 1951]
Rain gauge pattern:					n/a				
Diameter:						n/a
Height of top of gauge above ground:			8 inches [1875]			
Height of top of gauge above sea level:			180 feet [1875]; 182.6 feet [1887]; 183 feet [Mar 1888]; 175.6 feet [Jan 1890]
Nearest railway station:				n/a
Distance to nearest railway station:			n/a


Additional Information:					1914: From May unit of measurement changes from inches to millimeters. 
							1916: New record sheet.	
							1921: From March rainfall observations are taken twice daily (7h-18h & 18h-7h). The sum of the two readings [7h to 7h] is given here.
							1880-1911: Daily railfall measurements also available for the Telegraphic Reporting Station at Birr. 

				
Notes:							1876: Mid-Nov the min gauge was moved about 3 yards northwest as the footpaths near the observatory were altered.
							1890: New M.S.L. adopted for barometer and rain gauge.
						
							
							
Rainfall quality indicator:				0: Ok
							1: estimated
							2: daily value not available, accumulated value later
							3: Estimated and Cumulative (read)
							4: Trace (<0.05mm, entered as 0.0)
							5: Estimated Trace (same as 4)
							6: Cumulative Trace (same as 4)
							7: Estimated Cumulative Trace (same as 4)
							8: Not Available (no value entered)
							9: Cumulative value including preceding days with indicator 2 (read)
