Birdhill Tidy Towns

Éan Fionn Sculpture
In 2002, a stainless steel sculpture, six metres high was erected in the Village Green in Birdhill, recalling the legend of how Birdhill got its name. The sculpture is entitled The Éan Fionn (the white or fair bird). The commission for the design was awarded to John O'Connor from Waterford following an open competition. The sculpture, depicting a great wounded bird, with broken wing, is a modern representation of an ancient tale.

The legend is related on the plinth of the sculpture as follows:
The Éan Fionn of Birdhill is linked in local folklore to a story of Oisín, son of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, and Saint Patrick. After his return from Tír na nÓg, a hungry Oisín was trying to convince the sceptical saint of the great appetites of the Fianna. To prove he spoke the truth he set out one day with his dog Bran Óg to find a giant bird. When they came to Birdhill, Oisín took the famed hunting horn of the Fianna from under the Carrigeen rock near the top of the hill and sounded its thunderous note. Immediately, flocks of great birds descended on them but the dog drove them all off. Finally one enormous bird attacked, but Bran Óg, after a titanic struggle succeeded in killing it. Oisín cut off a leg of the giant bird and took it back to Saint Patrick, along with a huge rowan berry and a great ivy leaf taken from the woods of Ballyvalley, near Killaloe. The saint never doubted Oisín's word again and never left him hungry from that day on

Walking Routes & Heritage Trail

Birdhill is an ideal base for the serious or recreational walkers, offering a wide range of routes of historical and environmental interest. Some are on the busier roads, others traverse quiet country backroads and lanes.
For a quiet, peaceful retreat, away from the busy thoroughfares, take a walk down the Pollagh Trail. This trail has a choice of 2 looped routes, a 3 kilometre walk on a farm roadway or a 6 km trail winding through an area of low-lying meadowland. The trail commences 300 metres from the village on the O'Briensbridge road, just past the railway station.
Find out some of the historical, environmental, geographical and social heritage of the area from the Information leaflets available in any of the business premises in the village.

Birdhill Community Park
Pairc an Éin Fhinn was opened in 2003 to provide a recreational and educational amenity for the area. It was developed by the local community on a piece of land owned by North Tipperary County Council. The amenity is maturing as a bearing in mind the constraints on availability of personnel and finance and the long-term maintenance requirements

The main elements of the Páirc are:
Stone wall and paving around the entrance, reception area and shed
A large open lawn planted with some decorative trees
400 metres of gravelled paths
A small Wildflower meadow
Gairdín na bPáistí and Faiche an Phobail where local children and families planted trees
Some mature trees which were transferred from the Village Green and other areas
Items of rustic furniture installed to facilitate seating, picnics, etc
An Information Board showing a representative depiction of the Flora & Fauna of the area. This was produced in conjunction with an Information Leaflet and the establishing of a Nature Trail in the Pollagh
Name plates on a wide range of trees
A tree planted by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in October 2006
A pond installed in 2008 to further enhance the wildlife potential of the park
A small herb garden, mostly planted by local children
A reconstructed well and a refurbished gate as a memorial to the Twiss family
A newly developed hedgerow planted by members of the community.
An Ogham Garden with details of an ancient Celtic alphabet.
A map giving details of 'what to see' in the park.

The provision and development of Páirc an Éin Fhinn has been undertaken and financed by Birdhill Tidy Village Committee. This has been made possible through various fund-raising activities and welcome donations from a number of businesses. Mulcair Credit Union have generously committed to supporting the initiative on an ongoing basis. This will ease the burden on the committee, as initial development and maintenance costs will be considerable. However, the rewards will be reaped by future generations of Birdhill people when the Park comes to maturity

Murals of Country Life
In August 2006 local artist, Ann Barry painted 2 murals on the facade of the old Co-op Creamery in Birdhill. They depict a typical scene from a dairy farm of bygone years, most appropriate to the area and the building which they adorn.

Fountain
The summer of 2007 brought a big change the area of the bus stop on the Limerick Road. A fountain, with stone wall and paved surrounds, was constructed to give a spectacular vista to passers-by and a relaxing haven to those awaiting the bus

Railway Station

Birdhill Railway Station was opened on 23rd July 1860. 150 years later, it still retains much of the old world charm of those bygone days. The station-master's residence and the nearby junction for the branch line to Killaloe with the adjacent water tower and turntable are long gone. But the arched bridge, the signal box, the entrance gate and the stone walls help to maintain the character of a past era. A garden has been newly developed in the grounds to commemorate the 15oth anniversary.