UCC is proud to announce the re-opening of its Crawford Observatory
after an extensive programme of refurbishment and conservation.
The official re-opening ceremony takes place today (22 June 2006) by Ms
Mary Hanafin, TD, Minister for Education and Science.
The Observatory, a unique structure in the heart of the campus in UCC,
was originally completed in 1880, and symbolises the importance the
College has always placed in science and technology from its earlies
days. The Observatory was designed by Sir Howard Grubb, who built all
the instruments it contains. Grubb, based in Dublin, remains to
this day Ireland's foremost maker of scientific instruments. This
Observatory houses a unique collection of his finest work - instruments
which were at the forefront of the technology of their day.
Officially re-opening the Crawford Observatory today, Minister for
Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, congratulated all those involved
in this major renovation and conservation project. "Generations of
students will reap the benefits of your vision and dedication in
proceeding with this project. Astronomy has a key role to play in
attracting students into the physical sciences. UCC has led the way in
Ireland in promoting interest among students in the physical sciences. Astronomy and
Astrophysics Degree programmes are proving very successful across a
number of institutions but UCC led the way in producing the first
Astrophysics Degree courses in Ireland and I congratulate you for that."
UCC President, Professor Gerard Wrixon commented: "Few in the world
applied such mechanical ingenuity to the development of scientific
instrumentation as did Grubb, and UCC is proud to host such an
important example of Ireland's technological heritage. UCC recognizes
that the achievements of Grubb and Ireland's many other innovators of
the past must be used to inspire Ireland's technological entrepreneurs
of tomorrow."
The President continued "In addition to providing observing facilities
to students taking part in UCC's Astrophysics Degree programme, the
Observatory will also be open to members of the public. It is hoped
that a visit to the Observatory will provide a sense of Ireland's
Astronomical history, of Grubb's contribution to Astronomy, and a sense
too of the wonder of modern Astrononomical discoveries."
The Crawford Observatory programme, costing some €800,000, involved
extensive restoration and conservation of both the building itself
(including the moving Dome and Meridian room shutter) and the three
main telescopes themselves, the Equatorial telescope, the Transit
Circle and the Sidereostatic telescope. The original canvas dome has
been replaced with a copper structure, for improved long term
stability. Additional challenges include the requirement to maintain
the historically important telescopes in the optimum environment for
conservation, in locations where they are sometimes fully exposed to
the elements (e.g. a telescope while observing).
This complicated project involved a team including Howley-Hayes
architects, Cornerstone Construction Ltd building contractors, the
University Heritage Office, the Buildings and Estates
Office and the Department of Physics, UCC.
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