22 Jun 2006

Unique Crawford Observatory re-opens at University College Cork (UCC)

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.

250MMcS


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