The Irish Node for the International Year of Astronomy is announcing a huge programme of events running throughout 2009 all across Ireland. The International Year of Astronomy in Ireland (IYA2009-Ireland), lead by Professor Michael Redfern (NUI Galway), Robert Hill (Norther Ireland Space Office) and Dr Miruna Popescu (Armagh Observatory), is supported by Discover Science and Engineering. During the year there will be many public stargazing events organised with all of the Irish astronomical societies and clubs on the island, public talks and educational events for all ages and abilities. Highlights include:
òÀØFrom Earth to the UniverseòÀÙ: an exhibition of some of the best astronomical images ever taken.
òÀØ100 hours of astronomyòÀÙ: a round-the-clock, round-the-globe event on 2-5 April that includes live webcasts from research observatories and public observing events all around Ireland.
òÀØUniverse Awareness (UNAWE)òÀÙ: an international programme that exposes young children in under-privileged environments to the scale and beauty of the Universe, through astro-art workshops and other fun activities.
òÀØShe is an astronomeròÀÙ - a cornerstone that promotes gender equality in astronomy and science through a web platform where information and links about gender balance and related resources are collected. Armagh Planetarium in the North and Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork will also host many events at their facilities and out and about around Ireland. For more information about the activities organised check http://astronomy2009.ie.
Astronomy was the theme for St PatrickòÀÙs day parades in all major cities of Ireland. In Dublin, this yearòÀÙs theme for the festival Parade was òÀØThe SkyòÀÙs the Limit!òÀÙ. Over 675,000 people lined the Dublin streets and over six million were watching either live on RTE or through the internet. Thousands of performers and characters joined together in a carnival of dancing and music as they wowed on-lookers with uniquely commissioned original pageants accompanied by marching bands from Ireland and across the globe, with several pageants exploring the link between humanity, astronomy and space. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 was well branded along the length of the entire parade on billboards and in the pageants. In Downpatrick, the highlight of the festival was the famous St PatrickòÀÙs Cross Community Carnival Parade, which for 2009 embraced the theme of òÀØThe Sun, the Moon and the StarsòÀÙ.
The Cork Parade, announced by Blackrock Castle Observatory in conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy 2009 in all television, radio and press coverage, saw over 65,000 people celebrating the theme of òÀØCosmic ChaosòÀÙ. Schools, community groups, voluntary and sporting organizations, musical and circus companies joined in the revelries in a riot of colour and astronomical performance! Rockets, robots and radio telescopes vied for space with stars and planets, cosmic serpents, the elements, scientists and lots of little green men. Cork welcomed Professor Michael Redfern, School of Physics, NUI Galway and SPOC and Chair of the Irish committee for IYA2009 in attendance at the Cork St PatrickòÀÙs Day Parade as Galileo Galilei.
Click here for an online RTE report on the Cork parade.
Click on the above images to see more photographs from this year's St Patrick's day parade in Dublin and Cork.
Direct link to the press release from Armagh Observatory