Cork

Email: Survey Officer

Astronomers

Street(e), Thomas (1621-1689), born at Castlelyons (?), Ireland, but most spent of his life in London, dying in Westminster (see London; Clarke 1898, 237-9; Wiki).

Clerke, Agnes Mary (1842-1907) born in Skibbereen February 10 1842. Started a project at the age of 15, writing the history of astronomy which occupied her for 30 years. She lived in London from 1877 and completed History of Astronomy in the 19th Century in 1885. She wrote several other important books on astronomy. She died in London January 20 1907 (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 67 (1907), 230-1; Bruck 2004).

Observatories

Crawford Observatory (1879- ), Cork , established by Queen’s College (University College), Cork, with finance from local brewer William Crawford. Designed by Howard Grubb (Dublin) in 1879, it is  one of only four remaining historical observatories in Ireland, and the only one in a university campus. The main instrument was an 8-inch refractor incorporating many new ideas. It was first exhibited at the Paris Exhibition of 1878 and won Grubb a gold medal. The 15-foot dome was also innovative. In addition, there was a 4-inch siderostat and a 5-inch transit instrument. Grubb also supplied micrometers and a spectroscope. The telescopes were installed in a small Victorian Gothic-style building which have  been recently (2003-6 ) restored (Glass 1997, 120; Tubridy 2010).