Dunsink

Hi Shane and Seanie.

Shane - again, a good idea. The only problem is that we're a little short on bodies (something done deliberately by the upper echelons at DIAS, I might add) at the moment, but I'm sure something can be worked out with Evert to get it up and running.

Seanie - will do!!!!

Thanks to everyone for the support shown - it's greatly appreciated!

Clear skies.

Brian

The Sunday Times - Ireland

October 10, 2004

Observatory closes doors on astronomy
Scott Millar
DUNSINK observatory, the republic’s oldest, is facing closure. Equipment at the astronomical centre is considered out of date and would be too costly to upgrade. The centre first opened in 1785 and is the only functioning publicly owned one in the country.

A report carried out by an independent group of international experts has recommended that the observatory be shut down and staff relocated to the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), in Dublin city centre.

Luke Drury, a director at the DIAS which operates Dunsink, said: “Astronomical research is now mainly a laboratory-based activity utilising data collected from observatories in the Canary Islands and other areas. The only question that needs to be addressed about Dunsink is how best to use what is essentially a historical building to promote interest in astronomy.”

The board of DIAS is to meet within the next month to vote on the expert group’s report. Although its closure as a research centre has been mooted in the past, the most recent report emphatically states that this is the only realistic course of action.

The likely closure has caused concern among the country’s enthusiasts. Astronomy Ireland held an emergency meeting to discuss the report last week.

David Moore, a director of the organisation, said: “The fact that no provision has been made for what is to be done with the buildings, extensive library, and the many historically important artifacts at the site is of great concern to us. Security is already threatened by squatters who occupy some of the land. Leaving it vacant would result in it almost certainly being vandalised.

“This building is one of Ireland’s most important scientific treasures. Even if, for perfectly sound scientific reasons, Dunsink is found to be no longer suitable for research purposes it must still be ensured it does not fall into disrepair.”

Next year, the observatory is due to be the centre of celebrations to mark the bicentenary of its most famous former resident Sir William Rowan Hamilton, the 19th-century mathematician and physicist.

The Department of Education said any decision on the future of the observatory would be taken by the board alone.

From the 9pm news.

The troublesome boulder will be relocated to another part of Dunsink Lane following a meeting between travellers and the city council. The meeting got off to a bad start as travellers objected to the presence of 5 Gardai outside the wood quay offices, claiming the presence of Gardai was provoking. Its not clear yet how the new location of the boulder will impact access to the Observatory.

Travellers have also commited to work with local Traveller Leaders to stop the `nightly rioting` taking place at Dunsink. (Do we need to get the UN here or what?).

The boulder is set to be permanently removed in January by when the council will have permanent solutions to the dumping problem in place.

<conspiracy> By January parts of Dunsinks land will be sold off for estate/golf/apartment development. In order to start this the place needs to be cleared of dumping. Hence why the boulder went in, and is temporary. </conspiracy>

Cheers,
~Al

Paraphrasing several online and radio news items. ( 212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=120534674&p=yzx53538x&n=120535434 )

Security in the Dunsink lane area is setpped up again tonight. Last night, after the resolution between the county council and travellers was reached, vandals destroyed 11 of the 18 greens on the golf course beside the observatory grounds causing an estimate EUR60,000 of damage. Armed with pickaxes and shovels slogans such as ‘Open Road’ and ‘Garda scum’. Another slogan written in oil contained the name of a local Garda officer.

Pavee Point, which organised the recent protest at Dunsink lane that caused traffic chaos on the N3 [and after which the gate lodge at dunsink was attempted to be set alight], said the €60,000 of damage caused at the Elmgreen Golf Centre was totally unacceptable.

“We absolutely condemn it. We do not support or condone anything like that,” said a spokeswoman.

“We hope the gardaí can do their job and prosecute anyone who’s involved.”