Galway Astronomy Festival Jan 30/31 2009

I'm planning to be there this year. Just one small complaint Ronan: even with the motorway sections opened to date I don't believe it's possible to do Dublin to Galway in 2 hours without breaking the law. Are you by any chance an estate agent?

Estate agent's driving time estimate: "Mountrath, only an hour from Dubin". That would be Rathcoole, County Dublin - on a really quiet day with no speed traps.
It would nice to have everyone arrive in one piece and without any speeding tickets, so I suggest that people should allow 3 hours from M50 Junction 7 to the Westwood.

I refuse to guess how many hours it may take to break out of Dublin City across the M50 because I'm always wrong.

Oh come on, you've got 12 points to play with!! :silly:

There's just no pleasing some people

Phil.

If you have a Festival Brochure and I have sent some out to the IAS,CAC,SAC,KAC you can get a €5 discount,or just pick them up in the hotel lobby!

Eight talks for €20, Its great value as so much talking about recession here, also Friday nights talks are free.

Or why not just drive down for the day

Ronan

Provisional Timetable:

Friday January 30th 7.30pm Westwood House Hotel

Offical Opening by Professor Mike Redfern - Director of the Centre for Astronomy, NUI-Galway.

To be followed with a talk by him on "The International Year of Astronomy 2009"

8pm: Robert Hensey, Department of Archaeology, NUI Galway:
"5000 Years of Ritual Astronomy and Archaeology: Cosmology in Prehistoric Ireland'

Observing afterwards weather permitting at Barna Golf Club, (Dark sky site 5 minute drive from Hotel)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Saturday January 31st: Main Hall Westwood Hotel

9.15-09.50am: Registration

Is anyone planning on having a nose-bag or evening meal in town on Friday evening before things kick off or before the observing session? I was planning on rolling into Galway around 7pm-ish, and am just wondering if I need to feed the organism before leaving home!

A growly tummy makes Phil a grumpy astronomer :silly:

Phil.

R Newman wrote:

If you have a Festival Brochure and I have sent some out to the IAS,CAC,SAC,KAC you can get a €5 discount,or just pick them up in the hotel lobby!

Eight talks for €20, Its great value as so much talking about recession here, also Friday nights talks are free.

Or why not just drive down for the day

Ronan

Hi Ronan,

Have you had much feedback about how many plan to attend (count me in)?

PhilipLardner wrote:

Is anyone planning on having a nose-bag or evening meal in town on Friday evening before things kick off or before the observing session? I was planning on rolling into Galway around 7pm-ish, and am just wondering if I need to feed the organism before leaving home!

A growly tummy makes Phil a grumpy astronomer :silly:

Phil.

I'll be in Galway early in the evening and would be on for some grub. I was planning to eat in the hotel but would be on for somewhere else.

Michael.