Trip to Valentia October 2010
Last Updated on Saturday, 28 August 2010 21:39
Weekend Trip to Valentia Observatory, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry
October 9th and 10th 2010
Registration for this event is now closed. 
The Irish Meteorological Society is pleased to announce its upcoming field trip to Valentia Observatory Caherciveen, Co. Kerry. 2010 is a special year in the history of Valentia. Although the Observatory did not open until 1868, Valentia’s first meteorological measurements were recorded in 1860, making 2010 the 150th anniversary of its first weather observation.
Programme of Events:
Friday October 8th
20.00: Table Quiz, Ring of Kerry Hotel, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry (weather themed prizes)
Saturday October 9th
09.30: Registration and tea/coffee (Ring of Kerry Hotel)
10.00: President's Welcome (Aodhagán Roddy, President Irish Met Society)
10.05: History of Valentia by Mike Crean, Head of Operations, Valentia Observatory
10.45: “From the Height of Weather Balloons to the Depths of Earthquakes” by Keith Lambkin, Chief Scientist, Valentia Observatory
11.45: Balloon Launch at the Observatory (across the road from the hotel)
12.30: Lunch Break
14.15: Tour of Valentia Observatory (Seismology, weather station, geomagnetism, ozone, phenological garden)
17.00: Director's Welcome (Liam Campbell, Director Met Éireann)
17.15: General weather lecture by Evelyn Cusack, Deputy Head of Forecasting, Met Éireann (Ring of Kerry Hotel)
20.00: Dinner, Ring of Kerry Hotel - (25 Euro - this can be booked at registration on October 9th)
Sunday October 10th
(Map courtesy of Valentia Car Ferry http://indigo.ie/~cguiney/ferry.html)
09:30: Bus tour (with guide) to Valentia Island.
Large buses cannot access most of the island so small 14-seater buses will be used to transfer people from site to site. Some of the sites which you may visit are listed below (it will not be possible for an individual to visit all of these).
- Skellig Experience (€3.50 entrance fee): http://www.skelligexperience.com/index.html
- Valentia Heritage Centre (€2 entrance fee):http://vhc.cablehistory.org/
- Altazimuth Stone (walking distance from the Heritage Centre)
- Knightown Village
- Tetrapod Trackway: http://www.gsi.ie/Education/Sites_Walks_Field+Trips/Valentia+Island.htm)
- ruins of the original observatory
- the Telegraph Field
- Geokaun Mountain: http://www.geokaunmountain.com/
- Valentia Slate Quarry
- Glenleam House and Subtropical Gardens (€4 entrance fee)
http://gardens.ireland-guide.com/glanleam_house_and_subtropical_garden_.garden.7122.html
13:00: Lunch
Instead of the tour to the island you may opt for any of the following:
- Boat trip to Scellig Mhichíl (weather permitting!!) http://www.skelligstrips.com/
- Visit to the Skelligs Chocolate Factory
Accomodation Options:
Click here
How to get to Cahirciveen:
Click here
In association with the Institute of Physics Ireland.
