Weekend Trip to Valentia Observatory, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry
October 9th and 10th 2010
Booked Out.
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.
4 buses will travel to Valentia Island. Tom Horgan and 3 other Iveragh Heritage staff members will speak on board the buses and set the scene for the tour of Valentia Island
The tour will include the following:
- A visit to the Skellig Experience (€4 entrance fee): http://www.skelligexperience.com/index.html
- A tour of Knightstown historical village with a stop at the Altazamuth Stone (tour guide Michael Egan)
- A talk on the Tetrapod Trackway by David Howard, Geologist. This will take place on the bus - the Heritage Centre will lend us their mock up of the trackway.
- A visit to the Valentia Heritage Centre - history of the Transatlantic cable and history of all aspects of the island (Met Society will pay the entrance fee).
- A talk on the Slate Quarry by Michael Lyne - this will take place in the Protestant church in Knightstown.
Accomodation Options:
Click here
How to get to Cahirciveen:
Click here
In association with the Institute of Physics Ireland.
