Castle completes cosmic transformation

FROM historic castle to cutting-edge observatory — Cork’s landmark Blackrock Castle has undergone a remarkable restoration that is set to popularise astronomy like never before.

Cork City Council and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) marked the completion over the weekend of the €4 million project which has given the castle a new hi-tech lease of life as an observatory and visitor centre.

Scientists based at Ireland’s first robotic observatory will hunt the universe for new planets, potential planet killing objects, and quasars, the most powerful objects in the cosmos, which are found close to black holes.

But schools and the general public will also have access to the unique facility later this year.

Plans are being finalised for an interactive display on the origins of the universe and the origins of life.

The facility’s journey from 16th-century castle to cutting-edge research facility is just as remarkable.

It has over the last 10 years been a private residence, a corporate headquarters and a restaurant. Councillors agreed in 2001 to buy the historic building for the city for £825,000.

They then set in train one of the most technically challenging conservation and restoration projects undertaken in the city.

The observatory houses a 16” optical telescope, a smaller 10” optical telescope and a radio telescope — a 10ft wide dish. It will be used to scan the universe for hydrogen.

All are fully robotic and are connected via the internet to a global network of telescopes dotted around the world.

Scientists from CIT have spent the last few months installing and checking the wide range of equipment.

The building’s visitor centre will be opened to the public once Martello Media install their interactive science exhibition in the visitor centre.