Winter Solstice Celebration in Lough Gur

Pictured above: Rising to the growing Science related interest by visitors of all ages Paul Ryan, Share, Learn, Inspire, Dr. Norah Patten – University of Limerick Communications & Outreach Manager, Paul Ryan from Share Learn Inspire, Dr. Vincent Casey, Senior – Lecturer in Physics at UL and Frank Ryan from the Shannonside Astronomy Club come together to develop a fully engaging set of events and science related projects.  Picture: Keith Wiseman

The Great Grange Stone Circle at Sunset on December 21st
One small step for Lough Gur…

The inaugural meeting of the Lough Gur Science Group took place on December 8^th in the Great Grange Stone Circle. As the largest stone circle in Ireland it a megalithic site of magnificence that is not very well known or appreciated. A full survey of the Circle was carried out by Dr. Frank Prendergast, DIT in May 2014 that sparked great interest in the area and led to Lough Gur’s recent accreditation as a Discover Primary, Maths and Science Centre through Science Foundation Ireland.

Rising to the growing Science related interest by visitors of all ages, Kate Harrold, Manager for Lough Gur Development invited Dr. Norah Patten – University of Limerick Communications & Outreach Manager, Paul Ryan from Share Learn Inspire, Dr. Vincent Casey Senior – Lecturer in Physics at UL and Frank Ryan from the Shannonside Astronomy Club to develop a fully engaging set of events and science related projects.

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Outdoor tours dealing with history, archaeology and folklore are already on offer from the lake front heritage centre in Lough Gur. To add to the portfolio of events and programmes the Science Advisory Group plan to increase and combine the history, archaeology and folklore focus with Astronomy, Earth, Environmental and Geophysical Science.

Lough Gur is without doubt the perfect location to put all of these topics into one big melting pot for curious minds to explore. The first science event under the new steering group will take place at sunset in the Great Grange Stone Circle on December 21^st. The Shannonside Astronomy Club will give a brief talk and a basic introduction to the night sky and will fully explain the significance of the Winter Solstice through all subjects relating to this time of year. A telescope will be made available to all budding astronomers to view in details what would have attracted the Stone Age and Bronze Age people to build such an impressive structure over 4,000 years ago. Although people often gather at sunrise on the Winter Solstice, the astronomy club have earmarked sunset as particularly important for their presentation. There is no charge to attend this event.

For further information go to www.loughgur.com or phone 061 385186
You can read more about Lough Gur here!