People in ancient times looked towards the sky to examine the stars and used them to work out directions, the changing of the seasons, and to predict the future.
The ancient Iranians, Greeks, Egyptians, and South Americans were among the leading astronomers of their times, but what about our ancestors? Did the ancient Irish look to the sky and ponder on what the movements of the heavenly bodies meant?
This is a subject that will be examined a public lecture, entitled Astronomy: Pre-history and History in the West of Ireland by Dr Malachy Thompson, in Harbour Hotel, Dock Road, on Monday April 11 at 8pm.
The lecture will address the use of astronomy for the purposes of identifying important calendrical and festive events and the possible association of this activity with pre-historical sites in the west of Ireland. It will also examine the west of Ireland contribution
Dr Thompson, from Antrim, studied at Queen’s University, Belfast, before coming to the Galway RTC as a lecturer in chemistry in 1973. Along with Dr Pat Moriarty he provided an adult education course in astronomy for many years. He retired from GMIT in 2007 but continues to participate in the annual Galway Science & Technology Festival.
Admission is free and all are welcome. See also www.gahs.info
