Wicklow News Ireland

Astronomy Ireland are now taking enrolments for their beginners classes plus they have a vacancy for a saturday job in their telescope shop. see below for details:

Plus now I know that what I saw the other night was not a spaceship or satellite but the The International Space Station which has 3 astronauts Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko, Greg Chamitoff nboard- I wonder if they could see little me and skippy watching them blaze across the star studded night?…

1. Nationwide Evening Classes – New Venues The Astronomy Ireland evening classes for beginners commence on Thursday 9th October in Athlone, Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Letterkenny, Limerick and Tralee. There are a limited number of places available and you can book your place for any of the venues online at www.astronomy.ie/class or by calling (01) 847 0777. This eight week course is designed with the beginner in mind. You do not need to own a telescope and no knowledge of astronomy or maths is required. This is an opportunity to meet with fellow enthusiasts and learn a little about the Sun, Planets, Telescopes, History of Astronomy, Cosmology and much much more. BOOK HERE

2. Public Lecture & DVD: “Searching for Planets Around Other Stars – From Galway“ On Monday 13 October, Astronomy Ireland will presents its Colm J. Cannon Memorial Lecture in the Physics Building, Trinity College Dublin at 8pm. The existence of over 300 planets outside our own Solar System has been confirmed since the first extra-solar planet was discovered only 14 years ago. The techniques used to detect these planets requires the use of very sensitive and expensive equipment. Some astronomers have recently claimed to have photographed one of these planets directly. Now, Gregg Hallinan, an astronomer based in Galway, is using a technique based on what happens during “The Northern Lights” to detect billion watt beacons beaming powerful radio beams into space from these far away planets. With the latest generation of powerful radio telescopes we can now begin to search for these kind of radio waves from planets in orbit around other stars. For those who cannot make it to the venue on the night a DVD will be available for 7euro Event: Astronomy Ireland Colm J. Cannon Memorial Lecture Title: “Searching for Planets Around Other Stars – From Galway” Date: 8pm October 13 (Monday) Venue: Physics Building, Trinity College Dublin. Admission: 7 Euro, Tickets are available at the door, or call (01) 847 0777, or online at: Book your ticket HERE and order the DVD HERE

3. Saturday Job in our Telescope Shop As you know we run Ireland’s biggest telescope shop, supplying beginners and experts alike all across Ireland. We have a vacancy for someone to help in the Shop on Saturday with everything from supporting sales staff, packing orders for delivery, stock takes, tidying up, etc. Apply to sales@astronomy.ie

4. Book Launch Anthony Murphy (journalist & A.I. member) and Richard Moore (artist) will be launching the revised and updated edition of their book “Island of the Setting Sun“: Thursday September 25th in The Portrait Gallery, Dublin Castle from 6pm to 8pm. Special Guest of Honour will be Composer, Michael Holohan ((Member of Aosdána). The first edition of Anthony & Richard’s book was favourably reviewed in Astronomy Ireland’s magazine so everyone is welcome to come along to the launch of the second edition. See you there.

5. Amateur Radio Satellite Lecture The Centre for Telecommunications Value-Chain Research at Trinity College Dublin invites you to a presentation by: Dr. Robert McGwier N4HY (Center for Communications Research in Princeton, N.J. USA)
Friday September 26th, 2008 at 2.30pm in Lloyd Institute LB01 lecture theatre, TCD (map) Bob is a highly-engaging speaker and is currently working on the AMSAT Eagle project on several software-defined radio transponders, the AMSAT-DL Phase 3 Express Project. Bob is currently the AMSAT Vice President for Engineering. He was a designer and builder on the AMSAT Microsat’s and participated in the Amsat-Oscar 13 and Amsat-Oscar 40 projects. Well known as N4HY, he has been an amateur radio operator since 1964. Bob’s presentation will cover his software-defined radio, networking, and AMSAT work. All are welcome. Further information from Keith Nolan (TCD) on 01-8968443 or keithnolan@mee.tcd.ie

6. I.S.S. Visible in Evening Skies The International Space Station will blaze across the sky every from now until October 8th. On board since early April are 3 astronauts Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko, Greg Chamitoff. When I.S.S. flies over it is the brightest star-like object in the sky, an amazing sight. It will pass near Jupiter, and also the Moon. Details about I.S.S. are at www.astronomy.ie/iss The time to see I.S.S. is different each evening and you will only see it at its best, high up, for a minute or so. There are websites that give automated predictions but check them regularly in case I.S.S. is moved in its orbit which can throw the predictions out. For this reason, and for those who want the very latest and most accurate predictions we set up a text service to send the exact time to your mobile about 2 hours before I.S.S. flies over.

Simply, text SPACE to 57003 each text costs 1euro (we surveyed 9,000 people and this was the rate suggested) and proceeds help us promote interest in astronomy in Ireland so please tell your friends. You can also get predictions on our Newsline each afternoon: call 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95cent/min) or in U.K. call 09001-88-1950 (calls cost 60p/min)

Every time you spot I.S.S. please email observe@astronomy.ie and we’ll include you in our monthly magazine report Astronomy Ireland The world’s most popular astronomy club and Ireland’s Only Astronomy Magazine www.astronomy.ie Call Our Telescope Shop Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

Hi to everyone at the national ploughing championships!

Isn’t it great that you got the weather? Unfortunately Skippy and I cannot make it this year as we are in deep web development (watch this space!) but we can listen with Nikki Hayes on 2FM this week. Yay!

roz and skippy

x

Did you know that next Sunday , the 28th September is National Trails Day and there are a range of family friendly trail walking events taking place in Wicklow as well as nationwide. The aim of the national trail day is to encourage folks to be more active and explore the beautiful countryside of Ireland in which we live.

Some of the activiities include orienteering, mountainbiking, centenary walks and good old rambling! For details on all of these events go to the national trails day website here :

www.nationaltrailsday.ie/wicklow.html

Lat Sunday I met up with a friend of mine- Caroline and her cute son Joris and we had a lovely day wandering around wicklow town. First we had a tasty lunch in Joes Place, Wicklow Square. Then we strolled down by the river and chatted away as the sun made an unexpected appearance.

We collected some conkers and then wandered through Wicklow Towns Farmers’ Market which was impressive in the quality of a bit small on size. I would suggest – and I know they have tried other places but there must be somewhere – maybe alongside the river? anyway, it is so small that as a customer you feel under pressure to buy something rather than browse at your leisure… Just an observation.

Anyway, here are a few photos of the day…

WELL! how fit are those hillwalking guys?!!!

HillWalking is best done in Threes

we started this morning meeting up at the filling station in Shillelagh Co Wicklow, yours truly, Christopher, Teresa and Paul. Christopher drove us to the Clonegal starting point of the wicklow way walk. At one junction there was no sign so we turned left after pondering Teresas’ map – This was the correct decision!

Christopher beeped bye and left Teresa, Paul and I there to begin our walking of the wicklow way at Clonegal.

The start of the walk was mainly road walking which I was assured was hard on the legs. They were quiet country roads and pleasant to walk on. After  awhile we turned off the roads to the right onto tracks. This area was a nature reserve and was an oasis of peace and quiet. Each of us were left to our own thoughts as we methodically walked uphill in the SCORCHING day!!

Oh, didn’t I mention the weather. phew. my god, my factor 30 generously applied reguarly was still not enough of a barrier to that hot hot sun beating down on us.

Look for signposts hidden in the bushes

I must admit there was a point here when I kept thinking of how nice it would be to be swimming in the lovely cold Irish sea and why was I putting myself through this hardship on my holidays etc etc… but then we reached the top and had a moments rest and whatddya know – everything was rosy again!

During one of my chats with Teresa she told me about how Footfalls and Walking Hiking Ireland got started.

Apparently Christopher used to work in Forestry and always had a love for the land. Once when out walking with a local youth club and their leaders Christopher sensed that they were taking the wrong route – towards an upcoming cliff no less!! and when he pointed this put to the leaders they checked their map positioning only to discover that he was indeed right and so veered the youngsters away from impending doom and back to the safety of the correct route. (phew!)

These Signs are often hidden so search before you turn

This got Christopher thinking – he would like to learn to read a map etc and so he took part in various mountain skills courses and found that he was a natural.

Years later he has qualified to teach mountain skills and is very comfortable leading groups across the mountains – and believe me you will feel safe and sound in his presence.  His company Footfalls Holidays has organically grown into a busy friendly business doing what Christopher and Teresa love best – Sharing a love for hill walking.

For details on the routes and packages available visit their website www.walkinghikingireland.com and If you tell them that we sent you (the wicklow way.ie) you will receive a 10% discount on your booking!

Well folks, I gotta admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the day however, I kept thinking about poor Skippy and how I really ought to take him out for shorter walks on these few free days off. so, I am leaving the rest of the wicklow way walks to the guys whilst Skippy and I spend some quality wicklow time together and  go visit some of Wicklows most popular attractions and get the lowdown for you all.  If there is somewhere you would particuarly like to have visited / reviewed send me an email or comment on this blog.

Finally I would like to say a VERY BIG THANK YOU so much to Teresa, Paul and Christopher for their guidance and advice today – Best of luck with everything and ENJOY CANADA you lucky lucky folk!

VISIT OUR GALLERY OF THE DAY HERE >>>

E: office@thewicklowway.ie

(a very tired) Roz and Skippy
x

All packed up and ready to go… thanks to the helpful advice on the jacket from Frankie Sports Wicklow Town – tel: 0404 69351 www.frankie.ie. Let’s put it to the test now as we walk from clonegal to shillelagh co wicklow.

Poor skippy – how I wish he could come – maybe next time.

talk later

roz

Though we were all set to begin walking the wicklow way today , on the advice of our trail master Christopher Stacey we decided to wait until tomorrow- Wednesday Morning.

Myself, Christopher and Teresa are meeting in Shillelagh filling station at 10am whereupon Christpher will drop myself and Teresa at the Clonegal end of the walk after which Teresa and I shall hike back to Shillelagh. the walk is approx 14 miles which should take around about 6 hours to complete.

The weather forecast is as follows:

A little drizzle is still possible in the east tomorrow, but most places will be dry with bright or sunny spells developing. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees, with little or no wind. ref met eirean via www.thewicklowway.ie

Based upon mountain safety advice we are carrying the usual items including  first aid, compass, whistle, set alternative clothing, waterproof gear, hat gloves, comfortable hiking boots, and all in a plastic bag within the rucksack!

Choice of food mainly energy releasing foods such as banana, nuts, muesli bars, and I have gone so far as to prepare some tastly pasta-a-la- llyod-grossman for a midday snack! mmm.

Well, best be off to bed for a good nights rest – I am sure my legs will be KILLING me by this time tomorrow!

till then,

Roz,

Living Life The Wicklow Way….

I forgot to mention for all you wicklow dog lovers out there that skippy had his first swim in the sea last weekend as part of his recovery from his broken leg – and he LOVED it!!

Today is very sunny and beautiful so we will be heading for a nice wicklow beach walk shortly. maybe we;ll see you there? Then perhaps a spot of lunch in Joes Cafe Wicklow Town with the lovely Linda…ahh holidays…………………………..

Roz and Skippy

x

So we have done our checklist for the upcoming big walk starting Tuesday from Clonegal to Glendalough.

• Comfortable backpack,
• plastic bag in case it falls in a river
• comfortable hiking boots
• weatherproof trousers
• torch
• compass- well christopher has one I’ll bet- hmm I’ll borrow my mums!
• Camera, card and fully charged battery!
• Dicataphone

so that leaves:

• waterproof rainjacket
• gaitors
• lunch making materials… which reminds me- Breakfast time!

Looking forward to reporting from the wicklow hills!

Roz