Guided Tour of the Museum

Over the centuries the College has amassed a considerable amount of scientific instrumentation and religious antiquities. In order that these were correctly cared for, catalogued and accessible to the general public, it was decided that a museum should be opened to contain them. The museum is located on the Old Campus and is open at the following times or by appointment with the curator, Dr. Niall McKeith, contact 01-7083780.

Opening Times:
May-September: Sunday 2-6pm, Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm
October-April: by appointment, please contact Dr. Niall McKeith

The museum was only recently renovated. New cases were purchased so that the antiquities could be safely and effectively displayed. There is also a small interactive section, where patrons can explore some of the newer aspects of physical instrumentation.

Electrometers

There are 5 different types of electrometers in the museum:
the Coulomb Torsion Balance by Elliott Bros, London;
the Henley by Yeates of Dublin;
the Kelvin Quadrant, unsigned;
the Quadrant by Griffin of London;
and the Gold Leaf Electroscope by Griffin& Tatlock Ltd.

Induction Coil
One of the most important scientific discoveries in the Museum is Nicholas Callan's Induction Coil
 
Callan's Workshop
One particular section of the museum is devoted to the instruments of Nicholas Callan and these are displayed together showing how Callan would have worked with them.

Electrostatic Generators

The electrostatic generators in the museum comprise a Carre and a Wimshurst attributed to Yeates of Dublin, a Nairne and a Winter (origin unknown) and another Wimshurst by Schall of London. The Wimshursts were used at the turn of the Century to generate x.rays. It is the simplest of all induction machines and unlike earlier induction generators, the Wimshurst is self-exciting requiring neither friction nor another machine to get it started.

 Vestments

The commonest materials used seem to have been velvet, silk, damask, and cloth of gold. Strips of embroidery and orphrey work were often set on to a plain background. As in the case of modern vestments the early chasubles had an embroidered cross back and front. The most notable vestment is that donated by the Empress of Austria which comprises gold inlay.

The Irish Harp

A striking member of the collection is a beautiful example of the large Irish harp.

Crosses
There are many beautiful crosses in the collection both simple and more extravagant. There are examples of processional crosses, pectoral crosses and the more common personal pendant cross.
 Radio / Telegraphy
The museum houses a fine collection of radio & telegraphy equipment incl. equipment used by Marconi to make his first transmissions and equipment manufactured by his company.

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