Star-B-Q 2007 Vista   Credit: Keith Geary (Click for Hi-Res image)

Ireland's largest gathering of Amateur Astronomers took place at 8:00pm on Saturday September 08.  

Upwards on 600 people travelled to the highest village in Ireland - Roundwood, Co. Wicklow for Astronomy Ireland's bi - annual fundraising Star-B-Q event breaking all previous records.  Roundwood has become the home of this unique event.  Met Eireann had forecast good weather for the event so hopes were high for clear skies.

This year as in past years the event was professionally catered by Brian Beattie and his team of The Caterers www.thecaterers.ie.  As always he did an excellent job and the food was up to its usual standard of excellence.  

The first talk was given by the well known TV and Radio presenter Leo Enright of RTE and the Discover Science and Engineering Program.  The talk entitled 3D Mars was excellent.  3D glasses were handed around before the talk began and they really brought the martian images to life.  It was a strange sight to see so many people sitting glued to a screen all wearing the same kind of glasses.

Astronomy Ireland Chairman, David Moore gave the next lecture.  This was a David's very popular lecture on the Universe.  This was followed by a great lecture by Emlyn Jones with lots of animation and sound.  

While the lectures were happening inside there was also a lot happening outside. Eamonn O'Fearchain gave an imaging display projected onto his big screen.  Tony Ryan gave his excellent naked eye "Walk though the Heavens" helped by the aid of a powerful laser pointer.  Twenty telescopes organised by David Grennan lined up on the football pitch focused on a variety of night sky objects.  Carl O'Beirnes and Robert Lord as well as showing off the latest state of the art telescopes demonstrated the remakable SkyScout - the latest "must have" gadget which can tell you the name and facts about a night sky object just by pointing it at that object.

Skies were partially clear for the event especially earlier on and quite a bit of useful viewing was done.  Later on the dreaded clouds rolled in.

There was something for everyone and lots of wonderful memories for many to take home.

RTE were at the Star-B-Q. Watch their report

Click images to view large images

Sizzling food at the Star-B-Q Pic:Patrick O'Leary	David Moore's Lecture   Pic:Patrick O'Leary
Enjoying a warm drink Pic:Patrick O'Leary	Dishing out food  Pic:Patrick O'Leary
Thumbs up from John Cleere  Pic:Patrick O'Leary	The food queue       Pic:Patrick O'Leary
Great food, good company       Pic:Patrick O'Leary	Carl O'Beirnes explains...     Pic:Patrick O'Leary
Ben Emmet Director AI    Pic:Patrick O'Leary	Eoin Gill Calmast & David Moore Pic:Patrick O'Leary
Telescope Viewing        Pic:Patrick O'Leary	Having a Ball    Pic:Patrick O'Leary
Seamus Bonner of AI	Derek and Sonia at the AI Stand
Carl O'Beirnes at the Shop  Pic:Patrick O'Leary	Section of the large crowd    Pic:Patrick O'Leary
Tasty Food            Pic:Patrick O'Leary	A hard choice....    Pic:Patrick O'Leary
John Courlander helps out  Pic: John Hackett	David Moore at the Star-B-Q  Pic: John Hackett
Emlyn Jones drive home a point  Pic: John Hackett	Entertaing the audience - David Grennan
RTE were there!  Pic: John Hackett	David Grennan shows how its done.Pic: John Hackett
Masterclass                           Pic: John Hackett	Assembling the 21"              Pic: John Hackett
Entrance gate of Star-B-Q       Pic: John Hackett	Lecture audience                 Pic: John Hackett
Part of crowd at lectures       Pic: John Hackett	"3D Mars" lecture           Pic: John Hackett
Leo Enright and David Moore       Pic: John Hackett	Keith O'Beirnes at the Shop      Pic: John Hackett