Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies 57th Meeting

The 2015 CRAF meeting, organized by the School of Physics, Trinity College, Dublin, will be held from 12 May to 13 May at Birr Castle in Ireland located approximately 150 km SW of Dublin Airport.

The meeting will start at 19:00 on the 11th of May with a welcome reception in Birr Castle itself (to be confirmed). Business commences at 09:00 on Tuesday the 12th of May.

Birr Castle is an historical site with particular significance for astronomical research since the 1840s and is home to the ‘Leviathan of Parsonstown’ which was at one time the largest optical telescope in the world. It is also the site of the Rosse Solar-Terrestrial observatory. The traditional CRAF excursion will be therefore on the same site as the meeting. This can either take place on the Monday afternoon/early evening, or be spread across the lunch breaks on the two days of the meeting itself.

The meeting will close around 16:00 on Wednesday 13 May.

A Google Earth file is provided here showing the locations of all hotels as well as the entrance to the Castle for the meeting.

Options for getting to Birr from Dublin Airport

http://www.dublinairport.com/gns/to-from-the-airport/by-bus-or-coach.aspx
- Take the Aircoach (route 700) or an Airlink bus (#747 – every 15-20 min up to 23:30. - timetable), to the city centre. Journey time from Airport to city centre ~40 min.
- Walk ~8 minutes to Ha’penny bridge. (map)
- Board Kearns Transport bus to Birr. Departures at 16:10, 16:45, 17:15, 17:45, & 18:15. Other departure times terminate in Tullamore (timetable). Journey time from city centre to Birr ~2h20m.
- Take an Airlink bus #747 – every 15-20 min up to 23:30 - to Heuston Station. Journey time from Airport to Heuston station ~1 hour. (timetable)
- Take a train to Tullamore. (http://www.irishrail.ie/) Departure times 07:35, 09:25, 11:25, 12:45,13:25, 14:45, 15:35, 16:30, 17:10, 17:30, 18:15, & 19:35. Journey time from Heuston station to Tullamore ~ 1 hour.
- Taxi (~€50) from Tullamore to Birr. (from the station or call any of these companies)
- Take an Airlink bus #747 – every 15-20 min up to 23:30 - to Heuston Station. Journey time from Airport to Heuston station ~1 hour. (timetable)
- Take a train to Templemore. (http://www.irishrail.ie/) Departure times 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 15:25, 16:00, 16:25, 17:00, 17:25, 18:00, 19:00 & 21:00. Journey time from Heuston station to Templemore ~ 2 hours.
- Taxi (~€50) from Templemore to Birr. (from the station or call any of these companies)
Private hire of a coach. One way for a 33 seater is ~€350. For this to work, a sufficient number of people would have to be able to meet at the airport or Trinity College.
Car hire from the airport (directions).

Meeting location

The meeting will take place at the following address:

Birr Castle Demesne,

Birr,

Co. Offaly,

Ireland

http://www.birrcastle.com/

GPS: 53.096172, -7.914329

The entrance to the castle for the meeting is the visitor centre entrance shown here

Meeting Schedule

Day one: 11 May 2015

Meeting at the meeting point in Dublin Airport terminal 1 for those taking the bus to Birr from 17:15. The bus will leave as soon as possible after 17:30
Arrival time constraints have necessitated the cancellation of the welcome reception. It is recommended that people eat in Dooleys hotel on this evening as they are kindly keeping the kitchen open for us until 21:45

Day two: 12 May 2015

Start closed session (for CRAF members only): 09:00
End closed session: 12:30
Lunch: 12:30-13:30 (optional visit to the Rosse observatory)
Start open session: 13:30
End open session: 18:00
Group Photo.
Private Castle Tour: 18:10 (As this is the private residence of the Earl & Countess of Rosse, we request that you kindly refrain from taking photographs)
Social dinner in Dooleys hotel: 19:30

Day three: 13 May 2014

Start open session: 09:00
Lunch: 12:30-14:00 (optional visit to the Rosse observatory)
End of meeting: 15:30
Return bus to Dublin 16:00

Accommodation information

The Davenport hotel (close to city centre near Trinity College), book using this link https://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=1408769&hotelID=77538

The Davenport hotel (close to city centre near Trinity College), book using this link https://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=1408768&hotelID=77538

Dublin Accommodation for those with an early flight out. (No rooms reserved)

The Radison Blu hotel, http://www.radissonblu.ie/hotel-dublinairport

Hotels/Guesthouses in Birr (within walking distance of the meeting)

Dooly's Hotel, Emmet Square, Birr, County Offaly, Ireland.

T: +353 (0) 57 9120032 | F:+353 (0) 57 9121332 E: reservations@doolyshotel.ie

info@doolyshotel.ie | W: http://www.doolyshotel.com/ | GPS: 53.095969, -7.910627

Room rates from €50 (single), €85 (Double/Twin), €105 (triple), €145 (family room, 4 persons)/night including breakfast and tax.

County Arms Hotel, Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland.

T: +353 (0) 57 9120791 | F: +353 (0) 57 9121234 | E: info@countyarmshotel.com | W: http://www.countyarmshotel.com/ | GPS: 53.090623, -7.906545.

Room rates from €69pp/night €89/double/night including breakfast and tax.

The Maltings, Castle Street, Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland.

T: +353 (0) 057 91 21345 | E: themaltingsbirr@eircom.net | W: http://www.themaltingsbirr.com/ | GPS: 53.09485, -7.914096

Room rates from €50 single/night (€35 pps) including breakfast and tax.

Spinners, Castle St., Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. T: +353 (0) 57 912 3779 E: spinnersbirr@gmail.com | W: http://www.spinnersbirr.com/ | GPS: 53.094916, -7.914126

Room rates €40pp/night €35pps/night including breakfast and tax.

Townsend Guesthouse, Townsend St. Birr, Co.Offaly T: +353 (0) 57 912 1276 | E: enquiry@townsendhouse-guesthouse.com | W: http://www.townsendhouse-guesthouse.com/| GPS: 53.09852, -7.90931. Room rates €40 pps, €50 single. Includes breakfast & tax. 2 Family rooms available.

Alternative hotel

There are a number of other hotels out of town from Birr Castle. If you want to stay in one of these, you are requested to arrange the transportation to/from Birr Castle yourself.

Kinnitty Castle Hotel, Kinnitty, Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland. T: +353 (0)57 9137318 | E: reception@kinnittycastlehotel.com | W: http://www.kinnittycastlehotel.com/ | GPS: 53.103261, -7.705678

Room rates from € 45pps/night including breakfast and tax. €25 single supplement.

Meeting dinner

CRAF invites all participants and accompanying persons to attend a joint dinner on Tuesday evening the 12th of May. Information about the exact location will be provided during the meeting itself. Please indicate on the registration form if you wish to attend this dinner and if you have any special dietary requests.

Visit to the Rosse Observatory, Leviathan & Science museum

Note that the tour is partly outside, so appropriate clothing and footwear is essential.

Weather

The weather in May in the Ireland can be variable, but is often quite nice with mild temperatures. However, be prepared for some showers. The long term weather forecast for Birr may be found here, or for the short-term outlook click here.

Other practical details

Currency: Euro

Power: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. 3 pin BS1363A plug:

Dublin Accommodation for those arriving on the 10th. (10 rooms reserved until the 15th April, use the booking link below)

Dublin Accommodation for those who want to stay in Dublin on the 13th, 14th or 15th. (10 rooms reserved until the 15th April, use the booking link below)

Registration

Please register for the meeting by returning the your registration form by email to Joe McCauley in the School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin: joe.mccauley@tcd.ie

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