Archbishops and the Observatory

Armagh Planetarium and Observatory

‘The Governors of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’ were established with the original 1791 Act of the Irish Parliament entitled ‘An Act for Settling and Preserving a Public Observatory and Museum in the City of Armagh For Ever’ and retained in The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. 

The Board of Governors has retained a role to ensure that the culture and character, history and patrimony embodied in Armagh Observatory and Planetarium are protected and preserved. The Chairman of the Board of Governors is the sitting Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh. 

Below is the full list of the Archbishops of Armagh who have held the role of the Chairman of the Board of Governors at Armagh Observatory (or, since 1995, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium), along with the years of their tenure at the See of Armagh.

 

From To Name 
1765 1794  Richard Robinson
1795 1800  William Newcome 
1800 1822 William Stuart 
1822 1862  John Beresford 
1862 1885  Marcus Beresford 
1886 1893  Robert Knox 
1893 1896  Robert Gregg 
1896 1911  William Alexander 
1911 1920  John Crozier 
1920 1938  Charles D’Arcy 
1938 1938  Godfrey Day 
1939 1959  John Gregg 
1959 1969  James McCann 
1969 1980  George Simms 
1980 1986  John Armstrong 
1986 2006  Robin Eames
2007 2012  Alan Harper 
2012 2020  Richard Clarke 
2020 present  John McDowell 

 

Archbishops of Armagh, Chairs of Board of Government of Armagh Observatory, as presented in the Boardroom before 2020 (spiralling outwards from Primate Robinson).

Sign up to our Newsletter

To keep up to date with our latest news & events.

Newsletter Signup
Form Validation

Opening Hours

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Closed on Mondays (Open Bank Holiday Mondays)