National Science and Ecclesiology Museum Maynooth

Over het museum

The museum began in 1934 as a Museum of Ecclesiology, set up by the trustees of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, as a store for church objects and items of college interest. In 1942 Patrick McLaughlin, a professor of experimental physics, became curator and started to move the apparatus of the 19th-century physicist Nicholas Callan into the museum. These included induction coils, electromagnets, a repeater, condensers, electric motors and batteries.

Later curators, including Michael Casey from 1975 to 1998, brought in more historic instruments from the physics department. Since then the museum has developed two main collections. The scientific collection is mostly linked with Callan and, according to the museum, is the largest display of scientific instruments in Ireland, with most pieces made in Ireland between 1880 and 1920. The second collection consists of church objects from the last three centuries, such as altar plate, chalices and vestments.

The museum is run by St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth. Some key pieces have been digitised by students of Maynooth University, and the museum keeps a blog about its collections.

Hoogtepunten

• Instruments of Nicholas Callan, including induction coils and the 1836 electromagnet
• Largest public display of scientific instruments in Ireland
• Microscopes and surveying instruments
• Replica of St Patrick's Bell Shrine and of the Ardagh Chalice
• Vestments of the Empress of Austria and 19th-century altar plate

Vaste collectie

• Science Gallery – Scientific instruments from Nicholas Callan and others, including microscopes and surveying instruments.
• Ecclesiology Gallery – Church objects from the last three centuries, including replicas of the Bell Shrine of St Patrick and the Ardagh Chalice.

Opgericht

1934

Beheerder

St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Toegankelijkheid

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Kinderen & gezin

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Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The university publishes a campus parking map; the exact location of the museum within the campus is not stated.

Service & horeca

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Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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