The National Science and Ecclesiology Museum at Maynooth is a science museum and museum of ecclesiology, located on the joint campus of St Patrick's College, Maynooth and Maynooth University (the southern campus of the university), Ireland. It is an institution of the college, having begun as an ecclesiological museum.
The museum holds various artefacts from the history of science in Ireland (the largest such collection open to the public in Ireland),[1] a large collection of scientific equipment used by Nicholas Callan,[2] and one of two death masks of Irish political leader Daniel O'Connell.[3][4] The museum was founded in 1934 as the Museum of Ecclesiology but has become more focused on science, partially due to Maynooth's association with Callan.
The museum was founded in 1934 as the Museum of Ecclesiology in what was then simply St. Patrick's College, with Dr. William Moran, Professor of Dogmatic Theology, as its first curator. After Moran resigned in 1942, the Very Rev. Dr. Patrick J McLaughlin (then Professor of Experimental Physics and later Vice-President of the College) was appointed as curator. Moran oversaw the transferral of much of Callan's apparatus, which are now on display, into the museum, a process that was completed by his successor, Rev. Dr. Michael Casey.[5]
CollectionEdit
The museum has two main collections: a collection of scientific instruments associated with Nicholas Callan and a collection of ecclesiastical artifacts. The Callan collection is significant because it includes the first induction coil,[6] invented by Callan in 1836.[7] There are a number of his other induction coils, including his giant induction coil (pictured) which he created in 1845, which produced 600,000 volts.[8] There are two coils in this invention, the primary coil and the secondary coil. Over twenty miles of wires in the induction coil were hand-insulated with bees wax. Callan used seminarians holding hands touching the coil to measure the strength of the current. The current passed through the seminarians and Callan judged its strength by the height the seminarians jumped.[9] He worked with a local blacksmith to create the large electromagnet (pictured) in 1836.[citation needed]
The collection contains a number of documents and books, including a royal patent for galvanization.[9]
There is also a large holding of nineteenth century batteries in the museum. Other items of note in the collection include a Norremberg polariscope, a nineteenth century polarizing microscope, and the first portable GPS device (pictured below).[citation needed]
The museum's ecclesiastical collection includes a set of priestly vestments including a set of robes commissioned under the royal patronage of Marie Antoinette. They include an old Ecce Homo (12C) and a leaf of an ivory diptych (14C, Northern France). In addition there are a number of altar stones. Also of historical note is a statue of Jesus that was defaced by Cromwellian soldiers during the Siege of Drogheda in 1649.[citation needed]
Navigation instruments are also to be found in the museum, namely several octants and sextants which were the life blood of navigation on the seas. These instruments are used to fix the position of a ship on the ocean. The octant was a hand-held instrument, with mirrors, used to look at the line of the horizon, take the measurements from the marked scale, and use sea charts to calculate your position. The year 1731 saw the Hadley octant improved in design to become the forerunner of the modern sextant.[10] The octant inscribed with the name 'Yeates' in the collection appears to refer to a George Yeates, active from 1826-1858.[citation needed]
Some artifacts in the museum's collection
Death mask of Daniel O'Connell (1847)
Induction Coil from Ford Model T
A Circumferentor (1805-1819) at the National Science Museum at Maynooth
An octant at the National Science Museum at Maynooth
Leica WM 101, the first portable GPS device
Box sextant
Callan's induction coil (1845)
AccessEdit
The museum opens several days a week out of academic term, and by appointment from October to May.
ReferencesEdit
^"National Science Museum at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth". www.askaboutireland.ie. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^Mollan, R.C.; Upton, John (1994). The Scientific Apparatus of Nicholas Callan and Other Historic Instruments. Samton. ISBN978-1898706014.
^"National Museum Maynooth | Take five: 5 fascinating objects on display in the Museum". maynoothcollege.ie. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^Breen, P.J.; McKeith, Niall E. (1995). St. Patrick's College Maynooth Museum of Ecclesiology. Maynooth: St Patrick's College. ISBN978-0901519757.
^"National Museum Maynooth | Just another WordPress site". maynoothcollege.ie. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^"BSHS Travel Guide - National Science Museum, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, Ireland". www.bshs.org.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^. www.sentex.net. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
^Mollan, Charles; Upton, John (1994). The Scientific Apparatus of Nicholas Callan and other Historic Instruments. Dublin: St. Patrick's College Maynooth and Samton Limited. p. 67. ISBN1-898706-02-6.
^ ab"RTÉ - Icons of Irish Science podcast online, show, free". Radioline. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
^"The History of the Sextant". www.mat.uc.pt. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
Further readingEdit
Bowler, Peter J., Nicholas Whyte, and Queen's University of Belfast. Institute of Irish Studies. Science and Society in Ireland: The Social Context of Science and Technology in Ireland, 1800-1950. Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University of Belfast, 1997.
McNeil, Ian, ed. An Encyclopedia of the History of Technology. Florence, US: Routledge, 2002.
Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity by Jim Al-Khalili
August 29, 2023
national, science, museum, maynooth, national, science, ecclesiology, museum, maynooth, science, museum, museum, ecclesiology, located, joint, campus, patrick, college, maynooth, maynooth, university, southern, campus, university, ireland, institution, college. The National Science and Ecclesiology Museum at Maynooth is a science museum and museum of ecclesiology located on the joint campus of St Patrick s College Maynooth and Maynooth University the southern campus of the university Ireland It is an institution of the college having begun as an ecclesiological museum National Science and Ecclesiology MuseumPlaque at entranceLocation within IrelandFormer nameMuseum of EcclesiologyEstablished1934 1934 LocationMaynoothCounty Kildare IrelandCoordinates53 22 43 N 6 35 55 W 53 3785699 N 6 5985657 W 53 3785699 6 5985657TypeScience museumEcclesiology museumCuratorDr Niall McKeithPublic transit accessMaynooth Dublin Bus routes 66 67Websitemaynoothcollege wbr ieThe museum holds various artefacts from the history of science in Ireland the largest such collection open to the public in Ireland 1 a large collection of scientific equipment used by Nicholas Callan 2 and one of two death masks of Irish political leader Daniel O Connell 3 4 The museum was founded in 1934 as the Museum of Ecclesiology but has become more focused on science partially due to Maynooth s association with Callan Contents 1 History 2 Collection 3 Access 4 References 5 Further readingHistory EditThe museum was founded in 1934 as the Museum of Ecclesiology in what was then simply St Patrick s College with Dr William Moran Professor of Dogmatic Theology as its first curator After Moran resigned in 1942 the Very Rev Dr Patrick J McLaughlin then Professor of Experimental Physics and later Vice President of the College was appointed as curator Moran oversaw the transferral of much of Callan s apparatus which are now on display into the museum a process that was completed by his successor Rev Dr Michael Casey 5 Collection EditThe museum has two main collections a collection of scientific instruments associated with Nicholas Callan and a collection of ecclesiastical artifacts The Callan collection is significant because it includes the first induction coil 6 invented by Callan in 1836 7 There are a number of his other induction coils including his giant induction coil pictured which he created in 1845 which produced 600 000 volts 8 There are two coils in this invention the primary coil and the secondary coil Over twenty miles of wires in the induction coil were hand insulated with bees wax Callan used seminarians holding hands touching the coil to measure the strength of the current The current passed through the seminarians and Callan judged its strength by the height the seminarians jumped 9 He worked with a local blacksmith to create the large electromagnet pictured in 1836 citation needed The collection contains a number of documents and books including a royal patent for galvanization 9 There is also a large holding of nineteenth century batteries in the museum Other items of note in the collection include a Norremberg polariscope a nineteenth century polarizing microscope and the first portable GPS device pictured below citation needed The museum s ecclesiastical collection includes a set of priestly vestments including a set of robes commissioned under the royal patronage of Marie Antoinette They include an old Ecce Homo 12C and a leaf of an ivory diptych 14C Northern France In addition there are a number of altar stones Also of historical note is a statue of Jesus that was defaced by Cromwellian soldiers during the Siege of Drogheda in 1649 citation needed Navigation instruments are also to be found in the museum namely several octants and sextants which were the life blood of navigation on the seas These instruments are used to fix the position of a ship on the ocean The octant was a hand held instrument with mirrors used to look at the line of the horizon take the measurements from the marked scale and use sea charts to calculate your position The year 1731 saw the Hadley octant improved in design to become the forerunner of the modern sextant 10 The octant inscribed with the name Yeates in the collection appears to refer to a George Yeates active from 1826 1858 citation needed Some artifacts in the museum s collection Death mask of Daniel O Connell 1847 Induction Coil from Ford Model T A Circumferentor 1805 1819 at the National Science Museum at Maynooth An octant at the National Science Museum at Maynooth Leica WM 101 the first portable GPS device Box sextant Callan s induction coil 1845 Access EditThe museum opens several days a week out of academic term and by appointment from October to May References Edit National Science Museum at St Patrick s College Maynooth www askaboutireland ie Retrieved 6 May 2016 Mollan R C Upton John 1994 The Scientific Apparatus of Nicholas Callan and Other Historic Instruments Samton ISBN 978 1898706014 National Museum Maynooth Take five 5 fascinating objects on display in the Museum maynoothcollege ie Retrieved 6 May 2016 Breen P J McKeith Niall E 1995 St Patrick s College Maynooth Museum of Ecclesiology Maynooth St Patrick s College ISBN 978 0901519757 National Museum Maynooth Just another WordPress site maynoothcollege ie Retrieved 6 May 2016 BSHS Travel Guide National Science Museum St Patrick s College Maynooth Ireland www bshs org uk Retrieved 6 May 2016 The Classic Induction Coil Induction Coils HV www sentex net Archived from the original on 30 October 2016 Retrieved 22 April 2016 Mollan Charles Upton John 1994 The Scientific Apparatus of Nicholas Callan and other Historic Instruments Dublin St Patrick s College Maynooth and Samton Limited p 67 ISBN 1 898706 02 6 a b RTE Icons of Irish Science podcast online show free Radioline Retrieved 21 April 2016 The History of the Sextant www mat uc pt Retrieved 22 April 2016 Further reading EditBowler Peter J Nicholas Whyte and Queen s University of Belfast Institute of Irish Studies Science and Society in Ireland The Social Context of Science and Technology in Ireland 1800 1950 Belfast Institute of Irish Studies Queen s University of Belfast 1997 McNeil Ian ed An Encyclopedia of the History of Technology Florence US Routledge 2002 Shock and Awe The Story of Electricity by Jim Al Khalili Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Science Museum at Maynooth amp oldid 1090967566, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
