The Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Planetarium worked with UNA to provide a day for representatives from other UN organisations, including CEWC, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNIFEM and UNYSA, as well as UNA members, all of whom are based in
Northern Ireland. Representatives were welcomed to Armagh by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Gareth Wilson and to the UN IYA by Archbishop Alan Harper, Chairperson of the Board of Governors for the Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Planetarium.
UNA-NI Chairperson, Mrs Hilary Sloan, said “Last year UNA held a special event to mark UN Day in Belfast. It is a pleasure to hold the 2009 event in Armagh, to celebrate the work of the United Nations and to mark the UN International Year of Astronomy with the world renowned Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Planetarium. We are also very pleased that representatives from other UN organisations have joined us to mark the day, so that the UN family is well represented.”
The day included tours of the Observatory by Professor Mark Bailey and Mr John McFarland, a talk on the International Year by the Co-ordinator for Ireland, Dr Miruna Popescu, and a showing in the Planetarium of the special year’s film ‘She is an Astronomer’, introduced by Mr Nigel Farrell.