telescope

Well it was "new" in 1880, if that helps. books.google.ca/books?id=cRw4AAAAMAAJ&lpg=PA659&o...

NIAH website tell us it was built between 1875 and 1885 yet sign over the door reads 1880!! No civil engineering building! The NIAH says the then Chemistry and Physics labs were built 1905-1915 while the Dictionary of Irish Architects records show the labs built 1909-1911. Even before the labs were built I think we ought to be able to see the Carrigside and/or Edler Wood terraces on College Road. They were built---again according to NIAH---in 1880's . Terraceview So I think taken around 1880/85 when it was brand spanking new.! Gullgle

25" OSI map showing the observatory with the same path layout. No civil engineering building/physics and chemistry labs. Carrigside Terrace is there, but there is an empty space where Elder Wood should be.

The observatory has a wikipedia entry as well: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_Observatory About the sponsor, William Horatio Crawford (1815 - 1888) s. library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/view/1160/william...

... and the wiki links to this Quite Interesting article - www.astronomytrail.ie/crawford/history/

The invention of the telescope Historians are not absolutely sure who invented the telescope, but it is known that in 1608 a Dutch spectacle maker, Hans Lipperhey, announced a new lens-based seeing instrument that made distant objects appear much closer. This is the first evidence we have of the invention of the telescope, the first scientific instrument to extend one of the human senses. Source: www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/history-telescope

William Parsons, third Earl of Rosse, John's Place, Birr, County Offaly and yes to answer your questions.

Streetview The NIAH entry dates it to c. 1870 (he died in 1867) and the photo is pre-engraving of his name on the plinth, so it must be shortly after it was erected.

A slightly different view of the statue in the Lawrence Collection, but also lacking engraving so probably taken at a similar time frame.

within NLofI Flickr I think you have a photo listed with the "great telescope",

The DIA says it is by John Henry Foley, who also started the O'Connell monument in O'Connell St, did Fr. Matthew in Cork, Goldsmith and Burke in Trinity, Prince Albert on Leinster Lawn, Carlisle and Gough in the Phoenix Park, a Guinness at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Grattan on College Green. I think we have seen all of those in the nli Flickr stream!