Compare Hotels Near Armagh Planetarium

The city of Armagh has played a crucial role in the history of Ireland through many different eras. In ecclesiastical terms it is often regard as the capital of the country, having been the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, and this is reflected in the presence of two cathedrals dedicated to St. Patrick. Other symbols of the march of history through this quiet part of rural Ireland include an ancient Celtic hill fort and a prehistoric tomb.

It would be a mistake, however, to think that Armagh is a place which is all about the past. Indeed, the city centre pulls off the difficult trick of celebrating times gone by, drawing on the best of life as it used to be lived, yet still remaining forward-looking and completely up to date.

Modern Armagh

To this end, the modern city of Armagh combines Georgian streets and architecture with cutting-edge clothing boutiques and award-winning modern restaurants. It also offers the chance to live life at a more relaxed and rural pace, while still providing exciting nightlife in the form of pubs offering food, drink and live music.

Accommodation in Armagh

With thousands of people a year visiting Armagh, the demand for accommodation in and around the city is high, and supply has grown to meet this demand. The establishments available run from simple hostels for those who need little more than a bed for the night, to luxury country house lodges and spas for visitors keen to combine rural tranquillity with a touch of pampering. The inns, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts around the centre of the town are perfectly placed for exploring everything it has to offer, and the fact that they are so conveniently located will be a huge relief after an exhausting day or night having fun.

Armagh Planetarium

The Armagh Planetarium is symbolic of the forward-looking nature of Armagh, being a combination of planetarium and observatory which celebrates the wonders of the universe and the magic of the night sky. It is located on College Hill in the centre of Armagh and is open from 10am to 5pm, seven days a week.

Fun at the Planetarium

The attractions at the planetarium have been designed to appeal to anyone with an interest in science and the night sky, from young children, to those who’ve retired. The digital theatre puts on stunning 3D shows every day, with intriguing titles such as Exploding Universe and Astronaut. During the school holidays, the planetarium holds rocket-building workshops. Kids get to build, launch and design their own rocket-powered rockets and they can even name and decorate them before sending them high into the sky.

Exhibits on display in the planetarium include genuine spacesuits, interactive touchscreens and, at 140 kg, the largest meteorite in Ireland, which you can not only look at, but touch as well.

The gardens at the planetarium are a genuine astropark, working as much more than just a calming environment in which to take in some fresh Armagh air. The garden acts as nothing less than a scale model of the universe, with steel balls representing the planets, and demonstrating how the earth is dwarfed by some of its celestial neighbours.

As you walk further from the centre of the park, you come across paved markings representing the edge of the Milky Way, until climbing to the top of the hill and examining the specially constructed stone circle.