Offaly trio profiled in new 'Irish STEM Lives' book
The historic contributions made by three Offaly people in the fields of astronomy and engineering are featured in a new book, Irish STEM Lives, which is being officially launched this week.
Edited by Turlough O'Riordan and Jane Grimson, the book is the latest in the Dictionary of Irish Biography's ongoing lives series.
A launch event for the publication is taking place at The Royal Irish Academy this Wednesday (October 8).
The book retraces the extraordinary work and contributions of natural philosophers, mathematicians, engineers, particle physicists, code breakers and many more, through a selection of 46 exceptional pioneers from the Dictionary of Irish Biography.
The publication includes three entries for individuals from Offaly, including microscopist, astronomer, artist and author, Mary Ward.
Educated at home in Ballylin near Ferbane, in accordance with aristocratic custom, Ward's parents encouraged her interests in astronomy and natural history.
Ward used a microscope, then rare and expensive, which she was gifted to draw and paint flowers and plants she investigated.
Privileged to make observations with her cousin, Richard Parsons', enormous telescope at Birr Castle, Ward published on astronomy and the flora and fauna she encountered. She is thought to have been the first person killed in an automobile accident in Ireland.
Also included is Bindon Blood Stoney, a civil engineer who hailed from Oakley Park. Working initially at the observatory at Birr Castle, he deployed novel wrought-iron lattice techniques as resident engineer on a viaduct over the River Boyne.
Working for the Ballast Office, he worked on Dublin Port, upgrading the North Wall quays, extending the North Wall, and erecting the North Bull lighthouse. He rebuilt various Liffey crossings, including Essex – renamed Grattan, then Carlise – renamed O'Connell – bridges, and his work left a lasting impression across the city.
Astronomer William Parsons, who was raised in Birr, also features in the publication. Parsons was drawn to astrology and undertook the design and manufacture of important telescopes at the family estate. He invented apparatus to form mirror lenses, powered by steam engine, and continued to refine approaches to casting, fabricating and shaping the mirrors he installed in the telescopes he built at Birr.
Most well known was the 'Leviathan', the largest telescope in the world at the time, constructed in 1845. A fellow and president of the Royal Society, Parsons succeeded his father to become 3rd earl of Rosse.
Co-editor of the book, Jane Grimson, said: "Ireland is rightly recognised globally for our many wonderful creative writers.
"However, what is much less well known is the vital contribution which many women and men, who were either born in Ireland or who worked here, have made to the advancement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) across a wide range of areas which are still important today. This volume records their achievements."
Irish STEM Lives is available in bookshops and through the RIA Publishing House via: www.ria.ie.