Armagh Observatory

Counties Down & Armagh


The Armagh Observatory was founded by Archbishop Robinson in 1789 and is still Ireland's leading astronomical-research institute. The observatory building is closed to the public but the attractive grounds (open during daylight hours) contain sundials, a scale model of the solar system and a human orrery showing the positions and orbits of the earth.

A path connects the observatory with the Armagh Planetarium.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Counties Down & Armagh attractions

1. Armagh Planetarium

0.1 MILES

Aimed mainly at educating young people, the Armagh Planetarium has an interactive exhibition on space exploration, and a digital theatre that screens a…

2. Armagh Courthouse

0.25 MILES

At the northern end of the Mall stands Armagh Courthouse, rebuilt after being destroyed by a huge IRA bomb blast in 1993. It originally dates from 1809,…

3. Charlemont Place

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The east side of the Mall is lined with handsome Georgian terraces including Charlemont Place, designed by local Francis Johnston, who later became one of…

4. Armagh County Museum

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Prehistoric axe heads, artefacts found in bogs, corn dollies and straw-boy outfits, and military costumes and equipment are among the items on display at…

5. Mall

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This long grassy expanse east of Armagh's centre was a horse-racing, cock-fighting and bull-baiting venue until the 18th century, when Archbishop Robinson…

6. St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral

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Huge twin towers dominate the approach to Armagh's Roman Catholic Cathedral, built between 1838 and 1873 in Gothic Revival style. Inside it seems almost…

7. Armagh Robinson Library

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A first edition of Gulliver's Travels, published in 1726 and annotated by Swift himself, is the most prized possession of the wonderful Armagh Robinson…