Armagh Planetarium

Armagh Planetarium is one of the best space adventure facilities in the entire island of Ireland that I can assure will leave you mesmerized by the many wonders of our universe and will make you want to visit it again.

The state of the arts facilities which spans over 12 acres combines the historic heritage of Armagh with the modern beauty of a scientific planetarium.  This is the perfect hidden gem for anyone regardless of your interest in the world around us as there are also a range of picnic areas overlooking a picturesque landscape called the Astropark.  Before you enter the planetarium, you have the choice to spend time exploring the small gift shop which you can buy gifts such as keychains and a range of fridge magnets which I think are the perfect gifts to give to all your family and friends to commemorate your experience.

The highlight of my experience was the digital full dome theatre which immerses you in a full 3D tour of all the planets and moons in our solar system which really was a sight to behold and although I usually do not have that much of an interest in space and the planets after it was over it left me wanting to do it again and carry out my own personal research when I got home. Other activities include a Cosmo trail, and you are even able to touch and get a photo with the largest meteorite in Ireland.

As it was the first time I had been to a planetarium, I was very impressed with the amount of knowledge that the staff had. They were very friendly and were able to answer any questions I had with a keen level of enthusiasm. Sometimes the standard of customer service at places like these can be quite low and can end up spoiling what would be an otherwise pleasant experience. During my time there though the level of customer service only added to an unforgettable day out.

Armagh Planetarium is also very educational, and it demonstrates this by doing lots of events and activity workshops for children of primary school ages hoping to get them interested in science and the world around us. These events are all done for free and really help the local community.  Their most popular event is their stargazing event where people of all ages watch in wonder at all the stars in the sky which has become a huge success and if you are willing to stay up late it is truly something you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

In October 2024 the planetarium had the pleasure of welcoming Dr Cady Coleman, a NASA astronaut who was given a special tour of the facilities.  She gave a very informative speech on the importance of looking after our planet and warned the listeners of the real threat of climate change and also took the time to answer any questions the young people in the audience had.

To conclude, before visiting I was very sceptical that I would enjoy my visit to the  planetarium because I thought it would not be interesting and lack excitement, but I was proved wrong, and I really enjoyed my day there. In my opinion I would rate Armagh planetarium a 7/10. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to have an enjoyable day out while learning about the planets in the process.