DATE: 22^nd JULY 2002

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

Schull Planetarium, Schull, West Cork was filled to capacity on the night of Thursday the 18^th for the first of this year’s special lecture series. The Planetarium was delighted to welcome representatives from the Limerick and Shannon-side Astronomical societies, along with a number of local astronomers and members of the general public. The audience enjoyed the regular Thursday evening Starshow, and the lecture that followed, entitled "Cosmology – the speculative science". In this lecture Planetarium Senior lecturer Mark Sweetnam outlined the limitations of science in the study of Cosmology, and showed that there was no scientific reason to rule a Biblical creationism out as the source of our Universe. The lecture was followed by a lively and stimulating time of discussion, with contributions from both pro- and anti- creationist points of view.

Staff at the Planetarium are looking forward to a similar level of interest at the second lecture in the series, which is entitled "In Six Days – The Creationist Case", and which hopes to examine the Biblical record of Creation. This will take place on Thursday 25^th, following the usual 8p.m Starshow. There are still a good number of tickets available, but as always with events of this kind, advance booking is highly recommended. For further information, or to book tickets for the event, please contact Schull Planetarium on 028-28552.

(Release ends)

Schull Planetarium would like to express its gratitude for the help already given to this series by the media, and, once again, is happy to extend any necessary facilities to any journalists who may be interested in covering the event. Mark Sweetnam has responsibility for media liaison, and can be contacted on 028-38299, or 086-3042561