Raheny Observatory

Raheny Observatroy IS an actual observatory, built by astronomer Dave Grennan in Raheny. Mr. Grennan and his wife have discovered two supernovae since 2010 with their observatory. The reason Cathal didn’t see a big telescope is that in this modern age, we can discover supernova with smaler telescopes and digital imaging with PCs. The Raheny Observatory that IS an observatory is not located in a shopping center.
A simple google search for Raheny Observatory will show you more information about Mr. Grennan’s discoveries and observatory, called, aptly, The Raheny Observatory.

Raheny Observatory is a rather grandiose title, and I was told that I had to go there for this job, I was very confused. Where is Raheny Observatory, and why haven’t I noticed some big telescope pointed to the heavens in my own little suburb?
Well, it turns out Raheny Observatory isn’t actually an observatory, it’s a venue used for market research. I suppose they gave it it’s unsuitable name because it’s in the top floor of Raheny Shopping Centre, which I suppose would put it fractionally higher than most buildings in Raheny, and thus better able to «observe». It has big windows, but they don’t even look out over any of the nicer bits of the suburb. There’s also a forlorn little ornamental telescope put there in a slightly pathetic attempt to justify their misleading name.
I was at the place to do one of those market research things. If you’re not familiar with these occasions, basically go and a number of other people in your demographic are asked questions about a particular product or advertising campaign for a couple pf hours while people observe and take notes behind a two-​way mirror, and then you’re fifty quid or so at the end for your troubles.
I think that the one in Raheny was the second one that I’d done that week, so I was fairly au fait with the process. I have to say, though, that in all my experiences as an advertising guinea pig, Raheny Observatory provided the most enjoyable experience.
And I’m not just saying that out of patriotic fervour for my village.
For one thing, the food was good. Crisps and chocolate, and a nice variety of sandwiches (some even had bacon in them). And instead of just soft drinks and tea and coffee, they actually gave you beer (even though the product we were reviewing wasn’t anything to do with alcohol). There’s only so many bottles of Miller that you can neck in the 20 or so minutes before the focus group stuff begins but it was a very nice gesture all the same.
Raheny Observatory: not an actual observatory even using the broadest interpretation of the word, but still an unusually accommodating place to take part in a focus group.