From Limelight to Satellite: The Importance of the Lough Foyle Baseline

From Limelight to Satellite: The Importance of the Lough Foyle Baseline

Presented by Michael Cory

In the early part of the 19th Century, the Ordnance Survey established a baseline alongside Lough Foyle for its triangulation of Ireland. This remarkable work remained the basis of all distances in Ireland, Britain and beyond for another 175 years, until satellites changed our understanding of the world. This talk will outline the context of this remarkable work, its importance to the map of Ireland and its enduring legacy.

Michael Cory's career has been driven by his love for maps and adventure. As a land surveyor, he has helped map the world from Liberia's jungles to Yemen's deserts. Moving to the Ordnance Survey in England, he embraced evolving technology, earning a master’s degree in land information systems. In Dublin and later Belfast, he played pivotal roles in modernising mapping services, leading them into the digital era.

His commitment to public service led him to oversee sports, culture, and libraries in Northern Ireland's civil service, engaging in community development and global representation, notably for the 2012 Olympics. As Secretary General of the European Association of National Mapping Agencies in Brussels, he fostered international collaboration, advising bodies like the UN and the EU.

A lifelong learner, Mick is a Fulbright scholar and a Chartered Director. Retired in Bangor, County Down, he continues his passion for maps, authoring a book on Irish Ordnance Surveys and exploring his family's diverse Irish, Spanish and Basque heritage.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Phoenix Park, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Ireland