‘Father of the Information Age’ – George- Boole – Remembered at Church Service in Cork

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

2015 marks the bicentenary of the birth of George Boole.  Boole has been described as the ‘father of the information age.’  He was a largely self-taught mathematician, born in Lincoln, but who was appointed in 1849 as the first Professor of Mathematics at what is now University College, Cork.

Scott, representing all the students at St Michae;s' Church of Ireland National School, Blackrock, Cork, is presented wiht a Raspberry Pi computer by Professor Barry O'Sullivan, Head of Comptuer Science at U.C.C. at the end of the George Boole Anniversary Evensong. Each student at the school was given a Raspberry Pi computer by the Computer Science Department to mark the Boole anniversaries.

Scott, representing all the students at St Michae;s’ Church of Ireland National School, Blackrock, Cork, is presented wiht a Raspberry Pi computer by Professor Barry O’Sullivan, Head of Comptuer Science at U.C.C. at the end of the George Boole Anniversary Evensong. Each student at the school was given a Raspberry Pi computer by the Computer Science Department to mark the Boole anniversaries.

Boole died in Cork in 1864 and is buried in the churchyard of Saint Michael’s Church, Blackrock, Cork.  UCC have kindly restored the headstone of his grave, and the 150th anniversary of his death on 8th December was marked last month by a special Evensong sung by the Clerks Choral in Saint Michael’s Church organised by the rector, Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson and Professor Desmond MacHale (Boole’s biographer).  Also present were the Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, and the President of U.C.C., Dr Michael Murphy as well as academics from the mathematics and computer science departments. The preacher was Canon Dr Mark Hucknall, Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, who is both a scientist and a theologian.

After teh anniversary evensong, some of the staff from the mathematics and computer science departments at UCC joined the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mary Shields, and the President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy, at Boole's grave in teh Churchyard. Also present was Commodore Hugh Tully of the Irish Naval Service.

After teh anniversary evensong, some of the staff from the mathematics and computer science departments at UCC joined the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mary Shields, and the President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy, at Boole’s grave in the Churchyard. Also present were Deirdre Clune, M.E.P. and  Commodore Hugh Tully of the Irish Naval Service.

Most significantly, at the end of the Service, Scott, a pupil from the parish school, was presented with a Raspberry Pi Computer, by the Head of the Computer Science Department at U.C.C.,  Professor Barry O’Sullivan.  Scott was representing all the pupils of the school, as each of them has been given a Raspberry Pi computer by. U.C.C, Computer Science Department to mark the anniversary.

More photos of the anniversary Evensong:

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