Pioneering Creeslough woman Kathleen ‘Kay’ McNulty is among the scientists honoured by Met Éireann in its list of storm names for the coming season.
The new list of names for the 2023/2024 storm season, which is in place from today, has been released by meteorological services in Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands.
The storms named in hounour of “eminent” scientists from across the island include one of the mothers of computer programming, Kathleen ‘Kay’ McNulty Mauchly Antonelli from Creeslough.
Kay McNulty (1921-2006) was one of the world’s first computer programmers. Her work in the US changed the future of technology for all.
Back in April, the Creeslough community unveiled a bespoke monument to tell locals and visitors more about her pioneering work. The monument is now located in The Corner Of The Garden.
Storms are named when they could have a medium to high impact in Ireland, the UK or the Netherlands in order to make messaging to the public on how to prepare for severe weather easier.
Each service has chosen seven names on the alphabetical list – which excludes the letters q, u, x, y, and z.
Met Éireann has chosen to honour scientists who have made important contributions to science and benefits for humankind with its names.
The list of names chosen by Met Éireann are Agnes, Fergus, Jocelyn, Kathleen, Lilian, Nicholas, and Vincent.
These are after Irish astronomer and science writer Agnes Mary Clerke; scientist Fergus O’Rourke, who provided an authoritative description of Irish ants; Northern Ireland astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered the first pulsating radio stars in 1967 and Kathleen “Kay” McNulty Mauchly Antonelli.
The other names chosen by Met Éireann honour Irish crystallographer Kathleen Lonsdale; Anglo-Irish journalist and pioneer aviator Lilian Bland, the first woman in Ireland to build and fly an aircraft; physicist Nicholas Callan, who invented the induction coil that was used in early telegraphy; and Vincent Barry, who is best known for leading the team which developed the anti-leprosy drug clofazimine.
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