Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has extended the appointments of the Governor and two members of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Management Committee. The extensions run from 1 March 2026 to 31 August 2026.

Governor Greg Cox, Paul Kennedy, and Eugene Rooney completed their initial terms from 1 March 2021 to 28 February 2026.

The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium operates as a statutory body under the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. A Board of Governors oversees it, delegating governance and management to the committee. The Department for Communities sponsors the organization.

Armagh Observatory dates to 1790. It serves as the oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland and the longest continuously operating astronomical research facility in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Armagh Planetarium, the oldest operating planetarium in the UK and Ireland, has functioned for more than 50 years as the public interface for space and astronomy in Northern Ireland.

The positions carry no remuneration. Out-of-pocket expenses qualify for reimbursement.

Appointments follow the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice. Selections occur on merit with no role for political activity. None of the appointees engaged in political activity in the past five years.

Greg Cox works as a solicitor and chief executive of a law firm based in England and Wales. Paul Kennedy is a retired civil servant and chartered accountant. Eugene Rooney is a former senior civil servant.