History of the NMR Centre

The NMR Centre began operations in July 1984, representing a total investment well in excess of £250,000, with over half this sum provided by industry. The instrumentation was Japanese and represented state of the art technology, with two independent but interlinked instruments; a JEOL GX-270 high field instrument for carbon and hydrogen with extensive computer control and an FX-90 multinuclear system. Both instruments were fitted with variable temperature controls. The NMR Centre was officially opened by Mr. Ruairi Quinn, T.D. on 18 April 1985.

In 1990, the Varian Inova 300 and 500 MHz systems were generously funded by Senator Edward Haughey, owner and Chairman of Norbrook Laboratories Limited, as a departmental gift to the NMR Centre under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Glass.

In 2006, Varian VnmrS 400, 500, 600 MHz systems were funded by the HEA through PRTLI Cycle 3, co-funded by ERDF 2000-2006 and the SFI through their equipment grant scheme to researchers in Chemistry. The principal applicant was Dr. Paul Murphy and its co-applicants were Professor Patrick Guiry, Professor Michael McGlinchey, Dr. Peter Rutledge and Dr. Matthias Tacke.

Following the relocation of the NMR Centre in 2012, the Varian Inova 500 MHz spectrometer was decommissioned and the Agilent DD2 500 MHz systems were funded by the SFI through their equipment grant scheme (12/RI/2341). The principal applicant was Professor Patrick Guiry and its co-applicants were Professor Declan Gilheany, Professor Stefan Oscarson, Professor Donal O’Shea, Professor Martin Albrecht, Dr. Francesca Paradisi, Dr. Andrew Phillips, Dr. Eoghan McGarrigle and Professor Stephen Connon (TCD).

Senator Edward Haughey in 1990.