 The building was reacquired by Cork Corporation in 2001, and work commenced on renovating and re-purposing the complex as an observatory and museum.In the early-2000s, Blackrock Castle was redeveloped under a joint venture between Cork City Council, Cork Institute of Technology and a private benefactor.Opened in 2007, the "Cosmos at the Castle" project was intended to create a "centre for scientific research, outreach and communication".