Meath Archaeological and Historical Society are hosting an online (Zoom) talk on the above topic. The speaker, Siobhan Osgood, has researched the architecture of the GNR(I) extensively.
Registration for the talk is required – see the MAHS website for details.
RTE reports that the bridge over the Royal Canal at Russell Street/Jones’ Road in Dublin is to be renamed Bloody Sunday Bridge, in commemoration of the events of Bloody Sunday (21 November 1920) when the Black and Tans fired on attendees at a match in Croke Park.
I’m sure when the relevant authorities commissioned and installed an art work in Spijkenisse in The Netherlands, the sculpture (of a whale) playing a part in railway safety wasn’t part of the consideration.
I don’t know is this is a planning application or just an architectural proposal looking for a home, but I link to this proposal for a vertical extension to one of the historic mill buildings fronting onto Grand Canal Dock in Dublin.
Another railway cottage up for sale – however, it is a complete renovation job and comes with the caveat that electricity, water and septic tank are “on site” which doesn’t mean that they are connected.
The BBC have an interesting article about “how dams have reshaped our planet“.
It is with great upset that I post to record the passing of one of Ireland’s greats in the area of industrial heritage research – Brian J Goggin, who has passed away due to cancer.
I first encountered Brian in his role as editor of the IWAI magazine, in which capacity, I had sent a photo to him for consideration for publication. This was of frogs swimming in frogspawn on the Royal Canal (reproduced below). I am happy to state that Brian published it.
As time went by and the prospect of the Ulster Canal being “restored” reared its ugly head, I became what I thought was a lone voice in the wilderness in opposing such restoration. It was to my great (and pleasant surprise) that I found a bedfellow in opposing this waste of taxpayers’ money in Brian – a former President of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (and boat owner) no less!
Initially, I was unaware of Brian’s views about the Ulster Canal and, upon seeing him at the back of an IHAI AGM for the first time, I ignored him, thinking that he had been brought on board to bolster the IHAI stance of tacitly supporting restoration of the Ulster Canal.
Brian, being of a gregarious nature, unlike me, approached me at, I believe, the IHAI AGM in Belmont Mill in 2009 to compliment me on my website (an earlier version of this one) and from there, a friendship was formed. Over the years, Brian and I have exchanged emails back and forth about waterways and IH matters with many snippets of information passing between us (although, if I am to be honest, it was more information from Brian to me than vice versa).
Included in this collaboration was Brian generously offering me the chance to include my research into the bridges of the Royal Canal between the sea lock and Phibsborough in Dublin in a book that he was working on. This was subsequently published by the Railway and Canal Historical Society in 2014 as “The Royal Under the Railway: Ireland’s Royal Canal 1830 – 1899” – an 8 chapter work documenting previously unpublished historical matters about the Royal Canal (Chapter 7 was my contribution).
Like myself, Brian has maintained a website (www.irishwaterwayshistory.com) on which he has published his research (into the inland waterways and navigations of Ireland), the maintenance of which I hope can be secured and the information thereon – if not the site itself – transferred to another host, in order that it can be preserved for future use by others.
Ireland has lost the most significant researcher into the history of its inland waterways and navigations and I wish to extend my deepest condolences to his wife Anne and their children on their loss.
Ewan Duffy
www.industrialheritageireland.info
CIE must be getting out of house owning – another house is up for auction on their behalf.
This house on Blythe Avenue in Dublin’s East Wall is a bit of a challenge as it appears to be fire damaged, something that accounts for the low AMV of €135k.
For once, a railway property that I might have been interested in has come for sale, but as it is an auction (a method of selling I refuse to partake in) I won’t be getting involved.
The former level crossing cottage at Bishopswood on the Dublin – Cork railway is going up for auction at the end of the month with an AMV of €62k.
Note to CIE (who I know monitor this site) – if you don’t manage to sell at auction, get in touch. I’d be a cash buyer at that price.
along with the pesky BusConnects proposal, both in Dublin.
Of course, what they haven’t stated is that as the Metro will be driverless and BusConnects is predicted to need 40% less drivers than present, these two projects would decimate their membership numbers and therefore, their revenue base.
Methinks it is time for a change in the law regarding trade unions, specifically, requiring a split into dedicated public sector unions* and dedicated private sector unions and never the twain shall meet. In addition, the concept of the State being required to favour all equally or not at all needs to be extended to the former – i.e. public sector unions would be required to be honest in their pronouncements to the effect that they were lobbying solely against reduced public sector number/trade union membership.
* Personally, I would favour banning all public sector trade unions, considering them to be part of the problem and not any part of a solution in a 21st century, 1st world constitutional republic. However, as a defender of the Constitution, I do understand and appreciate the right to associate (and dis-associate) freely. Whilst I am a former public servant (I was an Administrative Officer for 7 years), I did not join the relevant trade union during my employment.