In the footsteps of St Finbarre (Part 130)- Networks of Ideas

Home

Sections

History

Written by Kieran McCarthy

Thursday, 21 August 2008

Article Index
In the footsteps of St Finbarre (Part 130)- Networks of Ideas
Page 2

Page 1 of 2

The more I chat to those who worked on the dam, the more one can see what I call the network of ideas - the technical thinking and science that were brought to bear on the development of the Lee Hydro Electric Scheme. Over the last couple of weeks, we have already met in the column some of the key personnel involved in the design work of Inniscarra Dam. John O’Donovan was another retired engineer I luckily came across in my fieldwork. He worked as a junior civil engineer and was involved in the design concrete mix for that of the diamond headed buttress type dam at Inniscarra, the concrete gravity structure at Carrigadrohid and the associated new roads and bridges (creating a grand total of 250,000 cu. yards of concrete mix).

John O’Donovan was born and bred on Model Farm Road. In the 1940s, he went to the Christian Brother’s College, Wellington Road. During those years, he developed a huge interest in athletics and was an Irish champion sprinter. He got a scholarship to go to University College Cork (UCC) to study engineering where he was influenced by the work of Professor Harry Walsh.

Harry Walsh, a Corkman, a pupil of the ‘North Mon’, graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from UCC in the 1910s. He subsequently graduated with a diploma from the Imperial College London. He returned home and became an assistant to the contemporary Professor of Civil Engineering, Connel Alexander. In those years as well, Harry played his part in the Irish War of Independence by transporting gold coins for Michael Collins between Cork and Dublin. When the Professor in UCC died, Harry (in his twenties) assumed the role of Professor of Civil Engineering in 1921. Harry was Professor for forty years. He was the first Cork graduate to serve as President of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland, in 1940 and 1942 respectively.

Throughout his career, Harry worked hard in his lab in UCC with an array of machinery and pioneered the study of modern concrete mix. Compressing test tubes of cement aggregates led him to test crushing strength, the water cement ratio and tensile strength. Scholars in England further developed his pioneering research. Harry was a well read man and subscribed to a number of journals, including French ones. He had a great respect for French engineers who at that time through the work of Le Corbusier was critiquing and attempting to forge new debates on modern architecture. Harry developed an acute interest in photography and trout fishing and also was fascinated by rainfall and all the implications such as flooding and other aspects of the hydraulic discipline.

Professor Harry Walsh attempted to create a better understanding of concrete, mix design and construction techniques. Harry became a well-respected consultant and established his own firm of H N Walsh & Partners. Cork County Council asked him to design water and sewage schemes in Co. Cork. For example, he designed the old water tower in Cobh.

Prev - Next >>

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Custom Search

Most Popular - Features

Random Features Articles