Obair, Issue 5, June 2001 - PDF - The Office of Public Works

52 St Stephen’s Green 

■ Update on refurbishment 

A bi-annual newsletter from 

the Office of Public Works 

ISSUE 5 JUNE 2001 2000 

Maam Stream Drainage 

Scheme 

■ A location report 

Foot and Mouth Disease 

■ Response by OPW 

Relocation of State 

Laboratories from 

Abbotstown 

■ Update 

The ceiling in the 

Bishop’s Room 

52 St Stephen’s Green, 

by Angelica Kauffmann 

RIAI Triennial Medal Award ■ Kilmacurragh House ■ Art Management Office 

Relocation of State Laboratories from Abbotstown ■ Joe Richardson – 45 years on

Obair 

Contents 

Welcome to issue number 5 of 

the Obair magazine! 

This issue details some of the 

work carried out by you over 

the past 6 months. 

Many of you will recognise the 

painting on the front cover, 

however for those of you who 

do not, it is the hand-painted 

ceiling in the Bishop’s Room, 52 

St Stephen’s Green. This room 

forms part of the newly 

refurbished Ministerial Suite in 

No. 52, described in this issue. 

Incidentially, the back cover is 

also from the same room. 

Other features covered in this 

issue include an update on the 

relocation of the State 

Laboratories, the Maam Stream 

Drainage Scheme, the OPW 

Disabled Access Programme, 

Launch of the 2000 Annual 

Report, a selection of the 

Western Regions 

work on Garda Stations and 

the Refurbishment of Kilafin 

House in County Wicklow. 

I would like to thank all of you 

who have contributed to this 

issue of Obair, particularly the 

former Press Officer, Caitriona 

Meehan. I would like to extend 

an invitation to you all to 

consider making a contribution 

towards the next issue 

– all ideas are welcome. 

Lynda Hendley 

Press Officer 

11 

52 St Stephen’s 

Green 

3 

Disabled Access 

6 

Programme 

Maam Stream 

Drainage 

Scheme 

Refurbishment & Link 

Building Projects 

4 

RIAI 

Triennial Medal for Restoration of 

the Turner Curvilinear Range in the 

National Botanic Gardens 

10 

FOOT & 

MOUTH DISEASE 

Relocation of 

13 

The State Laboratories 

18 Joe Richardson – 

A look back in time! 

EDITORIAL COMITTEE 

Lynda Hendley Press Officer 

Yvonne Jackson Chairman’s Private Secretary 

John Bergin Press Office 

24 

OPW 

Drama, Music, Sports

Refurbishment at 

52 

St. Stephen’s 

Green 

Paul Sherwin: Senior Architect 

52 St. Stephen’s Green was built in 1771 by David La 

Touche, the merchant banker, who lived here until 

his death in 1805. The building was occupied by the 

Representative Church Body until 1970. During the 

following two years the house was restored for office 

use and a new office building was constructed within 

the former garden. 

Internally the house is one of the most opulent 

examples of an 18th century townhouse to survive in 

Dublin and possesses fine plaster ceilings, joinery and 

marble mantlepieces. The ceiling in the Bishop’s 

Room contains paintings attributed to Angelica 

Kauffman while the Music Room is decorated with 

painted wall panels and paintings by the Flemish 

artist Peter de Gree executed around 1785. 

Conscious of a background of such historical 

importance, it was with a certain amount of 

apprehension that Mr Paul Sherwin, OPW set out to 

refurbish the main staircase and rooms on the first 

floor of 52 St. Stephen’s Green. It is intended that the 

refurbished area will serve as a suite of offices for the 

Minister of State. 

colours which were fashionable in the second half of 

the 18th century. Handrails, doors and stair edges 

have been french polished. Waterford crystal 

chandeliers and recessed tube fittings over doorcases 

provide the main source of artificial lighting. The 

staircase has been fitted with double density woven 

Wilton carpet manufactured by Munster Carpets, 

Cork, secured in position with brass stair rods. 

The walls of the first floor offices are decorated with 

hand-printed wallpaper manufactured by David 

Skinner, Celbridge. A large historic wallpaper design 

pattern was used, with painted walls below dado 

level. Painted ceilings have been left undisturbed. 

New brass chandeliers in period style combined with 

recessed florescent light fittings over doors and 

windowcases, have been used in two offices. To avoid 

interference with any intrinsic features, freestanding 

uplighters will be used to provide illumination in the 

Bishop’s Room. Specially commissioned hand-made 

carpet rugs, reflecting the design pattern of the 

ceilings, will be used in all office areas. These were 

manufactured by Ceadogan Rugs, Wellington, Co. 

Wexford. Power and data outlets have been provided 

by means of purpose made floor boxes located at 

Apart from routine maintenance and decoration, 

little work had been carried out since the building 

was renovated in 1970. Many of the features provided 

in 1970, are now deemed unsuitable such as light 

fittings, electrical services, panel radiators and tracks. 

The objective of this particular project is to provide 

‘state of the art’ office accommodation with all 

necessary information technology (IT) services, 

lighting, heating and acoustic performance and, at 

the same time, cause minimum interference to the 

intrinsic features and character of the building. 

The final phase of works included the decoration of 

the main staircase walls and ceiling and here the 

colour scheme was chosen from a vibrant palette of 

Music room, 52 St. Stephen’s Green 

3

Awarding of the Royal Institute of 

Architects of Ireland (R.I.A.I.) 

Triennial Medal for Restoration 

to the Office of Public Works, Architectural Services 

for the faithful restoration of the Turner Curvilinear 

Range (1843–68), at the National Botanic Gardens, 

Glasnevin, Dublin 9 on June 11th, 2001. 

Left to right: An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD, Ciaran O’ Connor and 

Michael Carroll Architectural Services, Arthur Hickey President R.I.A.I 

strategic points throughout the offices which will 

cater for all IT requirements, including digital 

television. Traditional cast iron radiators were 

installed to replace unsightly panel radiators, existing 

up-and-down sash windows have been overhauled to 

improve thermal performance and new-purpose made 

replica door panels have been manufactured to 

improve the acoustic performance of the 

interconnecting doors. Marble chimney-pieces were 

cleaned and a newly restored mirror with gilded 

frame was provided in the front office. The new 

offices will be fitted out with period-style desks and 

storage units. 

Toilet areas were extensively refurbished with 

electrical services and floor and wall tiling to provide 

shower and changing facilities. Renovated catering 

facilities with new kitchen units and a dining area 

has also been provided at first floor level. 

Combined with the new Link Building, which 

connects to 51 St. Stephen’s Green, and the extensive 

restoration of the façade, the refurbished offices will 

provide an exemplary standard of office 

accommodation well into the future. ■ 

The R.I.A.I. Triennial Medal for Restoration is the premier 

Irish restoration award. It is made for a restoration of 

exceptional merit. A period of 5 years is allowed to elapse 

from the completion of the restoration in order to fully 

examine the results of the completed project. The 

Triennial Medal for Restoration for the period 1994 – 

1996, was awarded on Monday 11th June 2001, to the 

Office of Public Works. The client medal was awarded to 

Minister Sile de Valera, T.D., Department of Arts Heritage, 

Gaeltacht and the Islands. Commissioner Benton, 

accepted an acknowledgement of O.P.W.’s role in the 

initiation of the project. 

The restoration of the Turner Curvilinear Range has been 

previously awarded the Construction Industry Excellence 

Award, the Dublin Living City Award, the Ford 

Foundation Conservation Award and is the only Irish 

recipient of the coveted Europa Nostra Medal. The 

restoration was featured in the television documentary 

“The Brighest Jewel”, on R.T.E. 1 

The Curvilinear Range of glasshouses 1843–69, designed 

by Dubliner Richard Turner 1798–1881, is the most 

significant wrought and cast iron building in Ireland and 

one of the most important nineteenth century 

glasshouses surviving in Europe today. Unlike Turner’s 

Belfast 1839, and Kew 1848 glasshouses, where mild steel 

and stainless steel replicas were executed in the 1980’s a 

faithful restoration was undertaken in Turner’s home 

town of Dublin. The research and development of 

wrought and cast iron restoration techniques, coupled 

with the further development of glazing and paint 

technology alongside more conventional stone and brick 

repair and cleaning techniques, made this faithful 

restoration a feasible and economic option. ■ 

DESIGN TEAM 

Project Management: 

Architects : 

Structural Engineers : 

Quantity Surveyors : 

Service Engineers 

Main Contractor : 

OPW Project Management Services 

Office of Public works, 

Ove Arup & Partners 

D.L. Martin & Partners 

Office of Public Works 

John Paul Construction Ltd. 

Ceiling view 

4

The Link Building 

Project 

St Stephen’s Green 51-52 

In 1998 the OPW Accommodation Committee 

decided that a link should be erected between Nos. 

51 and 52 St. Stephen’s Green. 

The purpose for the new structure would be: 

A.To improve general accessibility between Nos. 51 

and 52, in particular for visiting members of the 

public. 

B.To improve accessibility to both buildings by 

providing mobility impaired access from St. 

Stephen’s Green. At the time the mobility impaired 

access was from Ely Place and through the rear of 

the building complex. 

Planning permission was sought in 1999 to 

construct a new matching infill building between 

51 St. Stephens Green (Grade 2 listed building) and 

52 St. Stephen’s Green (Grade 1 listed building). 

This would also include a new disabled access to 

both buildings. The Local Authority were assured 

that the existing architectural character of the 

buildings would not be affected in any significant 

way. 

It was agreed that the project would be carried out 

in two phases, the first being the enabling works 

and the second the construction of the Link 

Building. John Cahill, OPW was appointed as the 

architect for the project, with Shaffrey Associates 

supplying architectural support services. MacArdle 

McSweeney were appointed to design the 

Mechanical and Electrical services with E.G. Pettit & 

Co. supplying the quantity surveying service. This 

firm also was appointed to carry out the structural 

service. The contractor for the enabling works, 

Pierce Healy Developments, started on site in 

February 2000 and work was completed in April of 

that year. These works entailed the underpinning, 

external excavation and relocation of the 

underground services. The total budget for this work 

was £370,000.00. 

Jim Blighe and Jim Roche (Project Management Services) 

Tenders for the construction of the Link Building 

were received in July 2000 and work started on the 

17th of that month with Cleary Doyle Construction 

Ltd appointed as main contractors. The budget figure 

for this project was £2.4m. 

The work was completed at the end of February 2001 

except for the tuck pointing to the front of 52 St. 

Stephens Green. Although the tuck pointing was in 

the contract, difficulties arose in obtaining skilled 

workers to carry out this work to the standard 

required. Eventually an English firm was employed 

who also trained BMS staff in tuck pointing. The 

English firm worked with BMS until about two-thirds 

of the work was completed and the remainder was 

carried out by BMS staff. 

The Project Management and co-ordination of the 

Project was carried out by Mr. Jim Blighe and his 

staff in Project Management Services. ■ 

5

OPW 

Disabled Access 

Programme. 

In 1995 Richard Hurley & Associates, consultant 

architects, were commissioned to carry out a Disabled 

Access Survey of Government-occupied buildings in 

the Dublin area. The survey and assessment of each 

building was based on the levels of provision 

recommended in the First Schedule of the Building 

Regulations, 1991. The main objective of these 

Regulations is to ensure that buildings should, as far as 

possible, be accessible, including those with 

disabilities. 

Messrs. Hurley’s reports on the selected buildings 

identified problem areas and made recommendations 

where upgrades were feasible and practical. The 

buildings surveyed were selected on the basis of how 

often they were visited by the public. 

Based on the findings of the surveys, a work 

programme was initiated and up to the end of 2000, a 

total of £2.5m has been expended on this programme. 

This has included many buildings with a high public 

profile, such as Apollo House, Gardiner Street and 

Kilbarrack Social Welfare local offices; Dolphin House 

(Family Courts) and Iveagh House (Department of 

Foreign Affairs). 

Examples of the types of problems to be overcome are 

evident in works completed at Iveagh House, 

headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and 

at Grattan House, Mount Street. 

Iveagh House is a high profile property situated on St. 

Stephens Green. It is a protected structure so the 

design of an access ramp had to be as discreet as 

possible. This was achieved by concealing the ramp 

behind the existing railing, thus rendering the ramp 

practically invisible. 

Grattan House 

design input from an architect, mechanical and 

electrical engineer and structural engineer, protracted 

negotiations with the property owners and a full 

planning application to Dublin Corporation. This 

particular project indicates the complex elements 

involved in modifying existing buildings to meet the 

requirements of the Building Regulations. 

Works to render property accessible have not been 

limited solely to the buildings surveyed, and other 

properties have been included as necessary. It is also 

intended to expand the programme outside the Dublin 

area in 2001 and a priority list has been prepared by the 

Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs as 

a first step in that direction. These locations will be 

surveyed this year to assess their needs. Other areas 

targeted for 2001 include the Social Welfare local offices 

at Ballymun and Ballyfermot, Dublin Castle and the 

ENFO Offices at Andrew Street. 

The Planning and Development Act, 1999 changed the 

status of listed buildings to protected structures and this 

legislation has far reaching implications for disabled 

access to many public buildings. The OPW has a 

considerable stock of protected structures, many of 

which would have a high level of public access. Our 

position on this issue is to ensure that the dignity of the 

disabled caller be respected, and that such callers should 

be able to gain access through the main entrance to the 

property. This raises particular problems on protected 

structures that may require unique architectural 

solutions but with the cooperation of all the parties 

involved, it should be possible to reach a position that 

is acceptable to all. ■ 

Grattan House is a modern development on Mount 

Street and the Revenue Commissioners hold a portion 

of the building under lease. Access to the building is 

via a series of steps running from street level to the 

main door. There is no excess space available to 

provide a ramp at street level so an alternative means 

of access was achieved by installing a wheelchair lift. 

This project, which seems relatively minor, involved 

Iveagh House 

6

LAUNCH OF OPW ANNUAL REPORT 26 APRIL 2001 

Over £400 Million For The Provision of 

Accomodation For Government Departments 

and Offices in 2000 

“The Office of Public Works spent over £400 million 

to provide office accommodation and related services 

for Government Departments and Offices last year”, 

Minister of State Martin Cullen TD said at the launch 

of the OPW’s 2000 Annual Report on 26 April, 2001. 

Total turnover for the OPW in 2000 was just under 

£500 million. 

This rate of expenditure has increased in the current 

year and the total live portfolio being handled by the 

OPW is now close to £1 billion. Breaking down these 

figures, the capital and non-capital expenditure 

included the purchases of sites and buildings, which 

amounted to £97 million. 

The £97 million spent on acquisitions brings OPW’s 

property portfolio to approximately 12 million square 

feet. Of this, approximately 80% is now State-owned 

and approximately 20% is now rented. The rate of 

rental increase in the Dublin area over the last 

number of years has been quite extraordinary, but the 

OPW, because of its strategically important role in the 

market, had managed to contain the costs of 

increases to a reasonable level. Rents over the entire 

OPW property portfolio averaged £11 per square foot 

in 1998, had risen to £13 per square foot in 1999 and 

are currently in the region of £15 per square foot. 

standards equal to the best available in the private 

sector. The remainder of the business units in the 

Office are well advanced in their progress to achieve 

ISO accreditation. 

The OPW was involved in many excellent projects 

over the last year both nationally and internationally. 

The Irish Pavilion at Expo last year in Hanover was a 

huge success. Further projects are underway at the 

Irish Colleges in Paris and Louvain and at the Peace 

Park in Messines in Belgium. The presentation of the 

Irish gift to the United Nations, the bronze sculpture 

‘Arrival’ by John Behan, is lasting tribute to Irish 

people all over the world. The new Oireachtas 

accommodation at Leinster House is a project of 

which many people in this Office can be justifiably 

proud. 

“Throughout all business units, the OPW continues 

to demonstrate its professionalism and its 

commitment to producing work of the highest 

standards”, said Minister Cullen. ■ 

The most significant property acquisitions of 2000 

include 6-7 Hanover Street, purchased at a cost of 

£20.8 million, the Oldbridge Estate purchased at a 

cost of £7.8 million, Broc House, purchased at a cost 

of £7.2 million and 7-9 Merrion Row at a cost of £5.7 

million. OPW acquired 251,731 square foot of leased 

accommodation in Dublin in 2000 and over 47,078 

square foot provincially. The proportion of property 

being leased by the OPW in Dublin’s suburbs is 

increasing every year and in 2000 space was taken in 

Blanchardstown, Tallaght and Donaghmede. 

One of the highlights of the past year was the 

presentation by the Taoiseach of the ISO 9002:94 

award to OPW Project Management Services. This 

award confirms that the OPW delivers Project 

Management Services to the highest international 

Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, Martin Cullen, T.D. and 

Brian (Barry) Murphy, Chairman of the Office of Public Works 

7

Kilmacurragh House, 

Co. Wicklow. 

was cleared to provide car parking out of sight of 

the garden. The stable courtyard, which, is a very 

good example of its type, needed urgent work to 

the roofs, although the walls were in good 

structural condition. 

Kilmacurragh House 

Kilmacurragh House was built by the Acton family in 

the early 1700s and was a very early example of the 

Palladian-style country house. In the nineteenth 

century the Actons became interested in planting 

exotic trees and the present arboretum displays the 

best examples in Europe of many rare species. The 

estate was acquired by the Forestry Service about fifty 

years ago and Coillte still run a propagation centre in 

what was the walled garden. The house was neglected 

for many years and was severely damaged in an 

accidental fire in the early 1980s. It was subsequently 

sold, but the purchaser was unable to arrest the decay 

of the derelict house. Kilmacurragh Garden was 

acquired by the State again in 1996 to ensure the 

survival of the arboretum, which is now cared for by 

the National Botanic Gardens. 

The brief was to provide a gardener/caretaker’s 

apartment, staff facilities, public toilets and car 

parking. It was decided to convert the existing stable 

buildings to provide the facilities. An over-grown yard 

Project Team: 

The roofs were re-slated using as many as possible 

of the old slates on the outer slopes of the 

courtyard. The walls were re-rendered in roughcast 

style using hydraulic lime. The gardener/caretaker’s 

apartment incorporates bedrooms in part of the 

hayloft. The walls were lined with insulated dry 

lining to provide a comfortable living environment. 

Where old rotten windows were being replaced, up 

and down sash windows were used. The large stable 

door openings of the living room are glazed. The 

half moon loft vents are glazed in the bedrooms. 

The cobbled surface of the yard was repaired. 

Some work was carried out to the fire-damaged 

house. A steel structure was inserted in the roofless 

front part of the house to prevent the wall falling 

out. Other repairs were carried out to secure the 

structure, pending a decision on the future of this 

protected building. ■ 

Client: 

Department of Arts, Heritage, 

Gaeltacht and the Islands. 

Project Managers 

OPW Project Management Services. 

Architects: 

OPW Architectural Services. 

Structural Engineers (courtyard):OPW Engineering Services. 

Structural Engineers (house): Dermot Nolan, consulting engineer. 

Services Engineers 

OPW Electrical & Heating Section. 

Main Contractor: 

Allen and Smyth Constructions Ltd. 

8

Dublin District Division, 

2001 

The Architectural Dublin District is now divided into 

two regional areas, Dublin North and Dublin South. 

Dublin North District extends as far north as 

Balbriggan while Dublin South extends west to Lucan 

and south to Greystones. All Government properties 

within each region come within the responsibility of 

two Regional Architects, Mr. Paul Sherwin and Mr. 

Dermot Reid. 

There are over 200 properties in each Region, with 

building types ranging from 17th century structures 

to modern office developments. Regional 

architectural offices are responsible for the 

maintenance as well as the development of property. 

Buildings are in a constant process of change to meet 

the demands of client Departments. Typical workload 

at any given time would include minor and major 

improvement works, dilapidation reports, acquisition 

surveys, accident reports and general advice on 

property management issues for all client 

Departments. 

A selection of works completed this year include the 

refurbishment of Cross Block in Dublin Castle; the 

fit-out of a new office development in Hanover Street 

for the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; a new printing 

facility for the Revenue Commissioners in the 

industrial unit in Furry Park and provision of 

audio/video facilities in Garda Stations throughout 

the Dublin Region. Works in protected structures 

include a number of schemes for disabled access, and 

new lecture theatres in the National Museum and 

Royal Hospital Kilmainham. ■ 

Leinster House 

Welcoming Pavilions 

Following their award winning conversion of 

Government Buildings in Merrion Street, the Office of 

Public Works appointed Bucholz McEvoy Architects as 

architects for the new Welcoming Pavilions for the 

Department of the Taoiseach at Leinster House. 

The design stems from the Department of the 

Taoiseach’s desire to present a transparent and 

welcoming first point of entry to Government 

Buildings, in line with their Strategic Management 

Initiative on quality customer service. The Pavilions will 

provide a public waiting area in a naturally ventilated 

glass area. Two wing-like zinc-clad roofs present a thin 

edge to the internal courtyard and to the street. Glassreinforced 

concrete is used as an element to link the 

base of the pavilions to the existing stone lining to the 

courtyard, and to screen them from the office of the 

Minister for Finance, and the office of the Attorney 

General. Walnut panels along the walls are used to link 

the Pavilions to the Georgian street beyond the 

columns. 

Environmental Stategy 

Like an automobile, the Pavilions incorporate window 

defrosters and adjustable air nozzles, and sun visors to 

control the micro-environment. Heaters located in the 

wall balance the temperature changes caused by the 

opening and closing of the sliding glass doors. The 

Pavilions are ventilated through glass louvres at high 

level, and sliding stainless steel vents at low level. Due 

to the height of adjacent buildings, the Pavilions are 

frequently in shade. However, solar control is provided 

through blinds, activated by direct sun is striking the 

Pavilions. 

Structure 

The roof structure is treated as a stiff wing, cantilevered 

from the rear wall, with prestressed from the rear 

connections at the corners removing the snow load. 

The dead load of glass is supported along an edge 

channel at the bottom, and live loads are taken on a 

continuous glass shelf at high level. 

The Pavilions allow for maximum comfort and security 

for the staff, while providing a suitable first port of call 

for visitors to this prestigious office building. ■ 

Dermot Reid Senior Architect, Farmleigh Estate and Paul 

Sherwin, Senior Architect, Dublin Castle 

9

The response of the Office of Public Works to 

the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. 

The response of the Office of Public Works to the 

Foot and Mouth Disease When the threat of Foot and 

Mouth Disease (FMD) at the start of this year became 

apparent, the OPW was one of the first offices to 

react positively to minimise its potentially disastrous 

effects. A Co-ordinator, Vincent Campbell, 

was appointed within the Office to maintain contact 

with all of the business units as well as other 

Government Departments, and reported daily to the 

Minister, Martin Cullen, TD. A network of contacts 

was put in place involving all of the regional 

engineering and architectural offices. This ensured 

that the most up-to-date information was available 

for OPW management to react appropriately to all 

the emerging situations. 

With its network of offices throughout the country, 

the OPW was ideally placed to be in the forefront of 

the State's fight to prevent the disease spreading, as 

well as being available 24 hours a day when an 

outbreak was confirmed. 

Its unique position allowed the Office to mobilise its 

resources in Building Maintenance Services; 

throughout its regional office network matting and 

disinfectants were swiftly and efficiently provided for 

the many hundreds of public offices throughout the 

country. This effort was one of the significant factors 

in highlighting the seriousness of the efforts 

necessary to prevent the spread of the disease. It also 

provided a positive example for others who put 

similar preventative measures in place. 

Plans were agreed between the Department of 

Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Local 

Authorities and the OPW to react in the event of 

confirmation of any Foot and Mouth case in Ireland. 

Engineering Services were on standby to assist the 

Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 

Development veterinary staff with the logistics of 

supporting their requirements for disposing of any 

carcasses to be destroyed. 

As soon as the first case was confirmed in the Cooley 

Peninsula, the action plan was initiated, with OPW 

regional engineering staff providing 24-hour 

assistance as and when required, together with the 

necessary machinery to carry out the disposal of 

animal carcasses. The national media did not report 

much of this work but with the assistance of the 

OPW individuals in question, a difficult situation for 

the Local Authorities and the Department of 

Agriculture, Food and Rural Development was 

considerably eased. 

The huge scale of the response by the OPW was 

evident in a public manner at the entrance to every 

State building and office, but behind the scenes the 

efforts by the various business units did not go 

unnoticed. OPW staff were proactive in all their 

efforts to provide preventative measures promptly 

across the spectrum of activities. While prevention of 

the spread of the disease was a priority, there was also 

the continuing resolve to maintain progress on 

building projects and other activities. 

Vincent Campbell, Director of Corporate Services 

All contractors and consultants working for the OPW 

on construction projects were contacted on an 

individual basis and provided with guidelines from 


Development, as well as information on the supply of 

matting and disinfectants. All sites were instructed to 

undertake preventative measures. 

10

Maam Stream 

Drainage Scheme 

Staff throughout the various business units within 

the OPW were issued with a protocol indicating 

where and when they could travel and under what 

circumstances they could carry out site visits. Travel 

to the UK was temporarily suspended and visits to 

sites on or near farmlands were suspended. There 

was a positive reaction and total commitment by all 

staff to these restrictions. 

The main disruption was the suspension of the 

Arterial Drainage Maintenance programmes. This 

involved OPW engineering maintenance staff and 

machinery entering farmlands to carry out work on 

channels, embankments, bridges and culverts. This 

work only resumed at the end of May, 2001 having 

being suspended since 28 February 2001. On 

resumption of work, the OPW put in place protocols 

which exceeded those requirements set down by the 


Development. 

The GSA suspended deliveries for a period and only 

resumed when they were satisfied that both the 

carriers and places of delivery had satisfactory 

preventative measures in place. 

Dublin Castle closed its doors to visitors but opened 

on St. Patrick’s Day with appropriate preventative 

disinfectant measures. 

Dublin Zoo closed and only re-opened when the 

Expert Group, convened in the Department of 

Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, allowed it 

to open under certain conditions with effect from 

3rd May. 

The expenditure on FMD curtailment by the OPW is 

currently almost £570,000 and rising, but the money 

spent was necessary and essential in the successful 

attempt to curtail and eliminate the spread of Foot 

and Mouth Disease. ■ 

Maam Stream’s source is near Lugnabrick in the 

southern extremity of the Partry Mountains in County 

Galway. It travels in a southerly direction for a distance 

of approximately two Kilometres before entering the 

Bealanabrack River, which flows into Lough Corrib. The 

tributary crosses the Cong – Leenane Road (R245) some 

three hundred metres upstream of its outfall to the 

Bealanabrack River. It is a spate river, which runs 

through large gravel deposits on its path down stream. 

In September 1998, two dwelling houses located on the 

left bank of the Maam Stream were severely affected by 

flooding. A localised rainstorm gave rise to a fast 

flowing torrent coming off the mountain. The 

transportation of rocks, gravel and other debris 

downstream caused the channel to become partially 

blocked. The stream, diverted from its path, eroded and 

undermined the left bank of the stream causing large 

volumes of water with associated stones and flood 

debris to pass the two properties. Both dwelling houses 

were badly flooded on that occasion. The 

Cong–Leenane Road was also flooded and closed for the 

duration of the event. While no injuries were caused, it 

is evident that lives were at risk. 

The family occupying the two-storey residence had to 

evacuate when the river burst its banks and flowed 

through the back of the house and out through the 

front door. The roadway to the house was almost 

entirely swept away and the front garden was buried 

over a metre deep in sand, silt and stones. Another 

family occupying a bungalow nearest the public road 

had also to evacuate as flood waters passed on both 

sides of the house and seeped up through the floors. 

Staff from Galway County Council were alerted at the 

time of the flood event and they assisted both families 

and carried out some temporary repairs following this 

incident, principally the removal of gravel and stone 

and the repair of roads. 

Engineering Staff from the West Region Drainage 

Maintenance Headquarters in Headford were requested 

11

to inspect the area in March 1999 with a view to 

making a preliminary assessment of the flooding 

problem. The report identified the need to remove 

loose stone, gravel and trees from the channel bed 

over a critical length and a need for extensive bank 

protection works over that length on both banks. 

This initial examination concluded that these 

mitigation measures were essential. 

An independent report was commissioned by 

Engineering Services from the ESBI later in 1999. 

They were asked to look at and cost possible 

solutions, carry out a cost/ benefit analysis and 

establish if an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) 

would be required. They were asked to consult widely 

and were provided with a non-exhaustive list of 

consultees which included OPW engineering staff in 

Headford, Dúchas, the Western Regional Fisheries 

Board and Galway County Council. They concluded 

that mitigation works were necessary as there was a 

substantial threat to life and property and they 

identified the need to carry out works speedily to 

mitigate further flooding. They also established that 

an EIS would not be required in this case. 

Following on from this report, engineering staff from 

Headford surveyed the stretch of channel and 

prepared the design of the Maam Stream Drainage 

Scheme. 

This scheme proposed the removal of the remaining 

deposits of rock, gravel and trees from the channel 

and the construction of bank protection, where 

appropriate, from two hundred and fifty metres 

upstream of the road bridge to one hundred metres 

downstream. The scheme exhibition maps and 

drawings were mostly prepared by engineering staff 

in Headford with assistance from engineering staff in 

Head Office. Schedules of work and interference were 

prepared to aid preparation of exhibition 

documentation and serving of interference notices in 

compliance with the provisions of the 1945 Arterial 

Drainage Act and the 1995 Amendment Act. 

The scheme was exhibited at Galway County Council 

Offices in Oughterard and at the local Community 

Centre in Maam in July 2000. Engineering staff from 

Headford were in attendance at Maam Community 

Centre. As required under the Safety, Health and 

Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 1995, the 

Health and Safety Authority were notified of the 

proposed works and a Project Risk Assessment and 

Safety Plan was prepared. Following confirmation of 

the Scheme by Minister Martin Cullen, works 

commenced in early September 2000 and were 

completed on 9 January 2001. Because of the 

substantial risk of serious flooding re-occurring in the 

event of inclement weather and unfavourable water 

levels, it was decided, on confirmation of the scheme, 

to proceed with work immediately. 

At works stage it became evident that some of the 

rock could be broken out relatively easily with a 

rockbreaker; this enhanced the benefits of the 

original scheme design with some consequent 

reductions in costly bank protection work. By 

lowering the rock downstream through the bridge 

and upstream beyond the bridge, the cross-sectional 

area of the road bridge was doubled and water levels 

through the bridge lowered by more than one metre. 

Extensive bank protection works were still necessary. 

Composite rock and concrete was used upstream of 

the bridge and rock walls were founded on the 

underlying bedrock downstream of the bridge. 

Fencing, reinstatement of roads, driveways, gardens, 

tree planting and fishery enhancement measures were 

12

Relocation 

of State Laboratories 

from Abbotstown 

also carried out. Due to restricted access works had to 

be carried out from the left bank or from within the 

channel bed. 

Because of the danger of flash flooding, routes into 

the channel had to be rebuilt each evening. 

Following a number of flood events during the works, 

it became necessary to maintain and clear the 

channel for a further 200metres to its outfall into the 

Bealanabrack River. 

Work on the Scheme was mostly carried out by 

experienced direct labour, with some machinery and 

services contracted in from the private sector. OPW 

staff based at the West Region Headquarters in 

Headford, Co. Galway, handled management and 

procurement for the scheme. 

Prior to Exhibition Stage, an estimate of the cost of 

the works was prepared together with a work 

breakdown structure. Both were based on work being 

undertaken during the summer months. The works 

were in fact carried out primarily over the winter 

months with an enhancement of the original general 

design. Progress on works were tracked using 

elements of Microsoft Project software and 

corresponding costings were prepared on a 

fortnightly basis using an Excel spreadsheet. 

The estimate for the scheme was £235,000 and the 

overall cost at completion was £225,000. ■ 

Background 

The June 2000 edition of Obair contained a feature on 

the OPW’s involvement in project managing the Campus 

and Stadium Ireland Project at Abbotstown. Twelve 

months on, while the OPW remains wholly responsible 

for project managing the relocation of existing facilities 

from the site, the Office now fulfils a different role on 

the Sports Campus elements i.e., as Technical Advisors to 

the Department of Tourism, Sport, and Recreation 

(DTSR) to whom responsibility and funding for the 

project has been transferred from the Taoiseach’s 

Department. 

OPW’s role 

The Office is continuing to project manage the 

relocation of existing facilities from the Abbotstown site 

in order to allow the development of the Sports Campus 

to proceed. This is a task for which it is ideally placed, 

since it has already project managed a myriad of 

complex and challenging projects on behalf of the State. 

The relocation of these facilities to Backweston and 

Galway, the all-in cost of which is estimated at £188m 

comprising £157m for Backweston and £31m for Galway 

is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the 

organisation. 

In discharging its changed role on the Sports Campus 

elements, the OPW will be expected to maintain and 

report on physical progress on the ground, as the 

provision of sports facilities at Abbotstown proceeds; 

validate or authenticate requests for payment, received 

by DTSR, from Campus and Stadium Ireland 

Development Limited (CSID), for work carried out, 

materials delivered etc., to the Aquatic and Leisure 

Centre and other Campus facilities; to advise on the 

content and comprehensiveness of all documents issuing 

to bidders as part of the procurement process; to 

participate in the assessment of bids received; and to 

advise on the Design, Build and Maintain elements of 

bids received and on the content of legal agreements. 

While the OPW’s role on the overall project has changed 

somewhat, its involvement with it is no less demanding 

and challenging. In many ways it has thrust even greater 

responsibility on to the Office as DTSR will be reliant on 

13

OPW to provide the requisite technical advice prior 

to major decisions being taken on the Sports Campus 

itself. 

Existing facilities at Abbotstown 

During the course of design development for the 

relocation from Abbotstown to Backweston, of the 

State Laboratory and Department of Agriculture, Food 

and Rural Development Laboratories, key personnel 

in both areas and the design team were asked to 

identify operational deficiencies in the buildings 

there, and to test current procedure requirements and 

the required relevant safety and quality assurance 

standards. It quickly emerged from this exercise that 

the existing buildings in relation to certain specific 

building regulations, Fire Safety Codes and Health 

and Safety Regulations. Furthermore, the laboratories 

which are required have no Category 3 Containment 

Facilities, for work with organisms which may cause 

severe human disease and which present a serious 

hazard to laboratory workers. 

Biosafety Level 3 Containment Facilities 

Most general purpose laboratories, such as general 

chemistry laboratories, are suitable for work at 

Biosafety Level 1, provided that work surfaces are 

easily decontaminated and can resist frequent 

application of decontamination chemicals. Biosafety 

Entrance Courtyard 

the existing facilities were entirely inadequate to 

meet modern laboratory requirements. A similar 

exercise is being carried out in relation to the Marine 

Institute facilities. 

The existing laboratories at Abbotstown occupy a 

variety of buildings ranging from a converted 

Georgian country house and converted stable yard 

buildings to some purpose-built buildings dating 

from the 1980s. Generally, the buildings pose a 

challenge to the professional scientific staff who 

operate there due to restrictions caused by 

insufficient and inadequate space, unsuitable layouts, 

surfaces and finishes and extremely basic mechanical 

and electrical services. Further problems arise with 

Level 3 Laboratories are, however, a completely 

different proposition. 

Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories are required for work in 

"clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research, or production 

facilities in which work is done with indigenous or 

exotic agents which may cause serious or potentially 

lethal disease as a result of exposure by the inhalation 

route" (HHS, 1988). They are suitable for experiments 

involving agents of high potential risk to personnel 

and the environment. Access to these laboratories 

must be controlled at all times and Level 3 facilities 

must be equipped with special engineering and 

design features together with physical containment 

equipment and devices. All procedures involving the 

14

manipulation of infectious material must be 

conducted within biological safety cabinets or similar 

physical containment devices, or by personnel 

wearing appropriate personal protective clothing and 

devices. 

Level 3 biological safety laboratories are designed as 

secondary containment facilities by the creation of 

physical enclosures and negative air pressures and 

include within them primary containment facilities 

in which hazardous operations are conducted. 

where each section and department enjoys an 

individual identity within an overall layout of linked 

blocks. Such an approach is in stark contrast to the 

situation which prevails at Abbotstown at present, 

where buildings are positioned on the site, in an ad 

hoc manner and where each department or section 

operates independently. The new design was 

developed following an exhaustive process during 

While the scientists and other staff at Abbotstown 

have, through diligent adherence to good laboratory 

practice, done a remarkable job in maintaining high 

standards of quality testing their efforts have been 

enormously hindered by lack of suitable facilities. At 

the time of the Government Decision to proceed with 

the Sports Campus at Abbotstown, plans had already 

advanced for the provision of an extension to the 

State Laboratory; a Category 3 Containment Facility; 

a new Dairy Science Laboratory to replace that at 

Harcourt Terrace; a Badger Research Compound and 

an additional storage block. Significant repair works 

were also planned for Abbotstown House, a listed 

building which houses some of the main Department 

of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development 

Laboratories. 

It quickly became apparent to all involved in the 

relocation project that, irrespective of the emergence 

of the Campus and Stadium Ireland project and its 

consequences for the Laboratories located at 

Abbotstown, a compelling argument would 

undoubtedly have emerged, in the short to medium 

term, for the replacement of the facilities there with 

facilities of the standard and scale now proposed for 

Backweston. 

Design Concept for the Backweston Laboratories 

The design of the new Laboratories at Backweston 

will address all the shortcomings of the Abbotstown 

facilities in terms of insufficient, inadequate and 

unsuitable space, adherence to Health and Safety 

Regulations, laboratory welfare guidelines on the safe 

disposal of waste, specific Building Regulations, Fire 

Safety Codes and Category 3 Containment Facilities. 

The central design concept proposed for the 

Backweston Laboratories is for an integrated complex, 

Night view 

which a number of different approaches were 

examined in some detail. 

Generic Laboratory approach for Backweston 

The laboratory block proposals have been developed 

as a modular design concept based on a planning grid 

of 7.2 metres x 7.2 metres, which is the most 

economic design module capable of providing a 

modern working laboratory environment. It allows 

modular laboratory bench systems to be configured 

in a variety of different ways and gives clear working 

dimensions between laboratory benches which 

comply with best practice Health and Safety 

recommendations. The adoption of these space 

standards inevitably increases the floor areas of the 

laboratory blocks. The module previously used in the 

State Laboratory and elsewhere i.e., 6 x 6 metres, does 

not meet modern Health and Safety Regulations, 

International Laboratory Accreditation requirements, 

U.S. Federal or European Standards (DIN). 

A major economic advantage of the generic 

laboratory module is the flexibility it provides for 

future functional variations and work practices. 

International accreditation 

The provision of suitable laboratory space and 

containment facilities for micro-organisms/pathogens 

is required for accreditation of various laboratory 

procedures in line with EU Directives. The State 

15

West elevation 

Laboratory and Agriculture Laboratories must 

provide a top qualityservice to Government, the 

EU and other official bodies, to meet legal 

international accreditation standards. 

Replacement of the existing facilities at 

Abbotstown by new buildings, on a scale and of 

the quality proposed for Backweston, is the only 

practical way of achieving the requisite 

standards. 

The space allocations proposed for the 

Backweston Laboratories are consistent with 

laboratories which meet current international 

standards in terms of design, process, circulation 

and flow, containment and biosafety, personal 

safety and building systems support. The 

Laboratories concerned are to the forefront in the 

battle to ensure food safety and to 

allay consumers’ fears on food quality and 

standards. The Central Meat Control Laboratory 

(CMCL) for instance is part of the Public Health 

Protection Service of the Department of 

Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and 

provides an independent food monitoring, 

regulatory and compliance role to the meat 

products industry. This ensures that food 

exported and consumed complies with the 

highest standards of food safety and hygiene as 

laid down in national and european law. A 

facility such as the Central Meat Control 

Laboratory can only discharge 

its functions properly if it is provided with 

appropriate high qualityaccommodation. All of 

the Laboratories concerned will be provided with 

such accommodation at Backweston. 

National and International Standards of 

Laboratory Design 

The design of the Backweston Laboratories takes 

into account current Irish Building and Fire 

Regulations together with current EPA, HSA 

standards. In addition, the specialist nature of 

the laboratories requires conformity with 

international standards in order to gain 

accreditation. 

In the process of designing the laboratories the 

following Standards had to be taken into account 

: Nuffield Foundation Standards; ISO 310; US 

Fed. Std. 209; BS 7258; BS 7526; EU 9; German 

DIN 12920 and 12924; IS 14001; US, NFPA 704, 

318, 55, 45, 30 and Bulletin 101; American 

Educational and Government Institutional 

Survey, AEGIS and various EPA and HSA 

directives. Adherence to these Standards will 

enable the Backweston Laboratory Campus to 

gain international laboratory accreditation and to 

meet present and future demands within the 

wide range of its activities from food safety to 

DNA analysis. 

Present Position on the relocation of facilities 

Planning permission, with 42 conditions 

attached, was received from Kildare County 

Council, on 2 May 2001, for the provision at 

Backweston of modern state-of-the-art 

laboratories for the State Laboratory and the 


Development. The all-in cost of providing these 

facilities is estimated at £157m. Expressions of 

interest in providing the facilities were received 

on 31 May and shortlists of suitable contractors 

are currently being assembled. If no Government 

decisions arise contrary to those taken 

concerning the Campus and Stadium Ireland 

Project commissioned in May, 2001, it is 

intended to have contractors on site in 

September, 2001. The relocation should be 

completed in 2004. 

Planning for the relocation of the Marine 

Institute Laboratories from Abbotstown to 

Galway is also progressing well; a Design Team is 

in place; negotiations aimed at securing 

unencumbered access to the preferred site at 

Oranmore are proceeding and a Planning 

Application is programmed for September of this 

year. ■ 

16

KILAFIN HOUSE 

Trooperstown Wood 

Laragh 

County Wicklow 

Wicklow National Parks 

Headquarters 

Phase 1 

The 19th Century Kilafin House and grounds was 

acquired by Duchas some years ago to provide 

accommodation for the regional Parks and Wildlife 

office for the Wicklow National Parks. The existing 

cottage-style house is home to a resident Parks 

Ranger, however, there is not sufficient office 

accommodation. 

Phase 1 of this project was to convert the existing 

outhouses into offices. As the ceiling heights were 

too low in the outhouses, it was decided to 

construct an entirely new structure to provide the 

office accommodation. The plain form of a 

traditional timber barn was adopted as being the 

most flexible to accommodate future changes of 

use and could be constructed in a timely manner. 

Such a structure would also blend into the 

traditional farmyard environment. The 

accommodation provided includes a large openplan 

office with two smaller offices. On the ground 

floor the areas include: reception area, ranger’s 

office, canteen, toilets and showers, gun store and, 

in the existing outhouse, the boilerhouse, stores 

and more toilet and shower facilities. 

It is intended as part of Phase 2 to extend the 

outhouses and the existing house to provide a 

public reception and exhibition area on the ground 

floor and a library and conference room on the first 

floor. Utilising a ramp to the rear garden, it is 

intended to make the entire complex fully 

wheelchair accessible. 

The Douglas Fir timbers of the two-storey stucture 

measuring 15metres x 9metres were sourced locally 

and manufactured into trusses and beams by Wood 

Industries of Rathdrum. These are protected by a 

coating of Auro natural varnish. The external 

cladding of untreated Western Red Cedar was 

supplied by Sheehan Bros. sawmill of Ballyporeen. 

A simple raft foundation with pockets for the 

timber beams minimised excavation on site. 

Carlson and Co supplied the Allen Brothers high 

performance softwood timber windows. The roof is 

of natural Spanish slates. ■ 

Project Team: 

Client: 

Department of Arts, Heritage, 

Gaeltacht and the Islands 

Project Managers: 

OPW Property Maintenance Services 

Architects: 

OPW Architectural Services 

Structural Engineers: Jim Byrne Associates 

Services Engineers: OPW Electrical and Heating Section 

McGrattan and Kenny 

Malone Electrical 

Quantity Surveying Services: OPW Quantity Surveying Services 

Main Contractor: 

Redmond Brothers, Arklow 

Timber Structure: 

Wood Industries, Rathdrum 

Kilafin House 

17

Joe Richardson 

A Look Back in Time 

Dublin in the fading autumn of 1956. A city of pubs, 

pawnshops and proliferating poverty for many, 

wherein the citizenry sought refuge in bars, bookie 

shops and religion and found consolation in sport 

and music. 

Michael O’Hehir’s voice rang out across the land for 

GAA games and Din Joe took the floor for ceili 

culture. The era of the roaring trams had just passed, 

but the clip clop of cart horses could still be heard on 

Dublin streets. 

recruited to write ration cards which became 

necessary in the aftermath of World War 2, or the 

Emergency, as our Government of the time called it. 

My main job was to deliver the internal post on the 

hour and to relieve the switchboard telephonist for 

her lunch break. I also operated the duplicating 

machine, helped the canteen man to serve teas and 

invariably was sent to collect unpaid tea money from 

recalcitrant customers, as well as running errands for 

all and sundry. 

In politics, de Valera cultivated the frugal image, in 

the Bishop’s Palace, Archbishop McQuaid issued 

edicts to be enforced with a belt of a crozier. But 

Sean Lemass held all the aces in his red hot poker 

hand. Soon he would use it to stoke the ashes that 

would resurrect the ancient Phoenix to beget the 

Celtic Tiger of the present age. 

The Ireland of mystic Saints and Scholars was ready 

to emerge from the gloom of a 40 watt bulb economy 

into the glorious light of dynamic power. 

And no greater glory that November month, when, in 

far off Australia, Ronnie Delaney surprised the world 

and himself, by winning the 1500 metre Gold Medal 

for Ireland in the Melbourne Olympic Games. 

For me, November marked the month and 1956 the 

year when I started life in the OPW, or the Board of 

Works, as it was then known. Forty Five years on I 

look back and try to remember faces and places that 

remind me of those earlier days. 

And run I did. CEW covered a vast area, fronting 

onto Jamestown Road and stretching back for nearly 

half a mile to the boundary wall at the even bigger 

CIE main railway depot. I was a runner with Donore 

Harriers then, and the distances between the 

workshops and the offices were ideal training grounds 

for long sprints, as I delivered the official post on my 

route. 

I continued on in such a fashion for the next three 

years and on completion of my apprenticeship, I 

joined the aforementioned Storekeeper Clerks. I 

worked on stock control duties on the Kardex system 

which contained the index and records for a huge 

range of spare parts and materials necessary for the 

maintenance of the fleet of plant and machinery 

required for the National Drainage Scheme. 

My next career move was to Lad Lane. The BMS 

premises were on a much smaller scale, located close 

to the amenities of Baggot Street and adjacent to the 

tree-lined stretch of the Grand Canal. 

Today I work as a Storekeeper Clerk in BMS, Lad 

Lane, where I’ve been since 1969. I started off in the 

giant engineering works of CEW on Jamestown Road, 

Inchicore, on the 1st November 1956 as a 15-year-old 

Boy Messenger, to use the Civil Service terminology. 

Like everyone else at the time, I worked a five and a 

half day week. My wages were £1.17.6 a week, 

tradesmen were paid £8, Labourers £6 and Clerical 

Officers were on a scale of around £5. 10/- to £12. 

There was an even lower grade called Writing 

Assistants, mainly middle aged females originally 

In 1970, I became part of the newly formed Wages 

Section. Almost overnight, Government jobs had 

been offered to almost 400 contract tradesmen and 

operatives formally employed by Stones, Brooks 

Thomas and Dockrells. By 1986 we had a staff 

payroll of 500 before a Government embargo on 

recruitment took effect. 

The next decade and the dawning twenty-first 

century would see monumental changes in all 

spheres of life, and none more so than in the world 

18

REFURBISHMENT OF STAFF 

CANTEEN 

at 

ARAS MHIC DHIARMADA 

For The Department of Social, 

Community and Family Affairs. 

Joe Richardson, BMS 

of business. Old technology stepped out and new 

technology stepped in. Blotting and carbon paper, 

along with Royals, Remingtons and Imperials, became 

obsolete, to be replaced with Microsoft, Apple and 

IBM. Undreamed of inventions became the norm. 

Mobile phones, faxes, state of the art printers and 

copiers, computers in all shapes and sizes. A hole in 

the wall, called an ATM, dispensed money! 

The staff canteen in the Department of Social, 

Community and Family Affairs in Aras Mhic 

Dhiarmada is located on the top floor (sixth) of the 

building which is better known as Busaras. The 

canteen was in its original state as designed by Michael 

Scott, with panoramic views from full height south 

facing windows and doors. The main concern of the 

client, apart from the decoration of the space, was the 

problem with acoustics. The ceilings were of 

plasterboard with the lighting tracks and grills for 

ventilation ducts exposed underneath. The oak strip 

flooring and hard surfaced furniture afforded no relief 

from the noise created by traffic and voices of the staff 

in conversation during their breaks. 

To-day I remain ensconced in the Wages Section in 

Lad Lane. By dint of pantagruelian effort I have risen 

to something called Storekeeper Clerk in Charge, one 

step under the heel of an Office Manager. The nature 

of our work hasn’t changed, entering time sheet hours 

and calculating allowances, but the method, in 

common with everyone else, is by computer. 

In line with a new OPW policy to bill Public Service 

Departments for work done, a comprehensive 

computer system known as Visibility was installed in 

1995. Unique in the OPW, it allowed us to cost time 

and materials against jobs, forward and receive bills 

and cheques, record stores and plant items, and key 

wage details for electronic transmission to Accounts in 

Kilkenny, where the finishing touches are applied. 

Looking ahead to the future, I had expected to see out 

my working life in Lad Lane, but rumour, and the 

powers that be, has it, that it is only a matter of time 

before Lad Lane falls to the wrecking ball of the 

property developer. 

Finally, I hope, Deo volente, to soldier on to a 

retirement date on 1 November 2006, exactly fifty 

years on from my starting date of 1/11/1956, and I 

pray to God, that my retirement gift, if there is one, 

will not be a zimmer frame. ■ 

Aras Mhic Dhiarmada 

Taking on board all of these problems, it was decided 

to install a new suspended acoustic, clip-in metal 

ceiling. The new ceiling with its perforated tiles and 

acoustic fleece above would improve the acoustics in 

the room and would be more serviceable from a 

hygienic point of view; also it incorporated new down 

lighters and grills for ventilation ducts. The original 

domed roof lights were retained and the new ceiling 

trimmed around their bases. The mosaic-covered 

columns were professionally cleaned. The oak floor 

was stripped and re- varnished. The furniture was 

replaced with seating that was more sympathetic 

acoustically to the room. Sheers were fitted to the 

windows and doors to reduce the glare from direct 

sunlight. The new ceiling is a great success; it has 

improved the acoustics dramatically and the client is 

delighted with the results. ■ 

19

The Art 

Management Office 

The OPW's Art Management Group was 

established in 1991 and is responsible for carrying 

out the OPW's functions in relation to art in 

Government offices and public buildings. In 

addition, the Group’s expertise is available to 

Government Departments and other public 

bodies for advice on the purchase, acquisition, 

maintenance, commissioning, restoration and 

valuation of artworks. The Art Management office 

supports the Group. 

The Art Management Group's functions include: 

Patrick Murphy, Art Adviser and Jacquie Moore, Art 

Management 

• Valuation of gifts under the Ethics in Public Office Act, 

1995, on behalf of Government Departments. 

• Accepting and granting loans and gifts of art works as 

required. 

The OPW endeavours to increase public awareness and 

access to art works in State buildings through the annual 

Art of the State exhibitions and catalogues. 

• Implementation of the Per Cent for Art Scheme 

as set out specifically in Government Decision - 

S.29498, 13/05/97. 

• Maintenance of the Government art asset 

register (Department of Finance Circular 19/96). 

• Responsibility for, and management of, all art 

works in public buildings and spaces arising 

from the obligation under the Government art 

asset register, and by extension the provision of 

a management service for all art works. 

• Maximizing public information, awareness and 

access to State art works by way of publications, 

exhibitions and database inventory. 

The Art of the State exhibitions have been held annually 

by the OPW since 1991 and have comprised various 

sections of art works taken from the State’s collection 

based on particular themes each year such as portraits, 

prints, past masters. The exhibition provides an 

opportunity for the public to view art works which 

normally decorate public buildings. Over the years, the 

exhibition has toured extensively throughout the 

country and abroad. 

A catalogue illustrating the art works on display 

accompanies the show and copies for each exhibition are 

available for purchase from the Government Supplies 

Agency. 

The Art Management Office has published a series of 

three catalogues; 

Art in State Buildings 1922– 1970, 1970 – 1985 and 1985 

– 1995. 

The Art Management Office is currently developing a 

system which will enable the placing of images and 

information on all art works in State buildings on the 

OPW website, allowing the State art collection to be 

enjoyed by a much wider audience. ■ 

Jenny Lonergan and Emma Keating, Art Management 

20

The New Custom House 

at Promenade Road, 

Dublin Port 

In 1791Dublin’s Custom House was relocated down 

river to a new building designed and constructed 

under the supervision of James Gandon. This was to 

follow trade that by the middle of the 18th century 

trade had moved down river from Essex (or Capel 

Street ) Bridge. 

Gandon’s Custom House provided impetus for the 

development of Dublin and the regions. But in over 

two centuries times and trade have changed 

unrecognisably and traffic to and from the port has 

made new demands on customs management by the 

Revenue Commissioners. The Custom House is on the 

move again. 

A new Dublin Custom House is being built by the 

Office of Public Works for the Revenue Commissioners 

at Promenade Road in the port. The building will 

facilitate reorganisation of the functions associated 

with the movement of people and goods in and out of 

the Port of Dublin. Much of this movement is by way 

of container traffic and large areas of the expanding 

Block Plan 

inspection facilities.The building will comprise a tall 

five-storey block of office space facing south over the 

port area and to the rear large warehouse type space 

to cater for container vehicles. 

The new Custom House was designed by an in-house 

OPW team headed by Michael Haugh, Assistant 

Principal Architect. It takes on a dramatic modern 

form in the grouping of shapes and spaces. The main 

service core is positioned between the office and the 

warehouse spaces and rises above everything to form a 

strong vertical element in the overall composition. The 

office space, with its curved façade, is arranged in a 

free form plan. The structure is of steel frame 

construction on precast concrete piles. The warehouse 

areas will be clad in concrete block and plastered with 

a white self- finished rendering. The tower area will be 

clad in zinc and other office areas will be clad in 

curtain walling to complement the zinc. 

The development is being project managed by OPW 

Project Management Services. Construction work on 

the building started in May 2001 and is due for 

completion in August 2002. The main building 

contractor is John Paul Construction and the project 

budget is £11m. 

On completion the building will be seen as yet 

another significant architectural contribution to the 

city of Dublin by the Office of Public Works. ■ 

South-West 

port are now given over to the short term storage of 

these containers. It is intended that the new Custom 

House will centralise the functions of the Revenue 

Commissioners , which are at present carried out from 

a number of unsuitable properties in the port, and 

provide purpose-built office accommodation and 

South Elevation 

21

Property Maintenance 

Division - Western Region 

(Galway/Mayo) 

In recent years the pattern of the work in this Region 

has changed considerably, mainly as a result of a 

reduction in our input into the schools building 

programme. Ten years ago it was estimated that 50% 

of the time of the staff in this Region was occupied 

on schools work. At present, schools would represent 

little over 5% of its work. Over the same period the 

increased priority, in particular in favour of buildings 

for the Department of Justice - mainly Garda Stations 

and, in more recent times, the courthouses, has 

enabled major overhauls and refurbishment works to 

these buildings to be carried out. Because of the 

limited human resources available, the larger jobs 

have been undertaken one at a time. In this way, 

major improvements have been undertaken in 

stations such as Salthill, Gort, Loughrea; the final 

phase of the works to Ballinasloe Garda Station is due 

to begin shortly. Other Garda Stations being 

improved include Achill Sound and Partry, Co. Mayo 

improvements to the station became feasible when 

the married quarters became vacant and that 

accommodation was allocated as office space. The 

accommodation requirements of the station were 

then met without an extension to the building, and 

the whole was brought up to the latest standards in 

terms of provision for health and safety, lighting 

installations etc. Shortly after the completion of the 

works, the station was raised in status to a District 

Station. 

Gort 

Salthill. 

Salthill Garda Station 

Salthill Garda Station is located in a very prominent 

position in this very popular holiday resort. The 

Gort Garda Statio 

Gort Garda Station is an attractive stone building 

located in a cul-de-sac off the main square of the 

town. Its reconstruction and extension were 

prompted by the requirement for additional 

accommodation and to bring the existing 

accommodation up to modern standards. The 

improvements were accomplished with the minimum 

disturbance to the Gardai who remained in 

occupation during much of the contract and were 

accommodated in prefabs on site for the remainder of 

the works. 

22

Loughrea 

Loughrea Garda Station 

Loughrea Garda Station is a three-storey building in 

a street close to the centre of the town. The 

incorporation of the former married quarters into the 

station was insufficient to meet the requirement for 

additional accommodation, so it was necessary to 

build on an extension. In this case it was possible to 

find alternative temporary accommodation for the 

Gardai. 

building. Accordingly, the project has been divided 

into three phases, two of which have been 

completed and the third of which is due to 

commence shortly. The additional accommodation 

required is being provided by incorporating the 

former married quarters into the station offices and 

by carrying out improvements to outbuildings in the 

yard behind the main building. Thus the external 

appearance of the building will not be altered (apart 

from structural cleaning). Phase three of the project 

provides for the construction of a lift to all floors of 

this four-storey building. 

Other works already completed, or in progress, for 

the Department of Justice in this Region include 

works to Achill Sound and Partry Garda Stations in 

Co. Mayo as well as repairs and improvements to 

courthouses at Galway City, Headford, Gort, 

Ballinasloe, Oughterard, Derrynea, Clifden, 

Loughrea, Eyrecourt, Portumna, Ballinrobe, 

Ballyhaunis and Ballina. The largest project 

undertaken by Galway District Office is that at 

Galway Customs House, previously featured in Oibre 

and now nearing completion. 

A project being carried out at present at Ballina 

Government offices to install the infrastructure for a 

new computer system for the Department of 

Environment and Local Government is typical of 

many refurbishment jobs carried out under the 

supervision of the District Offices of the OPW in that 

the works have to be carried out while the offices are 

occupied. In this case, the contractors can be given 

access to only about one-fifth of the office area at 

any time. Accordingly, the contract will be carried 

out in six phases and some works have to be carried 

out outside office working hours, while the staff 

temporarily vacate parts of the office in an agreed 

sequence. 

Ballinasloe. 

Ballinasloe Garda Station 

It was not possible to find alternative 

accommodation for the staff of Ballinasloe Garda 

Station during the necessary improvements to the 

In the latter half of 2000 a major refurbishment of 

the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the 

Islands offices in Furbo, Co. Galway - including 

replacement of the heating system - was undertaken 

in a similar phased way. ■ 

23

Health and Safety 

In February, 2001 the Health and Safety Unit held the 

first of what is intended to be a series of courses on 

Fire Safety Management in buildings occupied by staff 

of the Office of Public Works. This followed the 

development in November 2000 of a formal Code of 

Practice on Fire Safety Management (available from 

Kevin Fleming, H & S Unit) the purpose of which is to 

a) ensure compliance with statutory provisions 

regarding fire safety in OPW buildings; 

b) provide for a uniform approach to Fire Safety 

Management; 

c) provide for the ongoing protection of OPW 

personnel,visitors and assets. 

The course comprised two separate sessions. 

The first consisted of a talk and slide show presented 

by the OPW's health and safety consultants and 

included such matters as hazard identification, fire 

prevention and pre-fire planning and evacuation 

procedures. The second involved a practical 

demonstration on the identification and use of various 

types of fire extinguishers and was presented by the 

OPW's own Fire Team, headed by Liam Dandy. 

It is intended to continue the series of courses over the 

coming months. While they are aimed primarily at 

safety managers and fire wardens whose functions 

include day to day fire prevention and control, all 

members of staff are welcome to attend. ■ 

Art 

Of 

The State 

Reid Nano, Knight in Arms 

The Office of Public Works has organised and toured 

exhibitions of Irish art from the State Collection for 

the last ten years. This year the plan is to tour an 

exhibition of fifty Irish paintings from municipal art 

collections in the Republic and Northern Ireland, as 

well as from the collections of the OPW. The 

exhibition will include exceptional works by deceased 

artists such as Nano Reid (as featured above), W.J. 

Leech RHA, Andrew Nicholl RHA, Grace Henry HRHA, 

Evie Hone, Paul Henry RHA, Jack B. Yeats RHA, 

William Scott RA and Fr. Jack Hanlon, as well as 

exciting works by living artists, recently acquired and 

not toured before. 

The objective will be to let a wider public view and 

enjoy these art treasures from public collections. 

Drogheda Municipal Art Collection will contribute 

some works, as will the Niland Library Collection in 

Sligo, and the Waterford Municipal Art Collection, 

which is shortly to be re-housed in a restored church 

in that city. From Northern Ireland we anticipate 

borrowing works from Enniskillen Museum in Co. 

Fermanagh and from Coleraine Borough Council as 

well as from the Department of Finance and 

Personnel. 

The provisional touring plan is for the exhibition to 

open in the Blanchardstown Art Centre in September 

2001 and to travel to Dungarvan Arts Centre, 

Waterford. From there it will be on show for a week 

during the prestigious Wexford Opera Festival in 

November, after which it moves to Enniskillen 

Museum in December. A venue in Coleraine will 

feature next and the final showing will take place in 

the OPW Atrium in January 2002 after which the 

paintings will be returned to their origins. 

Liam Dandy, BMS and Kevin Fleming, Health & 

Safety Unit 

The exhibition will be accompanied by an illustrated 

catalogue. ■ 

24

` 

MAJOR NEW EXHIBITION TRACES 2000 YEARS 

OF IRISH CHURCH ARCHITECTURE 

Sacred Places reflects diverse, yet shared, 

social and cultural development of the island 

A major new exhibition on Irish church architecture 

over the last 2000 years, called Sacred Places, was 

opened in the Atrium on 25 January, 2001 by the 

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, 

Seamus Brennan TD. The exhibition was developed 

jointly by the Royal Institute of the Architects of 

Ireland (RIAI) and the Royal Society of Ulster 

Architects (RSUA), to celebrate the shared tradition of 

Christian building on this island over the last two 

millennia. 

produced, which features three essays by the 

country’s leading experts in this area: Professor Roger 

Stalley; Dr Paul Larmour and architect, Richard 

Hurley,” Arthur Hickey concluded. 

The exhibition was supported by funding from the 

National Millennium in the Republic and the 

Heritage Lottery Fund in the UK and was designed by 

Orna Hanly Architects, with graphics designed by 

Sexton Design. ■ 

Arthur Hickey, RIAI President, explained that Sacred 

Places is divided into six sections dealing with: 

• Early Christian and Romanesque 

• Middle Ages 

• Reformation and Plantation 

• Age of Ascendancy 

• Nineteenth Century 

• Twentieth Century 

“The range of quality of the church buildings in 

Sacred Places is a testament to the commitment and 

imagination of those people who designed and built 

them. It contains photographs and drawings of some 

of the landmark church buildings from each era and 

tradition, in the region of one hundred in all, tracing 

the evolution of Christian architecture in Ireland up 

to the present. 

However, the exhibition is more than a collection of 

images of church buildings, it tells the story of how 

we lived on this island over the past 2000 years, in 

particular showing Ireland’s diverse social and 

cultural development. It has been specifically 

designed to be easy to follow and understand, and, as 

such, should be of special interest to all age groups. 

“Sacred Places also contains models and replica 

artefacts from some of the churches featured. In 

addition, a full-colour exhibition catalogue has been 

Sacred Places exhibition 

25

The Following Appointments 

Have Taken Place Over 

The Past Few Months: 

Commissioner - David Byers 

Significant changes have taken in place at senior 

management level in the past few months. As 

confirmed by the recent Farrell, Grant, Sparks Ltd 

report a post at Commissioner level and one at 

Director level were necessary to close off the gaps in 

the top level structure of OPW. With the 

appointment of Mr. David Byers, following a TLAC 

competition, the third Commisioner post was reestablished 

within the Office of Public Works. David 

will have responsibility on the property side of the 

organisation which includes Property Management 

Services and Property Maintenance Services. 

Director of Corporate Services - Vincent Campbell 

The management team has been further strengthened 

with the appointment of Mr. Vincent Campbell to 

the new post of Director of Corporate Services. As 

Director of Corporate Services Vincent has 

responsibility for the following services: Personnel, 

Development & Organisation, Freedom of 

Information, Legal Services, Financial Management 

including the Accounts Branch and the Government 

Supplies Agency. 

Senior Architect to Head of Maintenance 

•Des Thorpe 

Engineer Grade II to Grade I 

•Keith Milsom 

Engineer Grade III to Grade II 

•Declan Holmes 

Executive Officer to Higher Executive Officer 

•Mary O’Halloran 

•Bernie Mannion 

•Georgina Keeley 

Staff Officer to Executive Officer 

•Evelyn Galvin 

•Pat Appleby 

•Phil Sheehan 

•Mary Mc Loughlin 

•Anne O` Shea 

Clerical Officer to Staff Officer 

•Mary Moroney 

•Pat Dunphy 

Private Secretary to Chairman 

•Yvonne Jackson 

Press Officer 

•Lynda Hendley ■ 

•Bernie O’Brien 

•Delia Hickey 

•Edel Mc Ardle 

•Denis Murphy 

•Frederika Denton 

•Noreen O`Leary 

•Christina Cunningham 

•Stephen Hughes 

•Joan Healy 

Royal Irish Academy of Music 

in association with the 


Presented 

Singing 

On 

The Green 

A Series of free admission Friday Lunchtime 

Concerts held in the 


51 St Stephen’s Green 

Dublin 2 

The Concerts featured students of the Royal Irish 

Academy of Music Vocal Department 

Friday, March 30th, 2001 at 1.05 pm 

A selection of arias from Mozart’s Marriage of 

Figaro and Cosi fan Tutte, Humperdinck’s Hansel 

and Gretel, Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann and 

Delibes’ Lakmé 

Performed by Maeve Morris, soprano; Wendy 

Dwyer, soprano; Simon Morgan, tenor and Martin 

McAnaney, bass, with Dearbhla Brosnan, piano 

Friday, April 6th, 2001 at 1.05 pm 

Songs by Poulenc, Fauré, Quilter, Bridge, Warlock 

and Rachmaninov 

Performed by Maeve Morris, soprano; Sarah 

Grimson, soprano; 

Fionnuala De Burca, soprano, Maureen Ward, 

soprano; 

Fiona Murphy, mezzo-soprano and Brian Callinan, 

tenor 

Dearbhla Brosnan, piano 

Friday, April 27th, 2001 at 1.05 pm 

A selection of arias from Mozart’s Marriage of 

Figaro and Don Giovanni, Lehar’s Merry Widow, 

Handel’s Ariodante and Gounod’s Sappho. 

Performed by Edel Shannon, soprano; Sylvia 

O’Brien, soprano; Noelle Barrett, mezzo-soprano; 

Mark Ennis, bass and Andrew Redmond, bass 

Dearbhla Brosnan, piano. ■ 

26

OPW 

Architectural 

Tours 

2000 

Last year saw the start of the OPW Architectural 

Tours sponsored by the Partnership Committee. The 

following Heritage Sites were visited: 

1. April: Aras; Ashtown Castle; Farmleigh. 

2. June: Kilkenny Castle; Cahir Castle; Muckross 

House. 

3. August: Castletown House; Ceide Fields; 

Turlough House. 

4. October: Clonmacnoise; Boat Trip on the 

Shannon. 

Three hundred OPW staff had the opportunity, 

through these tours, to see some of the projects OPW 

are involved with. 

Foot and Mouth restrictions have now been lifted, 

and the first two tours for this year will take place in 

June and August. 

Tour No. 1 Donegal. 

Kats 

Appear in 

Kilkenny Castle 

The magnificently restored Parade Tower at Kilkenny 

Castle was the venue recently for Kats Theatre 

Group’s production of two new one-act plays. 

Kilkenny staff members availed of tickets sponsored 

by OPW through the Partnership Committee scheme 

for funding of theatre, arts and cultural activities. 

As well as being an enjoyable social outing, this 

occasion was a good opportunity for staff to visit the 

Parade Tower and also to see their colleague, Brian 

McQuillan, on stage. 

In the past year Kats have focussed on presenting 

new plays, particularly those of local writers. The two 

plays on offer this time were “Weeping Women” by 

Seamus Norris and “Where Everyone Knows Your 

Name” by Kats member, Mark Cradock. 

The OPW is also sponsoring Brian McQuillan to 

attend an acting skills course organised by the Drama 

League of Ireland, which will take place in August. 

(Any member of staff who would like to avail of 

sponsorship and falls within the terms of reference 

established by the Office, can register the details of his/her 

group or individual arts/cultural/theatrical group with: 

Derek McCormack, Personnel Section or Allen Smith, 

Property Maintenance). ■ 

June, 29th – July, 1st : 

Tour of Glenveagh National Park, Glebe House, 

Donegal Castle, Devenish Island and Enniskillen. 

Tour No. 2 Aran Islands. 

August 25th – 26th : 

Tour of Inishmore and Athenry Castle. 

It is expected that over a hundred staff will 

participate in these tours. Plans are currently being 

developed for further Architectural Tours. ■ 

Brian Quillan, Accounts Branch (centre) in a scene from “Where 

everyone knows your name” (Staged recently in the Parade Tower, 

Kilkenny Castle) 

27

OPW 

Sports Committe 

2001 

The OPW Sports Committee, a successful initiative 

originating from the OPW Partnership Committee, 

continues to sponsor sporting activities within the 

Office. 

Athletics 

The Sports Committee members for this year are: 

• Jim Roche (Project Management Services) – 

Chairman 

• Yvonne Jackson (Chairman’s Office) – Secretary 

• Des O’Brien (Personnel, Development and 

Organisation Services) 

• Denis Carr (BMS) 

Again this year staff were invited to submit details of 

their sporting activities for which the Office might 

provide sponsorship. Fourteen submissions were 

received, and the Committee recommended that 

eleven of these would receive sponsorship:- 

Patricia Doherty ---- Pool 

Donal Wickham ----- 51 St. Stephens Green Golf 

Society 

Kevin Wolahan ------ 51 St. Stephens Green Tennis 

Group 

Brian D’Arcy --------- 51 St. Stephens Green Football 

Group 

Thomas Galvin ------ Mountain Running 

Nigel O’Mahony ---- B.M.S. Football Team 

Philip Maher --------- B.M.S. Golf Society 

Mary Donohue ------ Cross Country Running 

Eileen Carr ------------ Long Distance Horse Riding 

Hugh O’Neill --------- Farmleigh Golf Society 

Catherine Kennedy- Swimming 

As a member of Clonliffe Harriers Athletic, Mary 

Donohoe competes at club, national and 

international level in both the Senior Women’s 

and Veteran Women’s Categories. 

She has won national cross-country and track 

titles and has represented Ireland at World and 

European Cross Country Championships, 

European and International Track Meetings and 

International Road Races. 

OPW sponsorship has contributed to her 

travelling expenses to events throughout Ireland 

and, in particular, has eased travelling and 

accommodation expenses arising from her 

participation in the Home Countries Veterans 

Cross Country Championships to be held in the 

UK later this year. ■ 

Approximately one hundred and eighty people have 

benefited from the 2001 round of sponsorship. Any 

member of staff who wants to avail of sponsorship 

and falls under the terms of reference established by 

the Office can register the details of their group or 

individual sport with: Denis Carr, BMS, Lad Lane, 

Dublin 2. ■ 

28

Golf 

Office of Public Works, Golf Society: 

When the Society was established at a general 

meeting on 17 October 1911 the first annual 

subscription was fixed at the princely sum of two 

shillings and six pence. As we celebrate the ninetieth 

year, the annual subscription is now £10 which 

represents an 7900% increase over those years- now 

that’s inflation!!! 

The OPW Golf Society is one of the oldest established 

Societies in the country and is primarily a means of 

social contact within the Office. It is open to all and 

has approximately a hundred members. The Society 

endeavours to keep the cost of golf for members to a 

minimum. 

Manager of the Farmleigh Estate, is the President, 

Hugh O’Neill is the team captain and Henry Dillon is 

the vice-captain. There are three other committee 

members. 

This year the Society are running a home and away 

competition so each player has the choice of where 

to play. The player with the highest points becomes 

player of the year. All OPW staff are welcome to take 

part in the Farmleigh Golf Society competitions. 

Please contact the team captain, Hugh O’Neill, if you 

wish to join. 

There are six outings a year plus the Commissioners’ 

Cup, which is played in a fourball format. This year’s 

outings include visits to St. Annes (19/4), 

Craddockstown (17/5), Castlewarden (28/6), Trim 

(20/7), Skerries (31/8) and Corballis (19/10). 

Further details of the Society can be had from Terry 

Beagon (Ext. 6712) or Donal Wickham (Ext.6809). 

From left to right: Hugh O’Neill, Martin Byrne and Shay Bacon 

BMS, Golf Society: 

Willie Sargent, Terry Beagon, Hugh Graghty, Dermot Reid, 

OPW Golf Team 

Farmleigh, Golf Society: 

The Farmleigh Constables established a Golf Society 

last year. A competition was organised between the 

four units of twenty Constables, which proved to be a 

great success. Mr. Tommy O’Shaughnessy, General 

The BMS Golf Society was established in 1995. It 

currently boasts a membership of almost thirty 

players, who regularly get together on Thursday 

afternoons ( early closing for BMS ! ). The society 

have two outings a year, one at Easter and another 

weekend event. This year the weekend event will be 

held in Waterford. 

The BMS Golf Society would warmly welcome new 

members, who can contact Philip Maher (087 – 

6868272) or Nigel O’Mahony (087 – 6468616). ■ 

29

on 

Eileen Carr 

Endurance Riding 

Endurance riding is the sport of riding long 

distances over varied terrain and embraces noncompetitive 

and competitive rides. The latter may 

be competitive trail rides (CTRs) or endurance races 

(ERs). The first level of competition is the CTR, 

which entails riding a specified distance within 

specified speed limits, the aim being to complete 

the route within the time without adversely 

affecting the horse. The three levels of CTR 

competition in Ireland are Bronze, Silver and Gold 

Shamrock. Only on reaching Gold Shamrock level 

may either a rider or a horse take part in an 

endurance race, where the winner is the horse and 

rider combination which finishes first, subject to 

passing the veterinary test at the end of the race. 

The basic rule that the horse must pass the 

necessary veterinary tests at all stages of a ride 

applies regardless of the type of ride. The wellbeing 

of the horse comes first and strict controls such as 

the holding times, or rest periods, and veterinary 

checks built into each ride ensure that no animal is 

allowed to continue if considered in any way unfit 

to do so. In team competitions final placement 

depends on the total mileage completed 

successfully by each team. 

Eileen Carr and her horse:”Sunny”, Kill Co Kildare 

The Home Internationals were scheduled for 

Scotland this year but as the dates for the 

Internationals and the Festival were clashing Eileen 

had been hoping to compete in the Rambo Cup 

Endurance Race, which is a 60-mile endurance race 

over one day, at the latter instead. She started 

training at the beginning of the year and had 

already done a couple of short rides (10 and 18 

miles) as part of the building-up process. The plan 

was to do some hunter trials as well during 

March/April but then everything went by the board 

because of the FMD crisis. They were confined to 

arena work until May but since the easing of 

restrictions Eileen has been concentrating her 

efforts on making up for lost ground on the 

training front. Unfortunately, both the Scottish 

Championships and the major events of the 

Wicklow Hills Festival, the Al Maktoum and Rambo 

Cup endurance races, have been cancelled for 2001 

so the plan now is to compete in all other 

longdistance rides on the calendar and any 

competitions in the other disciplines, such as 

showjumping, which fit in with training schedules. 

■ 

Eileen has been a member of ILDRA ( Irish Long 

Distance Riding Association ) since 1995 and her 

horse, now 16, is a 15.2hh chestnut gelding named 

Moatfield Sunny. They have both reached Gold 

Shamrock standard and last year were selected for 

the Irish Team to compete in the Home 

Internationals held at Donard during the Wicklow 

Hills Festival. This is an annual competition 

between teams from Ireland, England, Scotland and 

Wales and while their team was unsuccessful 

overall, Sunny and Eileen completed their 

particular race, which was a fifty mile endurance 

race, without problems. 

Eileen Carr. ONE-DAY EVENT, Co. Wexford 

30


51 St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2 

Tel: 01 647 6000 

E-mail: info@opw.ie 

www.opw.ie

Obair, Issue 5, June 2001 - PDF - The Office of Public Works

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?