George Halpin

George Halpin(Sr.) (1779? – 8 July 1854), was a prominentcivil engineerandlighthousebuilder, responsible for the construction of much of thePort of Dublin,several of Dublin's bridges, and a number of lighthouses; he is considered the founding father of theIrishlighthouse service.His son, George Halpin,was also a well-known lighthouse builder.

Biography

The Baily light, designed by George Halpin, onHowth Head.

TheSkelligsLighthouse.

Very little is known of Halpin's early life, though it is known that his background was in the building trade rather than in engineering. In 1800, he was made the Inspector of Works for theDublin Ballast Board(the predecessor to theCommissioners of Irish Lights), succeeding Francis Tunstall, and in this capacity was responsible for a number of works.One of these, theBull Wall,along with associated projects, led to the creation ofBull IslandinDublin Bay,and enabled deep-draught ships to use the port for the first time.

Halpin was appointed the Inspector of Lighthouses in 1810. Between then and 1867 Irish lighthouses increased from fourteen to seventy-two under his direction.He established 53 new lighthouses, in addition to modernising a further 15: his projects included theBaily Lighthouse,the secondCopeland Island Lighthouse,and theSkelligsLighthouse. He also set up the Irish lighthouse service's administration and management procedures, regularised employment oflighthouse keepers,and continued to oversee the development of Dublin's port.

Halpin died in 1854, and was buried inMount Jerome Cemetery,Dublin. He was succeeded as Inspector of Lighthouses by his son.

See also

• Lighthouses in Ireland

References

Notes

Sources

• Gillingan, H. A.History of The Port of Dublin,Gill & Macmillen, 1988,ISBN0-7171-1578-X,contains an overview of Halpin's career.
• Skempton, Sir A. & Chrimes, M. (eds)A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland: 1500 to 1830,Thomas Telford, 2002,ISBN978-0-7277-2939-2