The Industrial Heritage Association of Ireland (IHAI) Awards were presented on Wednesday (February 11th 2015) at a function in ESB Head Office. The event, sponsored by ESB, was hosted by Jim Dollard, Executive Director, Business Services Centre & Electric Ireland and the guest of Honour was Larry O’Toole, Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Dublin.
Speaking at the event the Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Dublin, Larry O’ Toole, said: “As Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin I wish to commend the IHAI, an all-Ireland body, for the work you are undertaking in promoting and safeguarding industrial heritage. This is a very special milestone for all the Award winners who are being recognised this evening, which are;
- The Irish Agricultural Museum in Johnstown, Co. Wexford which is a true National Treasure,
- The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland for their outstanding leadership role in promoting all aspects of the history and heritage of railways on an all-Ireland basis for the last fifty years,
- Rob Goodbody for his outstanding publications on many aspects of Industrial Heritage including his latest publication Dublin 1756-1847 in the of Irish Historic Towns Atlas Series Volume 26 and, last, but not least,
- William Hogg, a very distinguished Industrial Archaeologist, who is being recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Brendan Delany, President of IHAI commented that: “IHAI are delighted with the sponsorship of these Awards from ESB which seek to give recognition to individuals and organisations who have made an outstanding contribution to promoting and safeguarding industrial heritage on an all Ireland basis. It is important that we both recognise and celebrate achievement.”
In his welcoming address Jim Dollard, Executive Director Business Services Centre & Electric Ireland stated; “IHAI was created by people of vision and commitment and the fruits of your earlier efforts are now slowly but surely creating an awareness of our rich past. The approach you are taking to progressing your aims is to be admired. Essentially it seems to me, that your organisation is trying to foster and develop connections between different sectors, diverse professional organisations and voluntary groups and this is actively forging a consensus that we should not only have a sense of shared ownership for our past but it is something we strive to safeguard and celebrate.”
The recipients of the Awards were:
Best Museum/Industrial Heritage Site: Irish Agricultural Museum in Johnstown, Co. Wexford. Widely acclaimed as being one of the best and most important agricultural museums in Ireland and the UK with a wonderful collection of farming equipment and machinery and also with an important collection of rural domestic objects.
Outstanding Leadership Award: RPSI – Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.
RPSI is an Irish railway preservation group operating throughout Ireland. It was founded in 1964. The society has its headquarters at Whitehead, County Antrim, and a base at Mullingar, County Westmeath. Restoration work is also carried out in the Dublin area. The Society's founder members still perform regular maintenance tasks and undertake full engine restorations. They are joined regularly by new volunteers who assist in tasks from boiler repair to carriage painting. Volunteers are always welcome. The Society organises excursion trains which run throughout the year, primarily at weekends, from both Dublin and Belfast. An operational set of vintage carriages is kept both at Whitehead and in Dublin for these purposes. These trains are frequently packed to capacity, and advance booking is recommended.
Best Publication Award: Rob Goodbody.
Worked as Planner with local authorities in London and Dublin, 1974 to 2003 and as a Historic building consultant since 2003. His Publications include:
Dublin 1756-1857 Irish Historic Atlas No 26 Royal Irish Academy in association with Dublin City Council 2014.; Bloomfield: A History Bloomfield Care Centre 1812-2012 - providing care for 200 years Ashfield Press, November 2012 with co-authors Glynn Douglas, Alice Mauger & John Davey, ; Bridging the History of Meath (Link) Article on Slane Bridge, Seanda, issue 7. 2012.;The Martello Towers of Dublin Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Fingal County Council July 2012 with co authors: , Jason Bolton, Tim Carey & Gerry Clabby The Metals - from Dalkey To Dun Laoghaire A history and description of the railway that brought the granite for the building of Dun Laoghaire Harbour in the nineteenth century. Published by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council June 2010; On the Borders of the Pale - A history of the Kilgobbin, Stepaside and Sandyford area Pale Publishing 1993 and various publications on the history of the Quakers in Ireland.
Lifetime Achievement Award: William Hogg.
William Hogg has earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading experts on Industrial Heritage and Archaeology. He is a Past President & Honorary Archivist of the Mills & Millers Association of Ireland. He is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading experts on Milling in Ireland completing and documenting an extremely comprehensive Inventory of Irish Mills from 1850 onwards. He has updated and recorded additional information on the inventory as new information and research has been uncovered. He has provided advice on many aspects of industrial heritage and has always been highly regarded by his peers for his generosity in sharing his knowledge, expertise and experience.
ENDS