The continuing saga concerning Uisce Éireann and the proposed pipeline from the Shannon to Dublin calls to mind that great Irishman, CY O’Connor, who was born in Co Meath in 1843.
He was the engineer responsible for the design and development of Fremantle Harbour near Perth, as well as the design and construction of a major pipeline project to supply water to the great goldmines in the Kalgoorlie region of western Australia from 1896 to 1903.
The project required water to be pumped eastwards, some 530km from Fremantle through a 30-inch pipeline with eight pumping stations along the route.
During the long and difficult construction, without the benefits of modern equipment or technology, O’Connor received a huge amount of criticism in parliament as there were many doubters who believed the project would never work and was a waste of money.
Unfortunately, one year before the project was successfully completed and water flowed into Kalgoorlie, O’Connor took his own life near Fremantle, leaving his Scottish-born wife and eight children behind.
Quite rightly, O’Connor is remembered today in Fremantle and in the goldmines as a hero and a genius. He has a number of statues erected in his honour.
His greatest legacy, of course, is that his projects endure to this day.
Coincidentally, the first prospector to discover gold in the Kalgoorlie area was another Irishman, Paddy Hannan, from Quin, Co Clare.
Hannan discovered gold on June 10, 1893, and shortly afterwards started the great gold rush that resulted in the famous Golden Mile — that’s centred on Kalgoorlie today — and the subsequent need for massive quantities of water.
Kalgoorlie’s main thoroughfare is named Hannan St, with a centrepiece statue and fountain dedicated to the man.
Both Irishmen are still revered to this day in Western Australia.
John Leahy, Wilton, Cork
Hospitality needs ethical leadership
Dear Orla McAndrew, I am delighted to read your honest reflections on the lived experience of hospitality workers.
This is all the more powerful coming from someone who has given many years of service to the industry, and whose reflections come from a place of care. I have been researching the lived experience of hospitality workers for many years. Along with colleagues in four Irish universities, we are about to publish a report in early 2026, based on data collected this year. While there are signs of improvement, the data reflects many of the issues that you mention in your piece. In my view, the industry needs more ethical leadership such as you are demonstrating here. We have to be able to have difficult conversations focused on positive change. Keep speaking out!
Deirdre Curran, JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway
Street names are low priority
On a recent trip to Dublin, I was mulling over the obsession some politicians nowadays have over changing the names of roads and parks which, according to them, do not reflect the Irish Republic.
Then I came across the statue of William Smith O’Brien on O’Connell St. In the arms of this statue looked something like a bowl of shamrock. On closer examination, I could see it was lump of grass.
That says it all. We discuss changing the names of roads etc to reflect our republican history and neglect to look after the statues, streets etc which are called after heroes of past.
Just walk down Parnell St or Cathal Brugha St in Dublin, and tell me seriously that these streets reflect a prosperous capital city.
Go into St Mary’s Pro Cathedral and see how badly it has been neglected. It needs a re-paint and more.While there may be a big fall off in the practice of Catholicism, one would have to say this is an iconic building built after Catholic emancipation.
We don’t even teach the history of men like William Smith O’Brien, MP for Co Clare who was banished to Tasmania after being reprieved from being hung, drawn, and quartered in 1849.
Dublin needs a massive clean-up, especially in the streets off O’Connell St. When that is done, Dublin City Council must start seriously dealing with water leaks, drainage and more.
Names of streets and parks are the least of Dublin’s worries or any of our cities such as Galway, Cork, or Limerick.
Nuala Nolan, Bowling Green, Galway
Ordination a story of hope
I just wish to state that I am delighted to read the story of Fr Stuart’s ordination and the story that led to him committing his life to God.
As he said himself, it is a story full of hope and joy. I want to wish Fr Stuart great health and happiness in his life as a Catholic priest.
Gerry Farry, Cranmore Drive, Sligo
Policy for publicity?
Regarding 'Irish Examiner view: Tourism policy places too much reliance on tech tomorrow', what stood out for me were comments from the CEO of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC).
It appears that the tourism industry was not consulted in the development of this policy — a policy conceived by civil servants . Surely this shows a degree of disdain for the sector’s experience, knowledge, expertise.
(The tourism policy’s) suggestion that the sector can achieve a 45% absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction based on 2018 absolute emissions by the end of 2030, whilst growing visitors by 1m annually without a specific plan, is patently absurd and potentially in complete violation of the Climate Act. Has this policy been approved by the relevant department?
I applaud the intention to enhance the economic sustainability of tourism, but can we do this and decarbonise at the same time or is this just another policy to garner publicity?
Maurice Bergin, Rochestown, Cork
Low number of new home builds
I read with interest Orla Hegarty’s article 'Fixing South Kerry’s depopulation issue'.
Last week, Radio Kerry reported that the level of construction of new homes in Kerry is at its lowest in almost 10 years.
Department of Housing figures show that the number of homes on which construction has commenced is only 204 new homes so far this year. This is the lowest number of commencements in the first 10 months of any year since 2016.
Just under 900 new homes would need to be started in Kerry in December if this year’s annual commencement figure was to match last year’s figure. According to a report by the Housing Commission last year, up to 33,000 new homes could be needed in Kerry by 2050 to address the deficit of housing in this county.
Kenmare, Caherciveen, and Waterville are Healy-Rae heartlands, and we are now seeing the results of their limited vision.
It’s high time that Kerry reverted back to two- and three-seat constituencies, as was the case up to 2016.
Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry
GAA club never lost faith in split season
Less than a 20-minute drive north from Kilkenny City towards Castlecomer lies the townland of Muckalee, which encompasses a small village of similar name.
Consisting of about 3,700 acres, this rural area stretching towards the Carlow county boundary is home to typical family farms but, atypical for Kilkenny, its GAA club is dedicated to Gaelic football.
In a county where hurling is king, the club never “lost the faith” — a resilience that paid off with a victory in the dying seconds of the All-Ireland Ladies Junior Club final last Sunday bringing the rarest of All-Irelands to Kilkenny.
To observe the team and the local community’s journey to this All-Ireland win eminently vindicates the GAA’s wisdom in the “split season”, whereby time is dedicated to club activity only. My antipathy to the concept is fast disintegrating.
Michael Gannon, Saint Thomas Sq, Kilkenny
