Wednesday 4th March, 8pm, Lough Ree Yacht Club

– Talk by Garrett O’Neill

A view of the Castle Keep and Shannon River, Athlone (Aidan Heavey Public Library, Athlone)

Summary – Waterways Ireland was established as part of the Belfast or ‘Good Friday’ agreement with responsibility for the navigable inland waterways of the entire island. Part of its remit is a duty to safeguard both built and natural heritage of the waterways. Therefore in the summer of 2008 Waterways Ireland commissioned a survey of the historic structures located within 50 metres of the shorelines of the Shannon Navigation, from the north end of Lough Allen to Sarsfield Lock in Limerick.

Cathal O’Neill Architects were awarded the project and undertook the work from late September 2008 to April 2009. This talk will describe the scope of the work, the methodology adopted and an account of the fieldwork undertaken with particular reference to the compilation of the database presented to Waterways Ireland. The talk, which will be illustrated and cover the entire river, will be approximately 45 minutes long and followed by an open discussion.

Speaker – Garrett O’Neill graduated in Architecture in 1984.He is a principal in Cathal O’Neill Architects, established in 1961 by Professor Cathal O’Neill. Garrett holds a master’s degree in Urban and Building Conservation and is a member of council and current Hon Treasurer of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. From the age of seven he has spent most of his free time on, in, or around Lough Ree. He is an accomplished Shannon One Design sailor.