William Dargan
Encyclopedia
William Dargan an engineer
, often seen as the father of Irish railways, came from Killeshin
, County Laois
, Ireland
. Born in 1799, he constructed Ireland's first railway from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire
(then Kingstown) in 1833. He constructed over 800 miles (1,287.5 km) of railway to important urban centres of Ireland. He was a member of the Royal Dublin Society
and also helped establish the National Gallery of Ireland
. He was also responsible for the Great Dublin Exhibition
held at Leinster lawn in 1853. His achievements were honoured in 2004 when Dargan Bridge, Dublin
a new cable stayed bridge for Dublin's Light Railway Luas
was named after him.
in the county of Laois on 28 February 1799, and having received an English education was placed in a surveyor's office.
The first important employment he obtained was under Thomas Telford in constructing the Holyhead road in 1820; when that work was finished he returned to Ireland and took small contracts on his own account, the most important of which was the road from Dublin to Howth.
In 1831 he became the contractor for the construction of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway
, the first line to be built in Ireland. He next constructed the water communication between Lough Erne
and Belfast
, afterwards known as the Ulster Canal
, a signal triumph of engineering and constructive ability.
Other great works followed — the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
, the Great Southern and Western Railway
and the Midland Great Western Railway
. By 1853 he had constructed over six hundred miles of railway, and he had then contracts for two hundred more. He paid the highest wages with the greatest punctuality, and his credit was unbounded. At one time he was the largest railway projector in Ireland and one of its greatest capitalists.
He made arrangements in 1853 for the Dublin exhibition. He began by placing £30,000 in the hands of the committees, and before it was opened, 12 May 1853, his advances reached nearly £100,000l of which he ultimately lost £20,000. At the close of the exhibition the Irish National Gallery on Leinster Lawn, as a monument to Dargan, was erected, with a fine bronze statue of himself in front, looking out upon Merrion Square. The queen, who had visited Mr and Mrs Dargan at their residence, Dargan Villa, Mount Annville
on 29 August 1853, offered him a baronetcy, but this he declined. Wishing to encourage the growth of flax, he then took a tract of land which he devoted to its culture, but owing to some mismanagement the enterprise entailed a heavy loss. He also became a manufacturer, and set some mills working in the neighbourhood of Dublin, but that business did not prosper.
Latterly he devoted himself chiefly to the working and extension of the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway, of which he was chairman. In 1866 he was seriously injured by a fall from his horse. While he was incapacitated for work, his affairs became disordered and he stopped payment, though it was believed that his assets would pay more than twenty shillings in the pound. His embarrassments, however, affected his health and spirits. He died at 2 Fitzwilliam Square East, Dublin, on 7 February 1867, and was buried in Glasnevin
cemetery. His widow, Jane, was granted a civil list pension of £100 on 18 June 1870.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, often seen as the father of Irish railways, came from Killeshin
Killeshin
Killeshin is a village in County Laois, Ireland on the R430 regional road. It is a small rural community of approximately 1300 people. It is situated 5 km west of Carlow town and overlooks the picturesque Barrow Valley...
, County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Born in 1799, he constructed Ireland's first railway from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
(then Kingstown) in 1833. He constructed over 800 miles (1,287.5 km) of railway to important urban centres of Ireland. He was a member of the Royal Dublin Society
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
and also helped establish the National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
. He was also responsible for the Great Dublin Exhibition
Great Industrial Exhibition (1853)
The Great Industrial Exhibition in 1853 was held in Dublin, Ireland. In its day, it was the largest international event to be held in Ireland. The Irish Industrial Exhibition Building housed the entire fair...
held at Leinster lawn in 1853. His achievements were honoured in 2004 when Dargan Bridge, Dublin
Dargan Bridge, Dublin
William Dargan Bridge, opened in 2004, is a cable-stayed bridge in Dundrum, Dublin in Ireland. It carries the LUAS light rail line across a busy road junction...
a new cable stayed bridge for Dublin's Light Railway Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
was named after him.
Biography
Dargan, the son of a farmer, was born in KilleshinKilleshin
Killeshin is a village in County Laois, Ireland on the R430 regional road. It is a small rural community of approximately 1300 people. It is situated 5 km west of Carlow town and overlooks the picturesque Barrow Valley...
in the county of Laois on 28 February 1799, and having received an English education was placed in a surveyor's office.
The first important employment he obtained was under Thomas Telford in constructing the Holyhead road in 1820; when that work was finished he returned to Ireland and took small contracts on his own account, the most important of which was the road from Dublin to Howth.
In 1831 he became the contractor for the construction of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway
Dublin and Kingstown Railway
The Dublin and Kingstown Railway , which opened in 1834, was Ireland’s first railway. It linked Westland Row in Dublin with Kingstown Harbour’s West Pier in County Dublin.-History:...
, the first line to be built in Ireland. He next constructed the water communication between Lough Erne
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, afterwards known as the Ulster Canal
Ulster Canal
The Ulster Canal is a disused canal running through part of County Armagh, County Tyrone and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland...
, a signal triumph of engineering and constructive ability.
Other great works followed — the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Dublin and Drogheda Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The D&D constructed the railway line between Dublin and Drogheda. The company presented the scheme to parliament in 1836 and received royal assent on 13 August 1836. John MacNeill was appointed as the line's engineer in...
, the Great Southern and Western Railway
Great Southern and Western Railway
The Great Southern and Western Railway was the largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
and the Midland Great Western Railway
Midland Great Western Railway
The Midland Great Western Railway was the third largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland. It was incorporated in 1845 and absorbed into the Great Southern Railway in 1924. It served part of Leinster, County Cavan in Ulster and much of Connaught...
. By 1853 he had constructed over six hundred miles of railway, and he had then contracts for two hundred more. He paid the highest wages with the greatest punctuality, and his credit was unbounded. At one time he was the largest railway projector in Ireland and one of its greatest capitalists.
He made arrangements in 1853 for the Dublin exhibition. He began by placing £30,000 in the hands of the committees, and before it was opened, 12 May 1853, his advances reached nearly £100,000l of which he ultimately lost £20,000. At the close of the exhibition the Irish National Gallery on Leinster Lawn, as a monument to Dargan, was erected, with a fine bronze statue of himself in front, looking out upon Merrion Square. The queen, who had visited Mr and Mrs Dargan at their residence, Dargan Villa, Mount Annville
Mount Anville Secondary School
Mount Anville Secondary School is a Roman Catholic, private all-girls post-primary school in Goatstown in Ireland. It was originally an all-boarding school, but in recent years due to decreased demand for such schools it has become a day-school...
on 29 August 1853, offered him a baronetcy, but this he declined. Wishing to encourage the growth of flax, he then took a tract of land which he devoted to its culture, but owing to some mismanagement the enterprise entailed a heavy loss. He also became a manufacturer, and set some mills working in the neighbourhood of Dublin, but that business did not prosper.
Latterly he devoted himself chiefly to the working and extension of the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway, of which he was chairman. In 1866 he was seriously injured by a fall from his horse. While he was incapacitated for work, his affairs became disordered and he stopped payment, though it was believed that his assets would pay more than twenty shillings in the pound. His embarrassments, however, affected his health and spirits. He died at 2 Fitzwilliam Square East, Dublin, on 7 February 1867, and was buried in Glasnevin
Glasnevin
Glasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:A mainly residential neighbourhood, it is located on the Northside of the city of Dublin . It was originally established on the northern bank of the River Tolka...
cemetery. His widow, Jane, was granted a civil list pension of £100 on 18 June 1870.