Regarding recent postings from Charles and others involving the name Halpin, I have yesterday received the following detailed response from David Bedlow for Head of Marine Irish Lights Office16 Lower Pembroke street Dublin 2 Ireland www.cil.ie, for which I thank him greatly. George Halpin was appointed as Inspector of Works to the Corporation for Preserving and Improving the Port of Dublin in 1800. This was the Port Authority for Dublin, also known as the Ballast Board. Halpin was a builder by trade, with no academic engineering qualifications. He was responsible for supervising various engineering works around Dublin Port, from Sutton on the north side of Dublin Bay to Bullock Harbour on the south. In 1810 the Ballast Board was made responsible for the lighthouses around the coast of Ireland, and the Board extended Halpin's responsibilities by appointing him Inspector of Lighthouses as well as Inspector of Works. Halpin was an administrator of exceptional ability. Under his direction the Ballast Board established an effective management structure for the lighthouse service, standardised the level of service provided, and regularised the employment of lighthouse keepers. Gradually during the nineteenth century a proper marine aids to navigation infrastructure was put in place. George Halpin died suddenly in July 1854 while carrying out lighthouse inspections. His date of birth is unknown. However, his headstone in Mount Jerome Cemetry, Dublin, gives his age at the time of death as 75 years. When the Ballast Board took over responsibility for the Irish Lighthouses in 1810 there were only 14 lighthouses around the Irish Coast. By 1867, when responsibility was transferred to the Commissioners of Irish Lights, there were 72. George Halpin directed the construction of most of the 58 additional lighthouses, and of a number of others subsequently discontinued because their location proved ineffective. He also oversaw the modernisation and re-equipping of the previously existing lighthouses. This was in addition to supervising the construction of new docks, bridges and other projects for the expanding Dublin port - a remarkable achievement. So far as I am aware, virtually nothing is known of his family history. We do know, however, that his son, also George, who was a qualified civil engineer, was employed by the Board as assistant Inspector of Works and Inspector of Lighthouses from 1830 and when George Halpin senior died George Halpin junior was promoted to the post of Inspector of Works & Superintendent of Lighthouses. A History of The Port of Dublin by H.A. Gilligan (published by Gill & Macmillen Ltd, Goldenbridge, Dublin 8; 1988; ISBN 0-7171-1578-X) gives an excellent overview of the achievements of the two George Halpins. There was also a Robert Halpin who was chief officer and later master of the Great Eastern, originally a passenger paddle steamer which was later converted to a cable layer and which laid the first transatlantic submarine cable from Valentia Island, Co Kerry, to New York. I do not know whether Robert Halpin was a relative of the George Halpins. The lighthouses in Dublin Port are the responsibility of Dublin Port Company, see www.dublinport.ie There is a lighthouse at the end of the North Wall, but I do not know whether it is the same one. As far as Charles' queries go, I may be subject to correction but, as the descendents of these men were avowedly Protestant/Anglican, I assume that they were also. We may know more whenever I can obtain their Mt Jerome burial records and I will so advise. Best wishes Bill.

Sorry to flood the list at the moment but, because of my previous mentioning that George Halpin junior was a 'qualified civil engineer', it may be that he was educated at Trinity, probably some time between about 1820 - 1835. May I ask what records exist from Trinity for this period? Best wishes Bill.

Bill, I have a couple of resources 1593-1860 Alumni Dublinenses A 'Register of Students, Graduates, Professors and Provosts of Trinity Colledge in the University of Dublin from 1593-1860. Gives details of dates of admission, father's name and occupation, subject and date of degrees (where relevant) etc. Compiled by GD Burtchaell and TU Sadlier and published by Thom's Dublin 1935. This from A Guide to Tracing your Dublin Ancestors Also an FHL film #990388, item 2. Search as 'Alumni Dublinenses'. Hope this helps. Gail --- The Websters <wbwebster@optusnet.com.au> wrote: > Sorry to flood the list at the moment but, because > of my previous mentioning > that George Halpin junior was a 'qualified civil > engineer', it may be that > he was educated at Trinity, probably some time > between about 1820 - 1835. > > May I ask what records exist from Trinity for this > period? > > Best wishes > Bill. > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email > to IRL-DUBLIN-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message >