Wednesday, 29 June 2005 The Bridge Tavern one of he oldest in Wicklow was the former Halpin's Hotel built in 1702 and Robert Charles, the youngest of thirteen children, born to the proprietors, James And Anne Halpin on February 10th 1836, was to grow up and become one of the favourite sons of Wicklow Township itself. Making a career on the Ocean, he became one of the most famous of the Irish sea going men, becoming commander of the "Great Eastern" from which the first Atlantic and other trans oceanic cables were laid, one of his first was, the laying of the French Telegraphic cable- The longest Submarine cable in the world. Schooled at the *Old School House* In Lietrim Place in the Early 1840's and was at sea on March 7th 1847 aged 11 years. Halpin Memorial (data from said stone-Debbie Flanagan has shared before will be found in the archives of this list ) is an Obelisk of polished granite in Fitzwilliam Square commemorates the great man himself Captain Robert C Halpin and also mentions other trans oceanic cables that were laid from Valencia to Newfoundland in 1865 and 1866. Captain Robert C Halpin Born in Wicklow in 1836 and died in 1894 at Tinakilly House 3 kilometres outside the township of Wicklow 29/06/2005 Tinakilly house was built to the Halpin's own specifications on land purchased in early 1876 for £12,000, it is today a luxurious Country Hotel. Robert Halpin with his brother supervised he purchase of the finest timber available and oversaw the completion of the house, at a cost of £40,000 a massive outlay in those times. Halpin memorabilia is today still on view at Tinakilly House, 3 miles outside of the Town of Wicklow ...... Cheers Cara