George Halpin

George Halpin (Sr.) (1774/1779? – 8 July 1854), was a prominent civil engineer and lighthouse builder, responsible for the construction of much of the Port of Dublin, several of Dublin's bridges, and a number of lighthouses; he is considered the founding father of the Irish lighthouse service. His son, , was also a well-known lighthouse builder.

Life

Halpin is thought to have been born in Leinster. Very little is known of Halpin's early life, though it is known that his background was in the building trade rather than in engineering. In 1800, he was made the Inspector of Works for the Dublin Ballast Board (the predecessor to the Commissioners of Irish Lights), succeeding Francis Tunstall, and in this capacity was responsible for a number of works. One of these, the Bull Wall, along with associated projects, led to the creation of Bull Island in Dublin Bay, and enabled deep-draught ships to use the port for the first time.

Halpin was appointed the Inspector of Lighthouses in 1810. Between then and 1867 Irish lighthouses increased from fourteen to seventy-two under his direction. and served as the Port's first permanent graving (dry) dock. Halpin's Row, also known as Buckingham Place, ran from Amiens Street to Sheriff Street Lower. It was truncated by the development of the railway line north from Connolly Station, and has since been in-filled with buildings facing onto Amiens Street. It was previously the site of a store for John Jameson & Son.