Luke Livingston Macassey

Luke Livingstone Macassey (7 April 1843 – 9 May 1908) was an Irish civil engineer and barrister, notable for his contributions to public health by improving the water supply in parts of Ulster in the north of Ireland.

Macassey married a daughter of Rev. James White. They has 6 sons and 5 daughters, including Lynden, Verner, and Ernest. He proposed use of a 9,000-acre (3,600 ha) catchment area in the Mourne Mountains and a three stage project:

The first stage was to divert water from the Kilkeel and Annalong rivers through the newly constructed Mourne Conduit to a reservoir at Carryduff. These water pipes were capable of supplying 10 million imperial gallons (45,000 m3) of water per day. Work was completed in 1901. The second stage was to build a storage reservoir, the Silent Valley Reservoir, across the Kilkeel River. Design work on this phase began in 1910, but procurement of the work was delayed by World War I. A contract was eventually awarded in 1923 to S. Pearson & Son and work continued until 1933. The third stage was planned to be another storage reservoir in Annalong to impound the Annalong River. However, after the difficulties encountered in building the Silent Valley dam this second dam was not built.

Macassey served in this post until 1895, when his chief assistant, Frederick William McCullough, succeeded him. He continued his private practice, with his Belfast and London offices. His son, Verner, joining him in 1904. As a skilled arbitrator, he was called to the English bar in 1886, and worked on bills relating to engineering public works.

Death and legacy

Macassey died on 9 May 1908. He was a freemason and member of the Loyal Orange Institution. In his obituary, friends noted "his varied accomplishments, his kindly humour, his skill as a raconteur, his sincerity of purpose, and his sterling, upright character."

Selected publications Report of the proposed Railway Tunnel between Scotland and Ireland. With plan, etc. Belfast, 1868. (With Scott William) Hints on the Water Supply of Small Towns and Villages. London & Belfast, 1877. The Law relating to Civil Engineers, Architects and Contractors. Primarily intended for their own use. Stevens & Sons, London, 1890. (With James Andrew Strahan)