The Cork man who became the youngest ever resident engineer at the city's waterworks
This article profiles Michael Riordan, who served as the youngest resident engineer at the Cork City Waterworks for 27 years. It details the historical evolution of the plant's power sources, transitioning from steam to electricity.
Why it matters
Preserves local industrial history and highlights the technological advancements in municipal infrastructure during the early 20th century.
The waterworks, and surrounding areas, in the 1920s
Michael Riordan grew up in the Friars Walk area of Cork city. He was a mechanical engineer and despite strong competition nationally, and from overseas, he became the youngest resident engineer of the Cork City Waterworks, a position he held for 27 years.
According to my research, over that period he had the unique distinction of operating the plant using four different sources of power. He used steam power, water power, diesel power, and finally electric power following the establishment of the ESB in 1927.
Under the Cork Improvement Act of 1852, Cork Corporation had purchased the Water Works Plant, reservoir, and associated pipe network from the Trustees of the Cork Pipe Water Company. At that time, a permanent water supply was certainly not plentiful to the citizens of Cork.
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