Thomas McLaughlin
In the summer of 1925 one of the most important building projects in Ireland in the 20th century commenced- the construction of the Shannon Hydro-Electric Scheme. The scheme was the beginning of the electrification of the country and led to the establishment of the Electricity Supply Board (ESB). The Shannon Scheme was one of the largest civil engineering projects of its type in the world at the time it was built, and was regarded by many Irish people as ‘The Eight Wonder of the World.’
The man behind the scheme is perhaps not as widely known as he should be – his name, Thomas McLaughlin. Only 27 years old when the project commenced in 1925, McLaughlin was working with the German giant, Siemens. More than 5,000 men were employed on the project including 150 Sieman’s workers from Germany.
When he died in 1971 McLaughlin’s roll in the construction of the Shannon Scheme was recalled:
Architect of E.S.B.' dies at 75
Dr. Thomas A. McLaughlin, Ph.D., M.Sc, B.E., who has died in hospital while on holiday in Benidorm, Spain, was regarded as the architect of the E.S.B., and was the initiator of the Shannon hydro-electric scheme in the 1920s.
A native of Drogheda, Dr. McLaughlin was born in 1896 and lived at Simmonscourt Castle, Ballsbridge.
A research worker in the School of Experimental Physics in U.C.D., he graduated in electrical engineering in U.C.G. where he also acted as assistant to the Professor of Experimental Physics.
His interest in home sources of power was awakened by the reports of a Dail Commission which studied native resources in coal, peat and water power and, in 1922, he was in London seeking employment from leading English electrical manufacturing concerns, but was not successful.
The German Siemens-Schuckert concern offered him some years training in general engineering, and he went to Berlin. In Germany, he acquainted himself with the manufacture, design and application of all kinds of electrical machinery.
In the latter part of 1923, Dr. McLaughlin was working in the water-power design department of Siemens-Schuckert, and his thoughts turned to the largest source of water power in Ireland —the Shannon. When, in December, 1923, he returned to Ireland on holiday he brought with him the plans and sketches of the now embryonic Shannon Scheme.
He spoke to Ministers and Government officials about the scheme: a tribunal of international experts investigated it, and the eventual outcome was a White Paper agreement under which the German firm was to design the project and economically justify the detailed Shannon Scheme."
The scheme was accepted by the experts, and after a battle in the Dail and in the press, construction began in September, 1925.
When the E.S.B. was formed in 1927, Dr. McLaughlin was appointed managing director. He resigned in 1931 on matters of policy, but within a year was appointed one of three directors of the E.S.B. and remained a full time director of the Board until his retirement in 1957.
Dr. McLaughlin received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the National University of Ireland. Following his retirement from the E.S.B., he was appointed a director of Irish Shell Ltd. He was also chairman of the board of Aspro Nicholas of Ireland Ltd. for a time and was later appointed a member of the board.
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