Mayo Historical and Archaeological Society
Nimmo Lecture Reminder
By Noel O'Neill
21, Feb 2010 - 16:40

Prof. Noel P. Wilkins will deliver an illustrated lecture on "Alexander Nimmo- Master Engineer, 1783-1832" in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, on Wednesday next, February 24th at 8 pm. All are Welcome.

Professor Noel P Wilkins.

More than any other single engineer, Alexander Nimmo put shape on county Mayo. He laid down roads from Leenane to Westport, Westport to Achill, Castlebar to Belmullet, Ballina to Belmullet and down the Mullet peninsula, Killala to Foxford and Swinford, Boyle to Ballina, Ballinrobe to Claremorris and many more. He designed and constructed piers and harbours at Blacksod, Ely, Killala, Achill, Clare Island, Old Head and Bundurracha. The canal at Belmullet was proposed by him and he started the construction of a canal alongside the River Moy in Ballina town: the two islets at Belleek are the remains of this canal. His gothic arch bridge on the Achill road is a monument to him; his small pier at Ely, supervised under his direction by William Bald and built by starving men in the famine years of the early 1820s, is characteristic of the solid, reliable structures he designed for remote stations. Patrick Knight, the renowned Castlebar engineer was also one of his working associates.

This promises to be a most interesting lecture by Professor Wilkins whose recently publish book on the subject of Alexander Nimmo is receiving much critical acclaim.