Pat Murphy, An Appreciation

Sep 08, 2014

The late Pat Murphy.

Pat Murphy was born in August 1937. He graduated from UCD with a BE degree in 1960 and joined Thomas Garland and Partners.   During this period he worked mainly under Pat Daly a senior Partner whose expertise was Prestressed Concrete . One of the projects completed at the time was Dun Laoghaire Church.

In 1969 Pat Murphy became a Partner in the firm. One of Pats projects in the early 70s (of which he was very proud) was Johnstown Parish Church which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.  In the 1970s Pat under Frank O’Brien (who was now Chairman of the Company following the untimely death of Brendan Ryan) became Consultant of many “one” off factories with RKD. These factories were all over the Country from Mullagh in Cavan to Digital in Galway and Clonmel and a pharmaceutical Factory in Dungarvan.

In 1974 I began working with Pat on the Burlington factories. These were four large textile factories located in Longford, Tullamore, Gilloge in Co Clare, and Tralee. These one off factories involved driving long distances every week to Site meetings, this never fazed Pat as long as his pipe was working.  Other factories that I worked on with Pat in 70s and early 80s were Black and Decker in Kildare Town, Polaroid in Newbridge, Hyster and Fujitsu in Blanchardstown and a number of other factories in Dublin County.  With the recession in the 1980s there were very little new factories.  Factory work was reduced to extensions and changes to existing ones.

In the 1980s Pat and I attended an interview for the Tallaght Hospital project.   We got the Project but no meaningful work commenced until the late 80s leading to construction in 1990s.  Pat at this stage (late 80s) began acting as Consultant to Home Bond. He was so successful at this, his was the major Structural and Civil Engineering input into the Home Bond Manual at the time.

Outside of Pats busy Engineering work he was elected Chairman of the Company on the retirement of Frank O’Brien in the 80s and remained Chairman until hisI worked closely with Pat for 30 years and his two traits that stood out over that period were his kindness and sincerity. He also had the ability to work with many different Architects and their retirement in 2002.  In 1990s Pat also acted as Secretary to ACEI.  After Pats retirement he continued to act as Consultant to the Company.

I worked closely with Pat for 30 years and his two traits that stood out over that period were his kindness and sincerity. He also had the ability to work with many different Architects and their unique approach to projects.
                                 
May he rest in peace.     

Friend and Fellow Engineer,

Noel Kane, Chairman of GARLAND