Patrick O'Meara
'Patrick O'Meara (1834-1898) was born at Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. After being educated at the Jesuit College, Clongowes Wood, and at Queen’s College, Cork, where he graduated B.A., he became in 1857 a pupil of Mr. W. R. Le Fanu, under whom he was engaged on the construction of the Bagnalstown and Wexford Railway. In 1861 he went to Mauritius on the staff of Mr. Thomas Brassey, who, in conjunction with Mr. G. E. Wythes and Mr. James A. Longridge, had undertaken the construction of the Mauritius Government Railways, Mr. Longridge being the local managing partner and chief of the staff. Mr. O’Meara was Chief Assistant,and by his energetic and successful work gained high praise from his employers and from all who were associated with him.
'On the completion of the Mauritius Railways, Mr. O’Meara was transferred in October, 1865, to India as one of the chief agents on Messrs. Brassey and Wythes’ contract for the construction of the Delhi and Punjab Railway. From September, 1868, to July, 1870, he was engaged as district agent on Messrs. Brassey, Wythes and Perry’s contract for the Chord Line of the East Indian Railway, on which some heavy works were successfully carried out. On both these works he was assisted by his brother, Mr. Thomas Francis O’Meara. He then returned to England and was employed as Resident Engineer on the construction of the East Cornwall Mineral Railway, on the completion of which he went to Hungary, where he was engaged for Messrs. Wythes and Longridge in charge of the construction of the Francis Canal.
'Early in 1876 Mr. O’Meara established himself in Natal, where he practised on his own account as an authorized Government Surveyor and as a civil engineer, designing and carrying out waterworks, tramways, etc. He was also employed by the Colonial Engineer (then Captain A. H. Hime, R.E.) in making surveys and preparing information at Durban Harbour to furnish to Sir John Coode, for his visit of inspection and report on the works there. Mr. O’Meara continued to take a lively interest in Durban Harbour, to the engineering literature of which he made many contributions from time to time.
'Subsequently he went to America and was occupied in connection with the surveys and construction of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway in Colorado, and later upon important irrigation works in the same State, a Paper descriptive of which he presented to the Institution in 1883 and for which he was awarded a Telford Premium.
'On returning from the United States he was employed by Messrs. Tancred and Arrol, on the construction of the foundations of the Forth Bridge. In September, 1883, he went to Brazil as Chief Resident Engineer of the Brazil Great Southern Railway, on the completion of which he undertook the duties of general manager as well as engineer.
'In 1889, he was appointed by Messrs. Punchard McTaggart and Company to take charge of the construction of the Ceara Harbour Works in the North of Brazil. He resigned that post in 1893 and, after a stay in England, again proceeded to South Africa, where he was engaged in Pondoland on railway survey work of a difficult character. Later he joined the staff of the Natal-Zululand Railway. On the completion of the work entrusted to him there, Mr. O’Meara was offered and accepted an appointment on the Government Railways of the Orange Free State, and in April, 1897, he was given charge of the construction of the Harrismith-Bethlehem Railway. He died in Harrismith on the 1st April, 1898, after a brief illness.
'Mr. O’Meara was an able engineer, a good mathematician, and had a large and varied experience. He was a man of sterling qualities, most honourable and straightforward in all his dealings, and indefatigable and conscientious in the discharge of his duties. He was genial and kindhearted, and always ready to help those in trouble,as well as to give encouragement to young men commencing their career. He was a universal favourite and was much respected by all who knew him.
'Mr. O’Meara was elected a Member on the 2nd April, 1878.
See Also
Sources of Information
- 1898 Institution of Civil Engineers: Obituaries