Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 20 February 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – The Work of Henry Dale

The announcement in the Cork Examiner on 12 January 1925 of the death of 84 year-old Mr Henry Dale (1841-1925) at his residence, Riverview House, Sunday’s Well, was received with widespread regret in the city. It was marked as an end of an era – the end of an era for an important Cork figure and one of the drivers of public health reform in particular in late nineteenth century Cork.

Contemporary biographies edited by W T Pike (Brighton, 1911) outlines that Henry was a Managing Director of Richard Clear & Company and a Managing Director of Cork Cold Storage & Warehousing Company. He was also a Director of Dwyer & Company Ltd.

Henry was a leading member of the Corporation of Cork for a long number of years. He sat uninterruptedly on the Corporation of Cork for upwards of 40 years. He was a senior Alderman for the greater part of that period as well as being a Justice of the Peace. He took a deep and active interest in the city’s affairs.

As Chairman of the Corporation’s Public Health Committee he gave great attention to the carrying out of the Public Health Act of the 1880s and 1890s with reference to the sanitation and supervision of the health of the citizens of the city. 

Henry was Chairman for a long time of the Corporation’s Waterworks Committee. During his chairmanship many important improvements were carried out. He led the support needed for important improvements with the general supply of water to the city. In 1887, such work was pursed in conjunction with local academic knowledge as well as with Mr William H Shaw and Mr Arthur Hill. A new American turbine system for pumping water to the reservoirs was introduced, which effected a considerable saving in the consumption of fuel. Up to that time the city was mainly dependent on the working of the old-fashioned, but picturesque old water wheel and the Cornish engine.

Henry Dale pushed the Corporation to build and erect a new turbine engine house and a new pair of 60in “American” turbines installed. This story is more detailed at the Old Cork Waterworks Experience on the Lee Road. One of their history panels notes; “The excellent performance of this equipment influenced the decision to acquire two additional turbines in 1895, bringing the total to four all of which operational by 1901. The waterworks was upgraded again between 1904 and 1907 when the two Lancashire boilers and three Inverted Triple Expansion Engines were installed. These engines and boilers were in use up to the late 1950s”.

In his day Henry was a keen angler and knew the river well from Gougane Barra to Cork. He was a founding member of the Cork Angler’s Club, which was established in 1870.

Henry was for many years a member of the School of Art Committee. He was also President for two years of the Cork Literary and Scientific Society.

Henry also took a distinguished and beneficial part in practically all movements aimed at improving the industrial, commercial and social life of his native city. He was an enthusiastic member of the committees that successfully created the two great Cork Exhibitions of 1883 and 1902 respectively.

Henry was President of the Cork Butter Exporters’ Association and was also President of the Flour and Bread Trade Association. He was an original member of the Chamber of Commerce and Shipping, and ably filled the position of President for two years.

At a special meeting of the Council of the Cork Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping on 19 January 1925, Mr William Dinan, President, was in the chair. The Cork Examiner write-up details that the President noted that they met to express their sorrow at the loss of their colleague, the late Alderman Henry Dale.

On the proposition of Mr C E Beale, seconded by Sir Stanley Harrington, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: “That we, the members of the Council of the Cork Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping, beg to tender to the relatives of  Alderman Henry Dale our deep sympathy on the great loss they have sustained, and place on record our appreciation of the invaluable services which he rendered the Chamber as a member for many years”.

Mr C E Beale in proposing the resolution said he did so with considerable feelings of sadness, as he had known the late Alderman Dale for many years, and admired so very much the important part which he played in every project connected with the city’s activities.

Sir Stanley Harrington, in seconding, fully endorsed the sentiments expressed by Mr Beale with reference to their late friend and colleague; “I can well recollect the important services which the late Alderman Dale rendered not only to this Chamber, but to the general commercial and industrial interests of the South of Ireland. In the early days of our Chamber he took a leading part in its organisation and left the impression of his sound judgment and outlook on the traditions of the Chamber, which were built up during his time, and which helped in no small degree to give to the Chamber the importance and standing, which it now enjoys…for many years he took an active part in endeavouring to maintain a standard of economy and efficiency in the working of our public departments. He was for many years a member of the Cork Technical Instruction Committee”.

Caption:

1292a. Portrait of Henry Dale from Contemporary biographies edited by W T Pike (1911) (source: Cork City Library).