Write a commentIn what will be a first for the Ulster History Circle, the group will commemorate Charles Blaney (I877-I975) Civil Engineer, Town Surveyor of Newry and Pioneer of Social Housing, by the unveiling of a Blue Plaque at his former home in Bridge Street, Newry this Friday 27 October at 2pm.
It follows a nomination from Newry Maritime Association to the body to recognise Mr Blaney's achievements.
The plaque will be unveiled by Charles Blaney’s grandson Michael Blaney.
It will sit alongside another plaque on the same building for Charles's son Max who was commemorated for his bravery in the London Blitz of 1940. He was a bomb disposal officer who died whilst disarming an unexploded bomb in Romford Road, East End. For his work during the Blitz he was awarded the George Cross.
In the nine Ulster counties, these two plaques will be a first father and son to be awarded Blue plaques and on the same building.
Charles Blaney was born at Rosnakill on the Fanad peninsula in Co. Donegal. Born to Michael and Sarah Deeney, he graduated in Dublin as a civil engineer. In 1898 he was working for the Belfast Corporation and by 1902 had applied to the Newry Municipal council for the position of Town Surveyor. From nineteen applicants he was chosen as the best candidate for the post, and on 1st November 1902 he began what was to become a lifetime of dedication to his job, and to the people of Newry.
Like so many towns and villages in Ireland in 1902, living conditions were harsh. People crowded into housing which had no sanitation and was often flooded. A public health officer for the town at that time described the living conditions as ‘not fit to accommodate pigs’.
The Town Surveyor was responsible for the total infrastructure of the town and this included the bridges, roads, railways, waterways, lighting and of course the housing. So it was at 25 years of age, this young civil engineer took on the mammoth task of ‘changing the face’ of the town.
Alone he set out to improve the water and sewage services and drainage and in later years when excavations for works were being carried out, the Blaney Drain as it became known could be found. Long before perforated concrete pipes came into vogue, Charles Blaney moulded perforated earthenware pipes which were laid on fine clean stones with rougher stones on top. The early replacement housing built in John Mitchel Street and Gardens, were built with Newry limestone bricks, and Charles Blaney ensured that only local materials were used. Over the years, housing estates were built in Dromalane, O’Neills Avenue, Connolly Park, Michael Malin Park and when the British Army moved out of the Barracks in 1923, Charles presided over the conversion of the former military barracks to social housing named Linenhall Square. These houses served Newry until their demolition in 1960.
The port, the railways, the bridges, the streets, the lighting all had the hand of Charles Blaney upon them, and his dedication to improving the life for the people of Newry for 57 years was invaluable and incalculable.
In 1954, he received the MBE for his services to the town, and retired in 1959 at the great age of 82. He died on 1st March 1975 aged 98.
Some 42 years after his death, Charles Blaney’s former home at Bridge Street is owned by the Habinteg Housing Association who partner with charitable organisations, and jointly manage a number of locations in the province. Their partnership here is with the Simon Community and so Charles Blaney’s work in meeting the needs of the people, lives on.
As Chairman of the Ulster History Circle, Chris Spurr said, ‛Charles Blaney, as Town Surveyor for over fifty years, is acknowledged in having changed the face of Newry, where he is acclaimed as a pioneer of social housing. In a distinguished double, the Ulster History Circle is delighted to celebrate this exemplary public official with a blue plaque on the same building where his son Max Blaney GC is already commemorated. The Circle would like to thank the Newry Maritime Association and the Blaney family for their financial support towards the plaque, and the Habinteg Housing Association for their assistance.’
