The document summarizes the winners of the Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards 2016. The top award, Engineering Project of the Year, went to the €3.5 billion Corrib onshore gas pipeline project. Other winners included William Egenton for President's Award, the Irish Rail Cutting and Embankment Decision Support Tool for Geoscience Ireland Award, and Network Innovation Competition Robotics Project for Technical Innovation of the Year. The awards ceremony recognized innovative engineering projects and individuals that have made significant contributions to industry and society.

1. EngineersIreland
ExcellenceAwards2016
President’sAward,sponsoredby
CRH:WilliamEgenton,Managing
Director,DromoneEngineering
InnovativeStudentEngineerof
theYearAward,sponsoredby
Siemens:ColmMorley,Shane
Timoney,CaolanTreanorand
ConorWalshofSligoITwiththeir
project:Automaticallyfedpostdriver
BestPresentationAward,
sponsoredbyBeale&Companyand
Griffiths&Armour
Winner:DesignandConstruction
oftheRosieHackettBridge–by
TonyDempseyandJoeKelly
(Roughan&O’DonovanConsulting
Engineers)andPhilipBrown
(Graham).
Shortlisted:TheEngineerasan
ExpertWitnessbyJohnGarrett,
JohnTGarrett&Associates;The
InauguralHanrahanLecture
GeotechnicalPropertiesofIrish
GlacialandInterglacialSoilsbyDr
EricFarrell,AGLConsulting
HeritageandConservation
Award,sponsoredbytheOfficeof
PublicWorks
Winner:CulfaddaBridge
ConservationRepairsbySligo
CountyCouncil
Shortlisted:BeaverRowFootbridge
RefurbishmentandRestorationby
Roughan&O’DonovanConsulting
Engineers,ClonmelEnterprisesLtd
andBlackwoodAssociates
Architects;BoyneViaduct
RefurbishmentbyIrishRailIarnród
Éireann;MayoMedicalAcademyby
NUIGalway,TaylorArchitects,Arup
ConsultingEngineersandIN2Design
Partnership;RichmondBarracksby
DavidKellyPartnershipStructural
Engineers,DublinCityCouncil,
BlackwoodAssociateswith
MargaretQuinlanArchitects,
MitchellAssociatesLandscape
Architects,DLMartinandPartners
QuantitySurveyors,CundallIreland
LtdBuildingServicesEngineers,FLN
FireConsultantsandPurcell
Construction
OutstandingContributionto
EngineeringAward,sponsoredby
ESB:MichaelPhillips,FIEI,FIAE,
FICE
InternationalEngineerofthe
YearAward,sponsoredbyESB
International:AnthonyO’Neill
CharteredEngineeroftheYear
Award,sponsoredbyArup
Winner:MarcelloCorsi(Innovative
TrackDesignforUrbanRailways–
theStateoftheArtonLuas)
Shortlisted:DarraghCollins(House
ofTomorrow);JonathanCosgrove
(RouschPakistanLifetimeExtension
Project);SarahDunne(NorthernLine
Extension);OrlaMorley(Heathrow
Terminal5CSystemsIntegration
withTerminal5);NicholasTarrant
(EngineeringQatar’sVision)
TechnicalInnovationoftheYear
Award,sponsoredbyNSAI
Winner:NetworkInnovation
Competition(NIC)RoboticsProject
byRPSGroupLtd,ScotiaGas
Networks(SGN)andULCRobotics
Shortlisted:NTATransportModels
byJacobs,NationalTransport
Authority(NTA)andSystra;PAVEL
byOnesynergy
ContinuingProfessional
Development(CPD)Employerof
theYearAward,supportedbythe
DepartmentofEducationandSkills
andsponsoredbyEnterpriseIreland
andIDAIreland:PMGroup
GeoscienceIrelandAward,
sponsoredbyGeoscienceIreland
Winner:IrishRailCuttingand
EmbankmentDecisionSupport
ToolbyGavin&Doherty
GeosolutionsLtd&IrishRailIarnród
Éireann
Shortlisted:DesignOptimisationofa
TidalTurbineFoundationby
OpenHydroandGavin&Doherty
Geosolutions;IrishSoilInformation
SystembyEnvironmentalProtection
Agency(EPA),Teagasc,Cranfield
UniversityandUCD;LisheenIII
WindfarmbyTOBINConsulting
Engineers;ProvisionofSpecialist
MineTrainingatTwoGoldMinesin
SiberiabyLTMSLimited
EngineeringProjectoftheYear
Award,sponsoredbyTransport
InfrastructureIreland
Winner:TheCorribProject–
OnshoreGasPipelinebyShellE&P
(Ireland)Ltd,RPSGroupLtd,
RoadbridgeLtd,BAM/W&FJV
Shortlisted:CleanOutofPlace–
AbbottDiagnosticsDivision,Sligo;
IrishInstituteofSport–High
PerformanceCentre–Tobin
ConsultingEngineers;MaterPrivate
HospitalDevelopment–J.B.Barry
andPartnersLtd;MercerInstitutefor
SuccessfulAging(MISA)–BAM;NUI
Galway,HRBClinicalResearch&
LambeInstituteforTranslational
ResearchFacility(CTRF)–Barrett
MahonyConsultingEngineers
LocalAuthorityEngineering
InitiativeAward,sponsoredby
ColdChon(Galway)Ltd
Winners:ReturningVacant
PropertiestoProductiveUse–
2014to2016byCorkCityCouncil&
TheCityQuays,Limerickby
LimerickCityandCountyCouncil,
O’SheaConsultingCivil&Structural
Engineers,NicholasdeJong
Associates,UrbanDesign,Lawlor
Burns&Associates
Shortlisted:ClanmoyleRoadFlood
AlleviationSchemebyDublinCity
CouncilandOfficeofPublicWorks;
TheDesign,Developmentand
ImplementationoftheFingalPipe
ClosureUnitbyFingalCounty
Council
ExcellenceAwardsrecogniseinnovative
workandoutstandingleaders
■ The President’s Award was won by William Egenton,
MD of Dromone Engineering. The award was
presented by Brian Gilmore, CRH; Caroline Spillane,
DG of Engineers Ireland; and Dermot Byrne, president
of Engineers Ireland
EngineersIreland
ExcellenceAwards
Finalists2016
BARRYMcCALL
Now in their seventh year, the
Engineers Ireland Excellence
Awards, held in association
withESB,arepresentedannual-
ly in recognition of the achieve-
ments of engineers who have
demonstratedexceptionalengi-
neering skills through their
work. As well as identifying
leaders within the engineering
industry,theawardsprovidean
opportunity to showcase and
celebrate the invaluable contri-
bution the engineering profes-
sion makes to society and ap-
plaud the innovation and quali-
ty of work produced by engi-
neersbothat home andabroad.
TheCorrib onshoregaspipe-
line took the overall Engineer-
ing Project of the Year at the
awards ceremony held in Dub-
lin’s Intercontinental Hotel on
Friday, November 4th. The
¤3.5 billion project was under-
taken by Shell E&P (Ireland)
Ltd, RPS Group Ltd, Road-
bridgeLtd,BAM andW&F JV.
Speaking about the complex
nature of the project, PJ Rud-
den, RPS director and a char-
tered engineer, said: “The Cor-
rib onshore gas pipeline was an
extremely challenging project
from the outset, requiring the
management of a diverse range
of specialist expertise to pro-
duce major deliverables within
extremely demanding time-
lines. These related to alterna-
tive pipeline corridors, alterna-
tive community engagement
and involvement, environmen-
tal impact assessments, logis-
ticsmanagement and construc-
tionissues.”
Hugeundertaking
“Ultimately, the Corrib initia-
tive was a huge infrastructural
undertaking that involved cut-
ting-edge engineering exper-
tise, from planning through to
construction and operation,
that has been delivered to the
highest standards and within
very tight time lines. On behalf
of my project colleagues, let me
just say it is extremely pleasing
to have our efforts recognised
by Engineers Ireland and the
publicvote,”Ruddenadded.
According to Caroline Spill-
ane,EngineersIrelanddirector
general,theengineeringprofes-
sion was the real winner of this
year’s awards. “We in Engi-
neers Ireland are delighted to
showcase and celebrate the in-
credible achievements of some
ofthebestengineeringtalentin
theworld.Theprojectsandindi-
viduals who have been hon-
oured highlight the true crea-
tive talent and innovation with-
intheprofession.
“Engineers continue to
make an incredibly valuable
contribution to communities
and economies worldwide. The
work celebrated by the awards
embodies real engineering ex-
cellence and ingenuity and re-
flectstheevolvingnatureofcon-
temporaryengineering today.”
Thesocietalissues addressed
bytheawardwinnerswerehigh-
lighted by ESB chief executive
Pat O’Doherty. “So many of the
projectsnotonlyaddressafunc-
tionalor commercial challenge,
but wider societal issues.
Whether it is climate change,
food production or enhanced
healthcare, engineers have an
extremely important role to
play in society. That’s why it is
so important that we continue
to promote engineering as a ca-
reerchoiceandthatwefocuson
diversity as a way of bringing
new talent into the engineering
profession.”
An example of this social di-
mensionwastheLocalAuthori-
ty Engineering Initiative
Award, which was jointly won
by The Returning Vacant Prop-
ertiestoProductiveUse2014to
2016projectbyCorkCityCoun-
cil, and The City Quays initia-
tive,byLimerickCityandCoun-
tyCouncil.
Inspiredchange
WilliamEgenton, managing di-
rector of Dromone Engineer-
ing, was presented with the
2016President’sAwardbyEngi-
neers Ireland president Der-
mot Byrne. The award is pre-
sented to an individual who has
inspired change and contribut-
ed to the advancement of engi-
neering through exceptional
leadership skills and through
their contribution to the indus-
tryandthe profession.
Dromone is an indigenous
company employing 130 people
in Oldcastle, Co Meath, export-
ing almost 100 per cent to glob-
al markets, including Korea,
US, Canada, Australia, Middle
East Europe and UK. The com-
pany designs, manufactures
andmarketssafetycriticalhitch
and coupler solutions for agri-
culture and construction equip-
mentmanufacturers.
“I have been enormously im-
pressedbyWilliam’s exception-
alleadershipasMDofDromone
Engineering, especially during
the post-Celtic Tiger years, and
his commitment to the highest
standards of corporate govern-
ance at EirGrid and at other
boards that he has served on,”
Byrne said. “In Engineers Ire-
land, we deeply appreciate his
commitment to the develop-
ment of his staff through our
CPDaccreditationstandard.”
Pointing to the contribution
made by engineers to the coun-
try’s economy, Byrne said that
more chartered engineers were
needed.
“Rigorouslytrainedandcrea-
tiveengineersarevitaltoachiev-
inga knowledge-based, sustain-
able future for Ireland. In order
to future-proof the country’s
sustainable economic growth,
we need to concertedly build on
therenewedstudentinterestev-
ident here in Ireland in engi-
neering. We must all play our
part in helping people to under-
stand what engineers do and
whatengineeringcanachieve.”
Youngpeople
Caroline Spillane echoed this
sentiment. “We need to think
aboutthenewgenerationofen-
gineers that’s coming up be-
hind us. We need to make sure
that what we do today inspires
youngpeopletojoinourprofes-
sion.”
She called on Engineers Ire-
land membersto play their part
in the annual festival of engi-
neering, Engineers’ Week.
“The next Engineers’ Week is
in March 2017, and it’s our
chance,asacommunityofcrea-
tive professionals, to demon-
strate to students, teachers,
and parents the exciting career
that you can have as an engi-
neer, and the positive impact
youcanhaveon society.”
In other award categories,
Italian Marcello Corsi, who
leads the track design depart-
ment of Transport Infrastruc-
ture Ireland, won the prestig-
ious Chartered Engineer of the
Year Award for his innovative
work relating to track design
forthe Luas.
The Irish Rail Cutting and
Embankment Decision Sup-
port Tool, by Gavin & Doherty
Geosolutions and Irish Rail
Iarnród Éireann, won the Geo-
science Ireland Award, while
the Network Innovation Com-
petition Robotics project, by
RPSGroupLtd,ScotiaGasNet-
works and ULC Robotics, won
the Technical Innovation of the
YearAward.
Colm Morley, Shane Timon-
ey, Caolan Treanor and Conor
Walsh of Sligo IT, who won the
SiemensInnovativeStudentEn-
gineer of the Year Award in
June, were also recognised at
the event. Their innovative de-
sign, titled ‘Automatically fed
postdriver’,allowstractoroper-
atorstodrivepostswithouthav-
ing to dismount their tractors,
significantlyimprovingthesafe-
tyand efficiencyof theprocess.
■ Engineering Project of the Year Award went to PJ Rudden (RPS Group Ltd); Jim Mulcair (Roadbridge Ltd); Ronan Deasy (Shell);
Ciaran Butler (RPS Group Ltd); Pat McAndrew (BAM) for The Corrib Project – Onshore Gas Pipeline. The award was presented by
Michael Nolan (3rd left) of Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Also pictured is Caroline Spillane, director general of Engineers Ireland
¤3.5bnCorribGasprojecttakestopaward
■ Former Dublin City engineer, Michael Phillips, receives the Outstanding Contribution to
Engineering Award from Pat O’Doherty (left), chief executive of ESB, and Caroline Spillane,
director general of Engineers Ireland
■ Representing Cork City Council, joint winners of the
Local Authority Engineering Initiative Award,
sponsored by Cold Chon (Galway) Ltd, were (l-r): Claire
Gavin, Alan MacFarlane, Anthony Holmes, Thomas
Rogers, Grace O’Mahony, Mary Hurley, Brian Cassidy
alongside Cold Chon’s Gearoid Lohan
■ Andy Rayner, Una Healy and Dave Murphy of the PM
Group, which won CPD Employer of the Year Award.
The award was presented by Tommy Fanning (left),
IDA Ireland and Tom Kelly (2nd right), Enterprise
Ireland
■ The Heritage and Conservation Award, which was
sponsored by the Office of Public Works, was awarded
to Gary Salter on behalf of Sligo County Council for
Culfadda Bridge Conservations Repairs. The award
was presented by Kieran Walsh of the OPW and
Caroline Spillane, DG of Engineers Ireland
■ Geoscience Ireland Award was won by Sharon
Callanan, Eamonn Ballance, Paul Doherty, Lin Zhang,
Catherine Joyce, Karlo Martinovic for their Irish Rail
Cutting and Embankment Decision Support Tool. It was
presented by director of The Geological Survey of
Ireland Koen Verbruggen, and Geoscience Ireland
director of business development Sean Finlay (2nd left)
■ Limerick City and County Council, joint winners of
the Local Authority Engineering Initiative Award, Huw
Ap Rhys, Rory McDermott, Michael O’Shea, Vincent
Murray, Richard Brown, with Caroline Spillane, EI DG
Inassociationwith
■ President of Engineers Ireland, Dermot Byrne,
addressing guests at the Engineers Ireland Excellence
Awards
■ Anthony O’Neill with his International Engineer of the
Year Award, which was presented to him by ESB chief
executive Pat O’Doherty and director general of
Engineers Ireland Caroline Spillane
■ Marcello Corsi with his Chartered Engineer of the
Year Award, sponsored by Arup. Marcello is pictured
with Eoghan Lynch, chairman of Arup, and Caroline
Spillane, DG of Engineers Ireland
ASpecialReport
■ PJ Rudden, Graeme Cleeton, Ciaran Butler won the
Technical Innovation of the Year award for their
submission, Network Innovation Competition (NIC)
Robotics Project. NSAI CEO Maurice Buckley (centre)
presented the award. Also pictured is broadcaster and
MC for the night Pat Kenny
■ Students Shane Timoney, Caolan Treanor, Conor
Walsh, Colm Morley won the Innovative Student
Engineer of the Year, which was presented to them by
Michael O’Connor, corporate communication manager
of Siemens Ltd and Caroline Spillane, DG of Engineers
Ireland. Also pictured is Una Parsons, head of Dept of
Mechanical & Electronic Engineering, IT Sligo
■ Tony Dempsey, Philip Brown and Joe Kelly were the
winners of the Best Presentation Award for The design
and construction of the Rosie Hackett Bridge. The
award was presented and sponsored by Tara Cosgrove,
Beale & Company, and Graeme Tinney (3rd left),
Griffiths & Armour. Also pictured is MC Pat Kenny
THEIRISH TIMES
Thursday,November10,2016 15