E.J. (NED) BOURKE, former Dublin City Engineer, Borough Surveyor and Waterworks Engineer, died recently in his 90th year. His wife, Molly, died a few weeks later.
He graduated in 1927 from UCD, worked on the Shannon Scheme at Ardnacrusha and in England, Scotland and Brazil before joining Dublin Corporation in 1933. He was initially employed in building the new housing estates at Crumlin. Indeed, it was through the compulsory purchase of her family's lands in Crumlin that he met his wife Molly, with whom he enjoyed almost 60 years of happy partnership.
E.J. Bourke's greatest contribution was his foresight in planning and building water and drainage services for the rapidly expanding Dublin area in the postwar years. Indeed, the growth of the city and county was made possible only by his development of two waterworks on the River Liffey at the ESB hydroelectric schemes at Poulaphouca and Leixlip, and by the two major drainage projects - the North Dublin and the Greater Dublin Drainage Schemes.
Dublin traffic increased enormously during his 21 years, from 1950 to 1971, as City Engineer. During that time, he presided over the introduction of one way streets and the traffic management as we know it today.
After retiring, he kept a keen eye on Corporation activities and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to talk with colleagues and friends about Corporation developments, old and new. However, the tall, lean, rather austere, chainsmoking E J is best remembered as a formidable and commanding personality whose recall of detail made him a respected City Engineer. He was none the less a warm hearted colleague. who will be sadly missed and long remembered by his family and many friends.