Sparking Modernity – The Marconi Station at Derrigimlagh

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Sparking Modernity – The Marconi Station at Derrigimlagh

The story of Derrygimlagh Alcock and Brown and The Marconi Station is one of the most compelling, yet little known, international stories of the 20th century. A blanket bog near Clifden, at the very edge of the European continent, was the setting of two outstanding technological achievements of early modernity.

published by darc space on the occasion of the 2017 exhibition Sparking Modernity – The Marconi Station at Derrigimlagh Co. Galway – celebrating wonder, innovation and daring.

The Story of Derrygimlagh as the epicentre of ground-breaking telecommunications and aviation in the early 20th century is one of the most compelling, yet little known, international Irish stories of the 20th century. The exhibition not only evokes the historic role played by Derrygimlagh and its magic today, it also highlights the work of the design team led by Denis Bryne Architects in the creative interpretation of a unique historic site. A second exhibition strand further develops the role of this special place as inspiration; Belgian architects drawings that articulate intense readings.

Summer 2016 saw the official opening of the Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point at Derrigimlagh just 4 Kilometres south of Clifden, Co. Galway. The Sparking Modernity exhibition celebrates this remarkable blanket bog near Clifden, Which in the early 20th century transatlantic achievements that marked the beginning of an era of modernity.

Information below taken from www.connemara.net Text courtesy of Shane Joyce

Guglielmo Marconi caused a communications sensation when he transmitted wireless messages from his station at Poldhu in Cornwall to Newfoundland on 12th December 1901. Having received a grant of $80,000 from the Canadian Government to build a station at Glace Bay in Nova Scotia, he commenced the task of perfecting wireless communication with Poldhu from late 1902. He experienced extreme difficulty in providing commercially viable communications and decided to move his easterly station as far west as possible and decided on Clifden (Derrigimlagh) after making tests at a number of sites.

The station was not officially opened until 17th October 1907, when commercial signalling commenced between Clifden and Glace Bay. It was a sight to behold, with the huge condenser house building, the power house with its 6 boilers, and the massive aerial system consisting of 8 wooden masts, each 210 feet high extending eastwards over the hill for a distance of 0.5 kilometres. The aerials gave off sparks which could be heard in the distance, indicative of the huge power and voltages involved (150KW at 15,000 volts).

As time moved on, advances were made in the technology and a more powerful station was built at Caernarfon in North Wales. The Clifden station was attacked by republican forces in July 1922 and some buildings were damaged. The Marconi Company sought compensation from the new Free State government, but this did not materialise. The station was closed shortly after.

The remains of the station have lain dormant since the contents were sold for scrap after the closure. Employees of the station have passed away and regrettably, little has been done to record the details of what was a great industrial enterprise of the 20th century.

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