Published on: Tuesday, 08 November 2011

Cork Institute of Technology claimed two major awards at the ESB Engineers Excellence Awards 2011 on Friday 4th November at the Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin. Six of the eigth awards in total headed South proving to be a great day for Engineering in Cork.

The CIT Innovative Product Development Laboratories major submission "Engineering an Innovation Eco-System" has won the Best in Class Engineering Education Award 2011.

Furthermore, the inaugural ESB Outstanding Contribution to Engineering Award 2011 has been presented to Senior Lecturer Sean F. O'Leary, School of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Cork Institute of Technology.

The Chartered Engineer of the Year Award 2011 has been presented to Ms. Louise Connolly from Inishannon, Co. Cork. Louise graduated from CIT in 2004 with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering and joined ESB International as a graduate engineer. Louise is currently a Consultant Engineer in ESBI and works on Irish and International power plant and gas pipeline projects.

To great acclaim, The Mizen Head Footbridge also won two Two Major Awards - Engineering Project of the Year 2011 and Best Paper of the Year 2011. Cork County Council appointed RPS Consulting Engineers to design and oversee the reconstruction of this spectacular heritage structure.  The Contractor for the complex project was Carillion Irishenco.  A spin-off research project is underway in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering.  The project is examining the deterioration of reinforced concrete using 100 year-old samples recovered from the original bridge.  Project funding has been provided by the NRA, RPS and the Institution of Structural Engineers. The project has strong links with CIT.  A spin-off research project is underway in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering.  The project is examining the deterioration of reinforced concrete using 100 year-old samples recovered from the original bridge.  Project funding has been provided by the NRA, RPS and the Institution of Structural Engineers.

To cap a remarkable evening, The Irish Examiner has been presented with the Engineering News Story of the Year 2011 Award.

Cork Institute of Technology wins Two Major Awards:

• Best in Class Engineering Education Award
• ESB Outstanding Contribution to Engineering Award

CIT 2004 Graduate Louise Connolly ESBI wins:

• Chartered Engineer of the Year 2011

The Mizen Head Footbridge wins two Two Major Awards

• Engineering Project of the Year 2011
• Best Paper of the Year 2011

Engineering News Story of the Year 2011:

• Irish Examiner