Books by Des O'Reilly

Des O'Reilly is a graduate of Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University, London University and Denver University. He is a teacher by profession and has taught in primary and secondary schools in Belfast, Malta and Colorado. He joined the staff of St Joseph's College of Education, Belfast in 1973 and later St Mary's University College as Principal Lecturer in Geography, a position from which he retired in 1999. He is currently employed as a part-time lecturer in Geography at Stranmillis University College, Belfast. He has also been employed as a Consultant by the Department of the Environment (Environment Improvement Branch) during the early stages of the Bog Meadows Initiative and has compiled various reports on several themes including educational provision and conservation. He brought together much of the content of these reports and this personal knowledge of the area in 'The Blackstaff' chapter of this book and in greater detail in his book on The Bog Meadows and The River Blackstaff, published by Stranmillis University, with assistance from Colourpoint, in 2008. He has lived in close proximity to several of the rivers mentioned in the Rivers of Belfast and spent much of his childhood playing in and around these rivers, as well as exploring the other rivers and streams that flow off the surrounding hills. He extended his knowledge of these natural waterways and their exploitation as a geography student at Queens under the guidance of Professor Estyn Evans, who had such an extensive knowledge of the social geography and history of Belfast and district. As a lecturer in geography he has made numerous field visits with students to the rivers described in the book. The additional knowledge he accumulated through these visits is outlined in the chapters assigned to each of the Belfast rivers in this book.