BILL CLEMENTS RIP

Bill Clements and Tower No.7 Dublin South

I was sad to learn today of the death of Bill Clements in June of 2022. Bill was a great friend of the Killiney Martello Tower and it was he who encouraged Niall O'Donoghue to enter it for the Europa Nostra heritage competition, where it got a special mention from the Jury.

Bill was a member, and at one time President, of the UK Fortress Study Group and at one stage he organised for the group to inclued the Martello Tower in its visit to southern Ireland, which you can read about here.

Bill was a renowned authority on Martello Towers worldwide, most of which he had actually visited and photographed himself. He has written extensively on them and his most recent (2013) book on the towers is called Billy Pitt had them built: Napoleonic towers in Ireland. Sylvie Kleinman's has reviewed it in History Ireland.

Bill Clements & Niall O'Donoghue at the Dún Laoghaire battery

I recall Bill accompanying myself and Niall and a number of other afficionados on one of the most intensive day tours of my life. Niall had arranged it. It started with Niall's tower. Then on to the Harbourmaster's office in Dún Laoghaire. Followed by a visit to the battery at the end of the West Pier, where the above photo was taken,

Bill Clements on Dún Laoghaire East Pier

also this one of Bill on the pier.

l-r: Bill Clements, myself, Simone Stephenson, ??, Niall O'Donoghue

This was followed by lunch in Simone Stephenson's Bartra Tower (No.10).

Bill Clements emerges onto the crown of the Dalkey Island Martello (No.9)

Then a visit to the tower on Dalkey Island. This is the one where Bill discovered a document which showed a unique outside entrance directly to the crown of the tower itself. Now he could see the real thing at close quarters.

Simone Stephenson & ?? on the crown of the Dalkey Island Tower

The particular day we arrived there had the signs of a campaign to reclaim Dalkey Island from the King of Dalkey and reintegrate it into the Republic.

Bill has sadly left us but his presence remains in so many realms and places.

RIP