'Who Said: Love, Honour and Carry Water?'
Late last year, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) received an unexpected message from a man whose name may not be widely known, but whose legacy is embedded in the very infrastructure of rural Ireland. John Hynes, a pivotal figure in the development of the group water scheme network, reached out with an extraordinary offer: a meticulously preserved archive of historical documents spanning decades of work in the sector.
Hynes is also the author of the recently published book, 'Who Said: Love, Honour and Carry Water?', a compelling and personal account of how rural communities across Ireland came together to bring piped water to their homes and farms. At a time when many Irish households, particularly in remote areas, lacked access to clean, running water, the GWS movement emerged as a grassroots solution driven by necessity, cooperation, and vision.
A Chronicle of Ireland’s Rural Water Revolution
This is not merely a book about infrastructure. It is a story about people including: the women who carried buckets from wells, the families who dug trenches by hand, and the communities that believed access to clean water was not a luxury, but a right. With warmth, humour, and some historical insight, Hynes captures the spirit of self-reliance and solidarity that defined a generation and reshaped the Irish countryside.
But John Hynes’s contribution doesn’t end with storytelling. In a generous gesture, he has offered to donate his entire collection of original documents, including maps, tender files, correspondence, newspaper clippings, invoices, and even the occasional handwritten complaint about bicycles falling into ditches, to the schemes they pertain to. And he is doing so free of charge.
For some, these dusty files may seem like relics of a bygone era. But for others, they are living history. A familiar name, a handwritten note, or a long-forgotten photograph can bring the past vividly to life. These documents are more than records, they are windows into the community spirit and determination that built the GWS movement from the ground up.
Is your GWS on the list?
If you are curious to see whether your local scheme is part of John’s archive, please refer to the images here. If your scheme is mentioned or your require further information, you can contact John directly at johnphynes@gmail.com to arrange collection of your historical files.
You can find more information on 'Who Said: Love, Honour and Carry Water?' on The Irish History Bookshop or through your local independent bookseller.
This article originally featured as part of the recent edition of the Rural Water News magazine. To read the full edition and to sign up to our magazine mailing list, click here.
