Patrick Byrne (architect)

Patrick Byrne
Born 1783
Died 10 January 1864
Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Occupation Architect
Known for building many Catholic churches

Patrick Byrne (1783 - 10 January 1864) was an Irish Architect who built many Catholic churches in Dublin. He also served as a vice president of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.

History

He studied under Henry Aarond Baker (1753–1836) at the Dublin Society Schools from 4 February 1796. He won a second class premium in 1797 and a first class premium in 1798.[1]

Between 1820 and 1846 he worked as a measurer and later as an architect with the Wide Streets Commission. After the Catholic Emancipation of 1829, limits to church building were removed and he was commissioned to design many Catholic churches in Dublin.[2]

He was a council member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland between 1842–1843 and 1846-1854. In 1847 he became a fellow and later a vice president between 1855 and 1864. He was also a vice patron to the Aged and Infirm Carpenters' Asylum between 1842 and 1847. A member of the Society of Irish Artists from 1845 to 1849 and an architect to the Trustees of the Royal Exchange between 1847 and 1851.[1]

He lived in Blackrock at 3 Waltham Terrace from 1855 until he died on 10 January 1864. He was buried in the family plot at Glasnevin cemetery.[1]

The parish priest of the Rathmines Church, William Meagher gave a eulogy of Byrne, “Of this gifted man whose talents and disinterested care have laid us under such obligations, of him who designed the portico of St Paul's and erected the majestic shrine of St Audoen's and the solemn cathedral-like pile of St James and the bold and beauteous dome of Our Lady of Refuge, of the accomplished and good and generous Patrick Byrne how truly may it not be said that he regarded the beauties of classical and mediaeval art with equal reverence, studied their several excellencies with equal assiduity & wrought upon the principles of both with equally supereminent success.[3]

Selection of Works

A selection of works by Patrick Byrne in chronological order.

Churches

Other Buildings

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Patrick Byrne on Directory of Irish Architects
  2. Patrick Byrne on Archiseek
  3. Donnelly, M (1855) "Quoted from text of volume of engraved designs for church", privately printed by Meagher in 1855, Short Histories of Dublin Parishes, Vol. 2, p95.