Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

County surveyor for the eastern district of Co. Galway, 1913-1916, and for the western district, 1916-1939. Michael Joseph Kennedy, a farmer's son from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, was born on 4 July 1887. He attended the Christian Brothers' School in Nenagh, Rockwell College and Blackrock College, before studying engineering at Queen's College, Galway, obtaining the BA degree in 1909 and the BE degree in 1910. On graduating he became an assistant in the office of the Galway borough surveyor, WILLIAM N. BINNS WILLIAM N. BINNS ; from 1911 to 1913 he was clerk of works for the construction of the new bridge at Portumna, Co. Galway, under JOHN OUSELEY BONSALL MOYNAN. JOHN OUSELEY BONSALL MOYNAN.

In November 1913, Kennedy was appointed surveyor for the eastern division of Co. Galway, based in Ballinasloe. He was transferred to the western district in June 1916, following the death of JOHN MORAN JOHN MORAN , but from 1917 until the appointment of GEORGE LEE  GEORGE LEE to the eastern division in August 1919 was also responsible on a temporary basis for the whole county. After twenty-one highly effective years as county surveyor for the western division, he fell ill in 1937 and died in office on 16 December 1838 at the age of fifty-two. He was survived by his wife, Chrissie (née McCormack) and five children. In his youth he had played rugby for Connaught, and he was an energetic participant in the relocation of the Galway golf club from Barna to Salthill.

Kennedy's pupils and assistants included JOHN KYLE PRENDERGAST. JOHN KYLE PRENDERGAST.

ICEI: elected member, 3 March 1919.(1)

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), which gives the fullest account of Kennedy's career.

(1) TICEI 45 (1918-19), 119.


7 work entries listed in chronological order for KENNEDY, MICHAEL JOSEPH


Sort by date | Sort alphabetically


Building: CO. GALWAY, TUAM, HOUSES (005)
Date: 1923
Nature: Tenders invited for erecting 5 concrete block houses (4 in pairs of 2 and 1 detached) for Tuam Town Commissioners.
Refs: Tuam Herald, 16 Jun 1923.

Building: CO. GALWAY, TUAM, TOWN HALL
Date: 1924
Nature: Contract for rebuilding same given provisionally to Owen Larkin, Ballinasloe (£4,130.1s.4d.), Feb or Mar 1924. For Tuam Town Commissioners. Architect: 'Mr Kennedy'.
Refs: Irish Times, 6 Mar 1924.

Building: CO. GALWAY, GALWAY, BALLYBRIT, RACECOURSE
Date: 1925
Nature: New concrete stand, designed by 'J. Kennedy, BE' (?i.e. Michael J. Kennedy).
Refs: IB 67, 8 Aug 1925, 649

Building: CO. GALWAY, GALWAY, COUNTY OFFICES
Date: 1932
Nature: Reconstruction. Tender of Thomas Kennedy & Sons, Galway, for £7,883 accepted.
Refs: Architect & Building News 130, 20 May 1932, 283

Building: CO. GALWAY, GALWAY, NEWCASTLE ROAD, CENTRAL HOSPITAL
Date: ?
Nature: MJK responsible for reconstruction of same.
Refs: Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 226

Building: CO. GALWAY, GALWAY, WOLFE TONE BRIDGE
Date: ?
Nature: MJK responsible for design of same.
Refs: Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 226

Building: CO. GALWAY, GALWAY, HARBOUR
Date: ?
Nature: MJK 'was actively involved in the planning of development works'.
Refs: Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 226