Architectural practice of 20 Suffolk St, Dublin, which took its name from the partnership formed between WILLIAM HENRY BYRNE WILLIAM HENRY BYRNE and his son RALPH HENRY BYRNE RALPH HENRY BYRNE on 10 April 1902. The practice, which kept the same name until its closure in 2006, retained in its archives a large quantity of architectural drawings dating back to the early 1880s when William Henry Byrne was in partnership with JOHN O'NEILL.JOHN O'NEILL.(1) The drawings which remained in the office when it closed were given to the Irish Architectural Archive in 2007 (Acc. 2006/142).
WORKS: for the purposes of this database the works of the practice have been divided up on a chronological basis, as follows: - works initiated by William Henry Byrne after the death of John O'Neill in 1883 and before the formation of the partnership with his son on 10 Apr 1902 are listed under WILLIAM HENRY BYRNEWILLIAM HENRY BYRNE ; - works initiated after 10 April 1902 and before the death of William Henry Byrne on 28 Apr 1917 are listed under WILLIAM HENRY BYRNE &WILLIAM HENRY BYRNE & amp; SON, despite the fact that W.H. Byrne was blind for the last four years or so of his life and therefore presumably contributed very little to the the design side of the business during these years; - works initiated between 28 April 1917 and the death of Ralph Henry Byrne on 15 April 1946 are listed under RALPH HENRY BYRNERALPH HENRY BYRNE , although Ralph Henry Byrne took his nephew Simon Aloysius Leonard into partnership in 1936; - works initiated between 15 April 1946 and 1965, when the practice was turned into an unlimited company with a broader management base, are listed under SIMON ALOYSIUS LEONARD.SIMON ALOYSIUS LEONARD.
References
(1) For an illustrated history of the practice, see William H. Byrne & Son, architects: Centenary 1883-1893, a privately printed booklet published in Dublin in 1983, of which there is a copy in the IAA.
224 work entries listed in chronological order for BYRNE, WILLIAM HENRY, & SON
New church in Early English style on site of earlier church. FS laid 1889. Dedicated 15 Mar 1891. Design for 2 side altars, 1891, executed. by Edmund Sharp, Dublin. (same as that for church at Cahir, Co. Tip). for Dean Matthew Finn. Estimated cost, £4,000.
Refs:
Designs formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; Architect 41, 18 Jan 1889, suppl. p.3; B 60, 21 Mar 1891, 236; Edmund Sharp's publicity booklet (1920s), 18; Liam Swords, Achonry and its churches (Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007), 95(illus.).
Printed plans (of Byrnes' design?) formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne, not transferred to IAA; information from Frederick O'Dwyer; Building News 71, 25 Dec 1896, 912; Architect 58, 24 Dec 1897, 401
New 4-bay, 3-storey bank in Victorian classical style. Tenders invited, Nov 1902.
Refs:
Irish Times, 10,14 Nov 1902; IB 43, 20 Nov,4 Dec 1902, 1490,1506; drawings 'designs in execution', 1904, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne, not transferred to IAA.
Chapel in Romanesque style to harmonize with adjacent convent.. FS laid Sep or Oct 1902.
Refs:
Undated drawing(s) in IAA, Edward Cullen Collection, Acc. 2004/160 (not on public access); B 83, 4 Oct 1902, 304; IB 43, 6 Nov 1902, 1470; for agreement to build same, see IAA W.H. Byrne drawings collection, Folder 59 and office rolls.
New church, replacing one which was blown away on 27 Feb 1903. Cornerstone laid 21 Jun 1903. Contr: Kinlen Bros. Apse, chance, side chapels, transepts and part of nave built 1903-4. Rest of nave and tower built 1908-09. Opened 11 Jul 1909.
Refs:
Wicklow Newsletter, 14 Apr,27 Jun 1903, 18 Jul 1908; Clonliffe College Archive, MS p1/2; B 87, 23 Jul 1904, 99; IB 46, 16 Jul 1904, 456; 50, 25 Jul 1908, 465; 51, 3 Apr 1909, 209; Irish Times, 13 Jul 1908; Freeman's Journal, 13 Jul,14 Aug 1908, 8 Jul 1909.
New Gothic church adjoining existing one for Very Rev. Canon William WhIte, PP. Clerestory of bull's eye windows, sanctuary window with geometrical tracery, stair turret with pinnacled roof to left of entrance front. Interior arcade of pointed arches. Tenders invited, Jun 1904. FS laid, 1905; dedicated 14 Oct 1906. Builder: Courtney & Co., Belfast.
Refs:
Drawings, agreed designs, 1904, in IAA, W.H. Byrne Collection, 2006/142; IB 43, 5 Dec 1901, 962; 46, 4 Jun,10 Sep 1904, 333,598; 48, 6 Oct 1906, 808; Irish Times, 2 Jun 1904; B 88, 24 Jun 1905, 687.
New oratory, for Most. Rev. Dr John Healy, Archbishop of Tuam. Dedicated 30 July 1905. (Temporary oratory had been erected (or proposedto be erected in 1882, see Irish Times, 7 Oct 1882.)
Refs:
Designs, 1904, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; IB 47, 29 Jul 1905, 509
Additions and improvements including high altar, porches, sacristy. Builder: Conolly.
Refs:
Drawings, 1905, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; Clonliffe College Archive, MS p1/2; IB 46, 18 Jun 1904, 394; 48, 3 Nov 1906, 888; Irish Times, 29 Oct 1906.
New convent. H-plan, 3-storey, with gothic windows.
Refs:
Sdesign, dated 1905, in IAA, W.H. Byrne & Son drawings, Acc.2006/142; drawing for septic tank at 'Convent, Tullow' by W.H. Byrne & Son in IAA, Carberry Collection, Acc. 85/200.13/1
New church with circular window over entrance and polygonal apse, for Rev. William Ramsbott, PP.. Builder: P. Nolan, Monaghan. Gothic communion rail, 1906, executed by E. Sharp, Dublin.
Refs:
'Agreed design' among drawings, 1905,1906, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; B 88, 4 Feb 1905, 133; IB 47, 11 Feb 1905, 81; 48, 6 Oct 1906, 808; John McEvoy, ed., The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD (Strasbourg: Editions du Signe, 2000), 101(ILLUS.).
New convent beside church, occupying 3 sides of quadrangle and comprising boys' and girls' schools, dormitories, oratory and infirmary. Took 12 months to build. Cost: over £6,000. Contractor: P.J. Kinlen, Greystones.
Refs:
IB 47, 7 Oct 1905, 685; 48, 6 Oct 1906, 808; Wicklow Newsletter, 15 Sep 1906.
Survey of unfinished O'Neill & Byrne church, & designs for completion; contract for gallery, 1908 (Contractor: James Kiernan, Talbot St). Church blessed, 25 Oct 1908. Pulpit, 1913.
Refs:
Drawings, 1906, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; Clonliffe College Archive, MS p1/2; IB 48, 7 Apr,30 Jun,22 Sep 1906, 282,505,526,781; 50, 5 Sep,31 Oct 1908, 537,671; 51, 25 Dec 1909, 804,812 (illus.); Freeman's Journal, 26 Oct 1908; Building News 98, 7 Jan 1910, 11.
New schools, for Very Rev. Bernard Brady, PP. Cost: £2,000.
Refs:
IB 50, 21 Mar,18 Apr,11 Jul 1908, 181,246,437; B 94, 4 Apr 1908, 407; 76th Report of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland; Rev. J. Brady, A Short history of the parishes of the diocese of Meath 1867-1944, (1909/10), ?
Drawings, 1908, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; IB 49, 23 Mar 1907, 212; Christine Casey & Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North Leinster (1993), 293
Tenders invited for new schools for Sisters of Mercy, Oct 1908.
Refs:
Freeman's Journal, 27 Oct 1908; B 95, 31 Oct 1908, 475; IB 50, 31 Oct 1908, 671; 51, 4 Sep 1909, 565; 52, 19 Mar 1910, 181; 76th Report of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland (1909-10), 29
Mortuary chapel, stairs, external arch & gates, 8 confessionals, porches, deepening of gallery &c. (see account in Freeman's Journal).
Refs:
Drawings, 1908, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; IB 50, 18 Apr,16 May,12 Dec 1908, 246,309,773; 52, 10 Dec 1910, 752; B 96, 29 May 1909, 652; Freeman's Journal, 1 Dec 1910.
New sacristies and imps. to interior (roof, porch under gallery &c). Tenders invited, May 1908.
Refs:
Drawings, 1909-12, in IAA, W.H. Byrne & Son drawings collection, Acc. 2006/142; IB 50, 18 Apr,16 May 1908, 245,309; 54, 25 May 1912, 320; B 102, 24 May 1912, 615; Freeman's Journal, 19 May 1908; Building News 102, 31 May 1912, 795
New sacristies and imps. to interior (roof, porch under gallery &c). Tenders invited, May 1908.
Refs:
Drawings, 1909-12, in IAA, W.H. Byrne & Son drawings collection, Acc. 2006/142; IB 50, 18 Apr,16 May 1908, 245,309; 54, 25 May 1912, 320; B 102, 24 May 1912, 615; Freeman's Journal, 19 May 1908; Building News 102, 31 May 1912, 795
New church. Opened 28 Jun 1914. Contractor: Kevin Toole, Dorset St Lr. Altars by Goeorge Smyth, Gt Brunswick St. Mosaic flooring in sanctuary and side chapels Ludwig Oppenheimer, Manchester. Communion railing & steps by Thomas Earley, Camden St. by Facade added 1918?
Refs:
Drawings formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; IB 50, 7 Mar 1908, 133; 51, 10 Jul 1909, 421,453; 54, 20 Jul,26 Oct 1912, 417,601; 55, 1913, 713; 56, 4 Jul 1914, 405; Clonliffe College Archive, MS p1/2; Freeman's Journal, 20 Jun 1914(illus.); Building News 101, 14 Jul 1911, 62; 103, 1 Nov 1912, 608; 107, 17 Jul 1914, 70
New Romanesque church consisting of nave, sanctuary, sacristy and porch, for Very Rev. John Kelly, PP. Built of local granite. Tenders invited Mar 1908. Cobntract price: £1,900. FS laid by Archbishop of Dublin, 5 Jul 1908. Church blessed by Archbishop, 26 Jun 1909. Contractors: Bolger & Doyle, Chambers Street, Dublin. Altar by 'Mr Sharpe', Dublin. Railings by McGloughlin, Dublin.
Refs:
Drawing, 1909, IAA, W.H. Byrne & Son drawings collection, Acc. 2006/142; IB 50, 21 Mar,11,25 Jul 1908, 165,229,421,437,465; 51, 10 Jul 1909, 437; Irish Times, 6 Jul 1908; Freeman's Journal, 6 Jul 1908,27 Jun 1909; B 95, 15 Jul 1908, 110; 97, 10 Jul 1909, 48; Clonliffe College Archive. MS p1/2; inscripton on trowel presented to Archbp. of Dublin on laying of FS 5 Jul 1908.
Proposed additions to existing 5-bay villa consisting of 4-bay community room and 6-bay Gothic hall with central gable and cupola, 1908; plastering, 1913.
Refs:
Designs, dated 1908, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son, not transferred to IAA; IB 50, 5 Sep,31 Oct 1908, 542,653; 55, 1913, 441
New operating theatre (in 96 Leeson St Lr). Contractor: R. Toole. Estimated cost: £1544. Nurses' home (tenders invited Aug 1910) . New outpatients' department. Contractor: B. Millard. Estimated cost: £34,909
Refs:
IAA, PKS 0893, 0934, B21/38, B22/19, A08 (Feb 1909, Aug 1910), A09 (Apr 1914, May 1915); IB 51, 20 Mar,15 May 1909, 161,293; 52, 20 Aug 1910, 517,531; 53, 23 Dec 1911, 849; Freeman's Journal, 9,13 Aug 1910.
Additions and new chapel. Designs for chapel agreed 1913. Sacred Heart and Lady altars, 1916 (executed by Luigi Z-)
Refs:
Designs for chapel and altars in IAA, W.H. Byrne Collection 2006/142; IB 51, 9 Jan 1909, 18; 53, 18 Feb 1911, 111; Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 76 (illus.)
Lady chapel altar, 1910. Proposed spire (unexecuted).
Refs:
Designs, dated 1910,1914, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne, not transferred to IAA; Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 401,402..
Gothic; FS laid BY Archbishop of Dublin, 29 Oct 1911. Contractor: William Conolly & Sons, Upper Dominick St, Dublin. BVM altar, 1913?, executed by Edmund Sharp.
Refs:
Drawings, 1911,1913?, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; Freeman's Journal, 3 Jun 1910; IB 52, 6 Aug 1910, 504; 53, 27 May,11 Nov 1911, 361,630,757; 55, 1913, 250; 58, 1916, 279; Clonliffe College Archive, MS p1/2; inscription on trowel presented to Archbp. of Dublin at laying of FS 29 Oct 1911; Irish Times, 4 Nov 1911; Building News 104, 13 Apr 1913, 562; 110, 28 Jun 1916, 636
Proposed new church with 4-bay nave, apse with 6 lights and rose window in W porch. For Rev. Martin Henry, PP, Foxford. (Not executed. New church built 1954).
Refs:
Designs, 1911, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son
Main block 2 storeys, 6 bays. Tenders received Apr 1911. (Attached chapel not built.)
Refs:
Designs, 1911, in IAA, W.H. Byrne & Son drawings collection, Acc.2006/142; IB 53, 13 May 1911, 265,325; IA & C, 1, 6 May 1911, 200; Building News 100, 5 May 1911, 649
Conversion into temporary offices for Royal University of Ireland. (Competition for designing building for NUI announced, 28 Jan 1916, see advertisement in Irish Times, 31Jan,5 Feb 1916.)
New church. Tenders invited Apr 1911. FS laid 1911; dedicated 1914. Contractor: Patrick Nolan, Monaghan. High altar, side altar, altar rails, group 'Two Marys' executed by E. Sharp, Dublin.
Refs:
Drawing(s), 1911, in IAA, Edward Cullen Collection, Acc. 2004/160 (not on public access); Freeman's Journal, 27,29 Apr 1911; B 69, 28 Apr 1911, ?; IB 53, 29 Apr,14 Oct 1911, 265,286,677,694; 56, 1914, 583; information from Charles Cullen, Aug 2010; E. Sharp's publicity booklet (1920s), 24
Completion of spire from belfry floor upwards & interior gallery
Refs:
Drawings, 1912, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; IB 54, 11 May 1912, 286; Christine Casey & Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North Leinster (1993), 299.
Drawings, 1912-13, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; B 105, 3 Oct 1913, 355 (advt. for tender); IB 55, 25 Oct 1913, 624,669,744; 56, 18 Jul 1914, 432; Building News 106, 24 Jul 1914, 131; illus. in Liam Swords, Achonry and its churches (Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007), 46-7.
New Gothic nave & chancel church for Very Rev. - Walsh, PP. Tenders invited, Jun 1912. Cost: £6,244. Woodwork by James Shipley, Blackwater.
Refs:
Drawings, 1912-18, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; Irish Times, 6 Jun 1912; IB 54, 8 Jun,31 Aug 1912, 350,497,515; B 102, 14 Jun 1912, 709; Building News 102, 14 Jun 1912, 845; 103, 13 Sep 1912, 383; Churches of the Diocese of Ferns (Booklink, 2004), 63(illus.)
Rebuilding of church of 1873. Tenders invited May 1912.
Refs:
Drawings, 1913, in IAA, W.H. Byrne & Son drawings collection, Acc. 2006/142; B 102, 24 May 1912, 615; IB 54, 25 May 1912, 320; Liam Swords, Achonry and its churches (Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007), 44(illus.).
Proposed completion of tower & spire. Tenders invited Apr 1914. Also proposed recasing of early 19th century church in more archaeological Gothic style. Also proposed NW and SE porches, aisles (& chancel?).
Refs:
B 106, 10 Apr 1914, 454; drawings, 1915, in IAA, W.H. Byrne & Son drawings collection, Acc. 2006/142; IB 56, 1914, 232 (for photograph of exterior of church (2008) see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/167236)
Alts. & adds., including new king-post roof &c. For Very Rev. R. Barry, PP. Tenders invited, May 1914. Contractor Patrick Nolan, Monaghan.
Refs:
Drawings, 1914, in IAA, W.H. Byrne & Son drawings collection, Acc. 2006/142; IB 56, 1914, 328; contract drawing signed by Edward Cullen for Patrick Nolan, 4 Jan 1915, in possession of Charles Cullen, Aug 2010; Freeman's Journal, 12 May 1914.
Refacing of frontage, 1915. Contractor: G.& T. Crampton. Cost £1525. (Further repairs, post 1916.)
Refs:
Drawings, 1915, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son, not transferred to IAA; IAA, PKS 0942, A09 (Jun 1915); Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005),191.
Design and contract, 1916, formerly in office archives of W.H. Byrne & Son; Edmund Sharp's publicity booklet (1920s), 14; Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 407.
10-bay, 3-storey (over basement?) convent for Sisters of Mercy. Plastered concrete with granite dressings and Portland stone portico. Builder: James Flynn, 126 Thomas St..