Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect and town planner, of Dublin. Frank Gibney was born on 20 April 1905, the son of Joseph Francis Gibney (b. 1877?) and his wife Eleanor (née Bassett). When he was eighteen he started working for his father, an architect who had been apprenticed to WILLIAM KAYE-PARRY WILLIAM KAYE-PARRY . After five years he became an assistant to FRANCIS PETER RUSSELL FRANCIS PETER RUSSELL , of Westmoreland Street. In 1930, when Russell was appointed one of the two engineers to the new Dublin County Board of Public Health (an amalgamation of the North and South Dublin Rural District Councils), Gibney took over his office at 16 Westmoreland Street. In the same year he won an open competition organized by the Association of Architects and Surveyors in London for a design for a city airplane hangar. The prize was a tour of Spain which he made in 1932. Other travels included a visit to Sweden in 1929, to the Chicago World's Fair in 1933 and to the Holy Land in 1935. During the early 1930s he was architect to the Balbriggan Town Commissioners and to St Canice's Public Utility Society, founded in Jun 1934 'to build substantial houses...in North County Dublin'.(1) He also prepared plans for Waterford, Tralee, Drogheda, East Co. Meath, Navan and Tullamore. In 1938 he proposed a scheme of public works which included the building of a Dublin civil airport at Fairview, riverside promenades and the construction of a Marine Boulevard from Clontarf to Rush, Co. Dublin. At this time Gibney's stylistic preferences were the flat-roofed International Modern style and the gabled Arts & Crafts style of the Garden City movement. He was also a great admirer of the work of EDWIN LUTYENS EDWIN LUTYENS , whom he met at the laying of the foundation stone of Liverpool Catholic cathedral in 1933. All three influences are visible in Sutton South, the house which he designed for himself at Sutton, Howth, circa 1947. In his spare time he contributed cartoons to Dublin newspapers and to the English Architects' Journal. He also designed the cover of the Dublin Historical Record, to which he contributed several articles, having a particular interest in the history of Dublin

Gibney's later career falls outside the scope of this database. During the virtual cessation of building activity during the Second World War 'Emergency', his interest in planning and his vision for Ireland found expression in an ambitious proposal for a national survey (Suirbhéaracht Eireann) and his Framework for an Irish National Plan(1943), which suggested relocating the national capital to the centre of Ireland. He was also an advocate for the construction of clay houses.(2) Early in 1944 he was appointed planning consultant for the preparation of a town and regional planning scheme for Co. Cavan,(3) and he later worked for at least sixteen different local authorities It is for his post-war housing schemes and for the villages and developments which he designed for Bord Na Mona workers in the 1950s that he is now best remembered.

Frank Gibney died in 1978. He had married Patricia Byrne in September 1932 and had two sons and a daughter. His elder son, Frank, was also an architect and entered his practice.

Gibney's pupils and assistants included JAMES STANISLAUS JOSEPH WALL. JAMES STANISLAUS JOSEPH WALL.

Faculty of Architects and Surveyors: associate by 1937.
Incorporated Association of Architects: associate by 1937.
Institute of Registered Architects: member, 1936
Town Planning Institute: associate member, 1947; member, 1953

Addresses: Work: 16 Westmoreland Street, 1930->=1934; 29 Merrion Square, <=1937->=1960.
Home: Vista, Blackbanks, Raheny; Elmcot, 1 La Vista Avenue, Sutton.<=1942-1947; Sutton South, Carrickbrack Road, Baily, Howth, from 1948; Sutton South, Carrickbrack Road, Baily, Howth, and 8 Clyde Road, <=1955->=1956.

See WORKS, for works until 1940.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from an unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45 (photocopy in IAA) , and from Thom's directories (incomplete run).


(1) Irish Times, 9 Jun 1934..
(2) See IB 86, 17 Jun 1944, 241(illus.); another design for a rural cottage is in IB 86, 1 Jan 1944, 5-6.
(3) IB 86, 26 Feb 1944, 84.


50 work entries listed in chronological order for GIBNEY, FRANK


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Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BAGGOT STREET LOWER, NO. 131-133, & PEMBROKE STREET LOWER, NO. 1½
Date:
Nature: Repairs, for O'Mahony Estate, Cork. Contractor: J. Brennan & Son.
Refs: IAA, PKS 0233

Building: CO. OFFALY, TULLAMORE
Date: 1930s
Nature: FG prepares town plan for.
Refs: Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41

Building: CO. MEATH, NAVAN
Date: 1930s
Nature: FG prepares town plan for Navan.
Refs: Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41

Building: CO. KERRY, TRALEE
Date: 1930s
Nature: FG prepares town plan for.
Refs: Fergal MacCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41

Building: CO. WATERFORD, WATERFORD
Date: 1930s
Nature: FG prepares town plan for.
Refs: Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HENRIETTA LANE, STORES
Date: 1931
Nature: Plans for new stores, for A. Falkiner.
Refs: Architect & Building News 128, 23 Oct 1931, 105

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CABRA, HOUSE
Date: 1931
Nature: Tenders invited for erection of new house.
Refs: Architect & Building News 128, 2 Oct 1931, 20

Building: CO. GALWAY, CLIFDEN, DISTRICT HOPITAL
Date: 1931-32;1949
Nature: New hospital, 1931-31 (Contractor: Larkin?) Maternity annexe, c.1949 (Contractor: Edward Kelly & Co.).
Refs: IAA, PKS 0312, 0478, 0495; Architect & Building News 128, 13 Nov 1931, 199; unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, SANDYMOUNT, HOUSES (050)
Date: 1932
Nature: -
Refs: Unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, CLONES, HOUSES (114 OR 118?))
Date: 1932
Nature: Tenders invited for erecting 118 houses, Oct 1932.
Refs: Irish Times, 25,29 Oct 1932; unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, CASTLEBLAYNEY, HOUSES (026)
Date: 1932
Nature: Tenders invited for erection of 26 houses in townland of Drummillard Beg, Oct 1932.,  
Refs:  Irish Times, 29 Oct 1932.

Building: CO. GALWAY, MOUNTBELLEW, COLLEGE ROAD, PREMISES
Date: 1933
Nature: For Michael Kelly.
Refs: IB 75, 1 Jul 1933, 568

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DONORE AVENUE, WHITE SWAN LAUNDRY
Date: 1933
Nature: New laundry involving reconstruction of Mssrs. Goodbody's factory.  For Dublin Industrial Trust, Ltd.. Cost approx. £8000. Opened by Lord Mayor, 4 Mar 1933.
Refs:  Irish Times, 6 Mar 1933.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, ASHTOWN, ST ELOI WORKS, ASHTOWN TIN BOX CO.
Date: 1933
Nature:  New factory near Phoenix Park racecourse.  Reinforced concrete, with frontage of 224 ft.  General contractors: E. & W. Dempsey, Carbury, Co. Kildare. Steelworks by Smith & Pearson, Newcomen Ironworks, Dublin.
Refs:  Irish Times, 27 Apr 1933 (illus.)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, JAMESTOWN ROAD (FINGLAS), HOUSES (022)
Date: 1933
Nature: 22 bungalow-type houses for St Georrge' Public Utility Society Ltd.  Similar to houses built by Society in St George's Road area and to be occupied at similar purchasing rent (about 14s 7d per week).  First sod cut, Jul 1933.  Contractor: Myles Byrne. 
Refs: Irish Times, 17 Jul 1933. 

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ST GEORGE'S ROAD AREA (FINGLAS), HOUSES (008)
Date: 1933
Nature: 8 bungalow-type houses to be occupied at purchasing rent of 14s.7d per week nearly completed.  For St George's Public Utility Society Ltd.
Refs: Irish Times, 17 Jul 1933. 

Building: CO. CARLOW, BAGENALSTOWN, HOUSES (066)
Date: 1933-1935
Nature: Scheme of 66 houses.for Bagenalstown Town Commisioners. Tenders invited for erection of 60 (sic.) 4-roomed houses May-Jun 1933. Newly completed scheme opened by Minister Sean O'Kelly and blessed by Most Rev Dr Cullen, 25 Feb 1935. Contractor: Kelly.
Refs:  Irish Times, 26 May, 1 Jun 1933, 25 Feb 1935..

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ST IGNATIUS AVENUE (DRUMCONDRA), GARDEN CHOCOLATE & CONFECTIONERY FACTORY
Date: 1934
Nature:  New factory in reinforced concrete for Joseph Milroy.  Contractors: J. & D. Melvenna, 42 St Patrick;s Road, Drumcondra.  Steel frame by Smith & Pearson, Newcomen Workd, Dublin.
Refs:  Irish Times, 13 Apr 1933 (illus.).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HOWTH ROAD (RAHENY), NO. 635, VISTA
Date: 1934
Nature: Designed by Gibney for himself, two years after his marriage. He sold it in 1938
Refs: Information of current (2020) status of house kindly supplied by Paul Clarke, by email.
Unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45

Building: CO. DUBLIN, GLENAGEARY, HOUSES
Date: 1934
Nature: -
Refs: Fergal MacCabe, 'Frank Gibney - an Irish Architect and Planner (1905-1978)' (2005)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BOTANIC AVENUE, FACTORY
Date: 1934
Nature: -
Refs: Fergal MacCabe, 'Frank Gibney - an Irish Architect and Planner (1905-1978)' (2005)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, BALBRIGGAN, HAMPTON STREET, HOUSES (017)
Date: 1934
Nature: 17 2-storey houses, for Balbriggan #Town Commissioners.  Tenders invited for erection of same, May 1934.
Refs:  Irish Times, 26 May 1934

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ASTON'S QUAY, PUBLIC HOUSE
Date: 1934
Nature: -
Refs: Fergal MacCabe, 'Frank Gibney - an Irish Architect and Planner (1905-1978)' (2005)

Building: CO. GALWAY, GALWAY-CLIFDEN ROAD (PROPOSED)
Date: 1935
Nature:  Scheme by FG for converting Galway- Clifden section of Great Southern Railway into tourist motor road through Connemara, 1935.
Refs:  Irish Times, 16 Apr 1935.

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, MONAGHAN, BELGIUM PARK, HOUSES (031)
Date: 1935-36
Nature: 31 houses in part of redevelopment of old workhouse known as Belgium Park. Tenders invited by Monaghan Urban District Council, Mar 1935.
Refs: Irish Times, 16 Mar 1935;  unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45;  Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 473.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, KIMMAGE, FORTFIELD ESTATE
Date: 1936
Nature: Proposed designs for 12 houses submitted to Dublin Board of Public Health, Aug 1936.
Refs: Fingal County Council, Public Health Housing Collection, no. 1654;  Fergal MacCabe, 'Frank Gibney - an Irish Architect and Planner (1905-1978)' (2005)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, BALBRIGGAN, TOWN HALL
Date: 1937
Nature: Building resumed.
Refs: IB 79, 30 Oct 1937, 962

Building: CO. OFFALY, BIRR, CHURCH OF ST BRENDAN (RC)
Date: 1937
Nature: Reconditioning. Decorative stonework by C.W. Harrison & Sons, Pearse St.
Refs: IB 79, 9 Jan 1937, 30;  advertisement for C.W. Harrison & Sons in JRIAI (1936), 69.  

Building: CO. MAYO, DERRYPARK, CHURCH (RC)
Date: 1937
Nature: New church to be built.
Refs: IB 79, 18 Sep 1937, 838

Building: CO. KILDARE, NAAS, DUBLIN ROAD, CARAIGBEAG
Date: 1939
Nature: '…a white rendered mass concrete flat roofed open plan house with Crittall windows…which directly adjoins a house in a more traditional mode with a steep pitched roof and bay windows'.
Refs: Unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PEMBROKE STREET, NO. 010
Date: 1941
Nature: Repairs, for O'Mahony Estate (Cork).
Refs: IAA, PKS 0424

Building: CO. KILKENNY, CLONEEN (CASTLECOMER), HOUSE
Date: 1944a
Nature: Clay-built, thatched cottage, for Capt. Prior-Wandesford, Castlecomer Collieries. Built entirely by local craftsmen.
Refs: IB 86, 17 Jun 1944, 241(illus.)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, ASHTOWN, ST ELOI WORKS, ASHTOWN TIN BOX CO.
Date: 1945
Nature: New canteen builidng.
Refs: IAA, PKS 0368

Building: CO. DUBLIN, ASHTOWN, GLOVE FACTORY
Date: 1945
Nature: New glove factory, for George Horne.
Refs: IAA, PKS 0369

Building: CO. GALWAY, BALLINASLOE, JUBILEE STREET (& TEA LANE), HOUSES (036)
Date: 1945-1952
Nature: 36 new houses, for Ballinasloe UDC. Contractor: Michael Kenny. Work supervised by G. Lee, county surveyor.
Refs: IAA, PKS 0209, 0551

Building: CO. MEATH, KELLS, CINEMA
Date: 1946
Nature: -
Refs: Unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DISTILLERY ROAD, GOODALL (IRE) LTD
Date: 1946-48
Nature: Factory conversion. Contractors: Collins & Rooney.
Refs: IAA, PKS 0240, 0533

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CARRICKBRACK ROAD (HOWTH), SUTTON SOUTH
Date: 1948ca
Nature: New house for himself.
Refs: Fergal MacCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 45(illus.)

Building: CO. CLARE, ENNIS, CLARECASTLE HOUSING SCHEME
Date: 1950s
Nature: -
Refs: Fergal MacCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41

Building: CO. GALWAY, BALLINASLOE, GALWAY ROAD, HOUSING SCHEME
Date: 1950s
Nature: -
Refs: Fergal MacCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41

Building: CO. LONGFORD, LANESBOROUGH, BORD NA MONA HOUSING SCHEME
Date: 1952ca
Nature: 61 houses. Contractor: P.J. McLoughlin & Co.
Refs: Architectural Survey 1953, 28-29 (illus.); Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 42-43(illus.)

Building: CO. KILDARE, TIMAHOE, COILL DUBH BORD NA MONA VILLAGE
Date: 1952ca
Nature: 160 houses. Contractor: McInerney & Sons.
Refs: Architectural Survey 1953, 28-29 (illus.); Fergal MacCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect  No. 111 (Oct 1995), 43-44 (illus.)

Building: CO. ROSCOMMON, CLOONTUSKERT (MOUNT DILLON), BORD NA MONA VILLAGE
Date: 1952ca
Nature: 69 houses. Contractor: Gallagher, Furlong & Roarty.
Refs: Architectural Survey 1953, 28-29(illus.); Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 43(illus.)

Building: CO. OFFALY, BRACNAGH, BORD NA MONA HOUSING SCHEME
Date: 1952ca
Nature: 50 houses. Contractor: Michael Kelly & Sons.
Refs: Architectural Survey 1953, 28-29(illus.); Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 43(illus.)

Building: CO. LONGFORD, DERRAGHAN, BORD NA MONA HOUSING SCHEME
Date: 1952ca
Nature: 23 houses. Contractor: Michael Kelly & Sons.
Refs: Architectural Survey 1953, 29 (illus.); Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect  No. 111 (Oct 1995), 42

Building: CO. OFFALY, KILCORMAC, BORD NA MONA HOUSING SCHEME
Date: 1952ca
Nature: 105 houses.
Refs: Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 42 (illus.)

Building: CO. WESTMEATH, ROCHFORTBRIDGE, BORD NA MONA VILLAGE
Date: 1952ca
Nature: 98 houses.
Refs: Fergal McCabe, 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 42(illus.)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, CASTLEKNOCK, DUNSINEA (AN FORAS TALUNTAIS)
Date: 1961
Nature: Research building.
Refs: IAA, PKS 0618

Building: CO. KILDARE, NAAS, DUBLIN ROAD, HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: House with steep pitched roof and bay windows adjoining Carraigbeag.
Refs: Unpublished addendum by Fergal MacCabe (2005) to his article 'Urbanity and rurality - the Bord na Mona villages of Frank Gibney', Irish Architect No. 111 (Oct 1995), 41-45

Building: CO. LOUTH, DROGHEDA
Date: January 1940
Nature: FG prepares town plan for.
Refs: Frank Gibney, Drogheda Town Plan, IAA 2013/9.