Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Belfast. Michael McGavigan may be the same person as the Michael McGarrigan who won one of four prizes awarded by the Dublin Society's School of Drawing in Architecture in 1808.(1) He is listed as an architect with an address at 51 Academy Street, Belfast, in Pigot's Directory for 1824 (p.351) and placed an advertisement in the Belfast News Letter on 25 March 1831.(2). He is presumably the Michael Gavigan who designed the market house at Banbridge for the third Marquess of Downshire in 1832(3) and the Mr McGavigan who was consulted about Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church, Belfast, in 1833.(4) His name does not appear in any of its forms in Martin's Belfast Directory for 1841-1842, suggesting that he may have died by this date. He was possibly a son or other connection of the Mr - GAFFIGAN GAFFIGAN , builder, of Belfast, who erected St Patrick's Catholic Church, Donegall Street, Belfast, to designs by PATRICK DAVIS  PATRICK DAVIS in 1810-12, or to the 'Mr McGavgan, Builder, Derry', who subscribed to Richard Elsam's Gentleman and Builder's Assistant (Derry, 1808).

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References



(1) MS. transcript from Royal Dublin Society minutes of School of Drawing in Architecture admissions and prizewinners (in IAA).
(2) Douglas G. Lockhart, 'The land surveyor in Northern Ireland before the coming of the Ordnance Survey circa 1840', Irish Geography 9 (1976), 108.
(3) C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and Market Houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 63; Hugh Dixon, Ulster Architecture 1800-1900 (UAHS, 1973), 24(no.112).
(4) C.E.B. Brett, Roger Mulholland, architect, of Belfast (UAHS, 1976), 9.


1 work entries listed in chronological order for MCGAVIGAN, MICHAEL


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Building: CO. DOWN, BANBRIDGE, MARKET HOUSE
Date: 1833
Nature: Designed by Michael Gavigan or Gaffikin for 3rd Marquess of Downshire. Cost: £2,000.
Refs: C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and Market Houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 63, citing (107) drawings in PRONI D671 P1/8; Hugh Dixon, Ulster Architecture 1800-1900 (UAHS, 1973), 24(no.112)