Brendan Grimes

There is a copy of Nicholas Numskull’s satirical poem on Irish architecture in the RIA in the Haliday pamphlets. I think there might be a photocopy in IAA. I didn’t copy the whole poem – only the bit I was interested in, here it is:

Without one ray of genius – not a spark,
L-s-n comes next – a Chapel building clerk;
So dull and stupid – could you once suspect
This brainless oaf to be an architect.

As Croker says – Sound trumpets – beat the drums
And clear the way – for boxing B-lg-r comes!
I’ll back him in the ring ‘gainst any odds! –
B-lg-r the scamp! – abhor’d by men and gods.

A worthy pair, fit rivals to contend,
For fame and cash – but Bolger gain’d his end;
Good Doctor Blake, look to the parish purse,
If L-s-n’s bad – B-lg-r is ten times worse.

I doubt if Byrne asked that there be no headstone for him, the simple reason was probably that there was no money for it. I know that he died poor and that his daughter was unprovided for at his death which might have been the reason his library was sold.

@Praxiteles wrote:

How about opening a subscription list?

I’m going away for a few days; I’ll look this up to see what I have when I come home.

@Praxiteles wrote:

The architects J. J. McCarthy and Patrick Byrne are both interred in Glasnevin as is the stonemason James Pearse.

So are G. C. Ashlin and Thomas Coleman.

Patrick Byrne is buried in plot XA34 garden. It is ironical that there is no mark or stone to indicate his grave given that he was the architect for the cemetery. I think we need to do something to remedy this.

@Praxiteles wrote:

Has this lecture appeared in book form?

All the Gilbert lectures are published by Dublin City Public Libraries. Commodius Temples will be published in January 2011.