1850 – St. Thomas Church, Rosemount, Co. Westmeath
Fine mid-nineteenth century Roman Catholic church that is quite reminiscent of earlier Board of First Fruits churches for the Church of Ireland.
Ralph H. Byrne (1877-1946)
Ralph Henry Byrne entered into partnership with his father, William Henry Byrne, on 10 April 1902. WIlliam became blind in about 1913 and died on 28 April 1917. Following his father’s death, he carried on the business under the name of William H. Byrne & Son. In 1936 he took his wife’s nephew Simon A. Leonard into partnership.
1879 – Lumen Christi College, Derry
Architect: Crome &Toye / Ralph H. Byrne
The central building was a casino or recreational building for the Bishop of Derry.
1881 – Loreto Convent, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Architect: Ralph H. Byrne
Constructed in the Institutional Gothic style that is characteristic of buildings for religious congregations at this time.
1881 – St Brigid’s Church, Clara, Co. Offaly
Architect: J.J. O’Callaghan / Ralph H. Byrne
Designed in 1876, and completed by 1881, and reminiscent of Pugin’s work at St.
1916 – St Patrick’s Church, Ringsend, Dublin
Architect: W.H. Byrne & Son
Fine early 20th century Gothic revival church on an awkward site which the architect has made the most of by placing the tower and spire along the roadside for dramatic effect.
1919 – Design for Hibernian Bank, O’Connell Street, Dublin
Architect: W.H. Byrne & Son
Designed by Ralph H. Byrne of W.H. Byrne & Son. Built on the corner of O’Connell Street and Abbey Street to replace a bank building destroyed in the Easter Rising of 1916.
1919 – Former Hibernian Bank, O’Connell Street Lower, Dublin
Architect: Ralph H. Byrne, W.H. Byrne & Son
Built after the previous branch of the Hibernian Bank was destroyed in the fighting during the 1916 Easter Rising.
1922 – Oliver Plunkett Church, Blackrock, Co. Louth
Architect: Ralph H. Byrne, W.H. Byrne & Son
One of the better designed churches of the early 20th century that largely managed to escape the granite-clad barn template of later years is the Church of St.
1926 – Durrow Abbey, Durrow, Co. Offaly
Architect: Ralph H. Byrne, W.H. Byrne & Son
After the second Durrow Abbey House was gutted by fire during the Civil War in 1923.
1929 – Sacred Heart Church, Arvagh, Co. Cavan
Architect: Ralph H. Byrne, W.H. Byrne & Son
The foundation stone was laid on 2nd October 1927, and the official opening took place on 8th September 1929.
