Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect and engineer, of Dublin. Isaac Farrell, who was born circa 1798,  first appears in the Dublin directories in 1833, described at first as architect and measurer and later as architect and civil engineer.  He had become architect to the Wesleyan Society by 1841, when the Methodist church he designed for Carnew, Co. Wicklow, was opened.(1)   He was responsible for the design of several Methodist churches in Dublin and elsewhere, and for the Presbyterian Church in Adelaide Road, Dublin. In 1847 he entered the competitions for the Army and Navy Club, London, and the Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum; both designs were exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy the following year.(2)   At the Dublin Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853 he exhibited models of 'the Albert window …an improved French window' and of 'a new railway break, to be attached to each carriage, and so contrived that all the breaks in a train are simultaneously applied'.(3)   In 1859 he formed a brief partnership with WILLIAM ROBERT FARRELL.  WILLIAM ROBERT FARRELL.
Farrell's died at home in Leinster Square on 3 May 1841 at the age of seventy-nine.(4)   His wife Helen had predeceased him on 26 November 1857, when she was fifty-four years old. She was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery with two of their infant children, Jessie, their first born, and Isaac, their only son.(5)

ICEI: member by 1849;(6) reads paper, 'A descriptive notice of the Archimedian Railway', 1845;(7) exhibits model of balance gates, 9 May 1848;(8) auditor, 1852,1853;(9) had ceased to be a member by 1870.(10)
RIAI: elected associate, 21 May 1863.(11)

Addresses:(12) 11 Lower Abbey Street, 1833; 78 Abbey Street 1834; 199 Great Brunswick Street 1835-44; 210 Great Brunswick Street, 1845-1851; 12 Fleet Street, 1852-1853; 2 Clanbrassil Terrace, South Circular Rd, 1854-; 12 Fleet Street & 2 Clanbrassil Terrace, 1855-58; 2 Clanbrassil Terrace & 25 Lincoln Place, 1859; 25 Lincoln Place (with W.R. Farrell,), 1861; 25 Lincoln Terrace & 1 Herbert Terrace, Ballsbridge, 1862; 1 Clanbrassil Terrace, 1863-1872; 8 Leinster Square, Rathgar, 1877.

See WORKS, BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY.



References



(1) The Watchman, 21 Apr 1841 (information from Robin Roddie, archivist, Methodist Historical Society of Ireland, Belfast, Jul 2019) 
(2) RHA 1848, nos. 341,343.
(3) Exhibit no. 561.
(4) The Express, 4 May 1877 (information from Robin Roddie, as above).
(5) From inscription on headstone in Mount Jerome Cemetery, transcribed by Brendan and Bernadette O'Donoghue.
(6) TICEI 3 (1847-49), list of members.
(7) TICEI 1 (1845), 95; Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanac for 1847 has Farrell and 'Office of the Archimeden Railway' at the same address, 210 Great Brunswick Street.
(8) TICEI 3 (1847-49), 85.
(9) Jones files, citing ?Thom's directories.
(10) List of members in IB 12, 15 Aug 1870, 197.
(11) RIAI council meeting minutes, 8 May 1863, 5; general meeting minutes, 21 May 1863, 127.
(12) From Wilson's & Thom's directories.


25 work entries listed in chronological order for FARRELL, ISAAC


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Building: CO. ARMAGH, TANDRAGEE CASTLE
Date: 1830-1838
Nature: Baronial residence for Viscount Mandeville, eldest son of Duke of Manchester; contains large handsome chapel.
Refs: Draft memoir by J. Hill Williams, Jan 1838, in Angélique Day & Patrick McWilliams, Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol. 1: Parishes of Co. Armagh, 1835-9, 3; Jones files citing unnamed guide book of the 1840s (J.P. Lawson, Gazetteer of Ireland (1842), 756, gives information but does not name architect);  Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 542-544.


Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ABBEY STREET LOWER, SAVINGS BANK
Date: 1839
Nature: Branch of Meath St Savings Bank. FS laid 20 Jun 1839.
Refs: Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanac (1847), 'Annals of Dublin' (1839, 20 Jun); M. Craig, Dublin 1660-1860 (1st edition, 1952), 319

Building: CO. WICKLOW, CARNEW, METHODIST CHURCH
Date: 1839-1841
Nature: New church to seat about 350 persons on site granted by Earl Fitzwilliam. First stone laid by Thomas Derenzy, MD, 16 Oct 1839.  Opened for worship, 28 Mar 1841
Refs: The Watchman, 21 Apr 1841 (information from Robin Roddie, archivist, Methodist Historical Society of Ireland, Belfast, Jul 2019).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ADELAIDE ROAD, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Date: 1839-1841
Nature: New classical church with tetrastyle portico. Farrell's plans adopted Dec 1839. Tender of J.C. Prince, 21 Denzille St, accepted. FS laid 19 May 1840 by J. Ferrier. Church opened 27 Jun 1841.
Refs: R.A.S. McAlister & R.K. Hanna, Presbyterian Church, Adelaide Road, Dublin: a commemorative record 1840-1846, 4-5;  illus. in Laurence Kirkpatrick, Presbyterians in Ireland: an illustrated history (Booklink, 2006), 249.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, COLLEGE GREEN, NO. 034 (NATIONAL BANK)
Date: 1842
Nature: Superintending architect for erection of building designed by William Barnes. FS laid Nov 1842.
Refs: Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanac (1847), 'Annals of Dublin' (Nov 1842); M. Craig, Dublin 1660-1860 (1st edition, 1952), 322

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ST STEPHEN'S GREEN, NO. 094 (CENTENARY METHODIST CHURCH)
Date: 1842-43;1861
Nature: FS laid 22 Mar 1842; opened 18 Jun 1843; alts., principally rearrangement of pews, 1861.
Refs: 'Annals of Dublin' (unpaginated) in Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanack (1847), (22 Mar 1842, 18 Jun 1843); Irwin's Dublin Guide (1853), ?; IB 65, 16 Jun 1923, 454; B 19, 31 Aug,21 Sep 1861, 599,654

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, GRAFTON STREET, NO. 043
Date: 1843
Nature: Elevation.
Refs: Signed and dated drawing in Dublin City Archives, WSC/MAPS/475

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DONEGALL SQUARE EAST, METHODIST CHURCH
Date: 1846-47
Nature: Classical, with hexastyle Corinthian portico. Tenders invited May 1846. FS laid 2 Jul 1846. Opened 20 Jun 1847. Burnt down in 1849 and rebuilt 1850. Contractor (in both instances): James Carlisle, Belfast.
Refs: B 4, 30 May 1846, 263; 5, 26 Jun 1847, 306; Brett, 34; Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 11 (no. 20, illus.); Simon Walker, Historic Ulster Churches (Institute of Irish Studies, 2000), 88(illus.)

Building: ENGLAND, LONDON, ARMY & NAVY CLUB
Date: 1847
Nature: Unsuccessful competition entrant.
Refs: Design exh. RHA 1848, no. 343

Building: ENGLAND, COLNEY HATCH (MIDDLESEX), MIDDLESEX PAUPER LUNATIC ASYLUM
Date: 1847
Nature: Unsuccessful competition entrant.
Refs: Design exh. RHA 1848, no. 341

Building: CO. TYRONE, DUNGANNON, PERRY STREET, METHODIST CHURCH
Date: 1849-1850
Nature: New church, 52 x 32 ft with addition of 40 ft in rere for sexton's house, in Gothic style of architecture. Complex also includes schoolroom and classroom.  FS laid Jun 1849. Opened 19 May 1850.  Contractor: Thomas Lilburn, Dungannon.
Refs: Armagh Guardian, 25 Jun 1849, 17 Jun 1850..

Building: CO. TYRONE, AUGHNACLOY, METHODIST CHURCH
Date: 1849-1850
Nature: New church, school and dwelling house 'situate on the approach from the Monaghan Road'.  Church opened Mar 1850. Contractor: Thomas Ross, Aughnacloy.
Refs: Armagh Guardian, 19 Nov 1849, 25 Mar 1850.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CHARLESTON ROAD (RATHMINES), METHODIST CHURCH
Date: 1852
Nature: New church.
Refs: B 10, 13 Mar 1852, 172

Building: CO. DERRY, COLERAINE, CIRCULAR ROAD, METHODIST CHURCH
Date: 1852-3
Nature: New stucco Corinthian temple, similar to Methodist Church in Donegall Sq., Belfast. For Clothworkers' Company? Contractor: Samuel Kirkpatrick, Coleraine.
Refs: Signed and dated plan and elevation in collection of Coleraine Methodist Church, see Hugh Dixon, Ulster Architecture 1800-1900 (UAHS, 1972), 18, no. 72; B 11, 14 May,2 Jul 1853, 315,424; W.D. Girvan, Historic Buildings…in Coleraine and Portstewart (UAHS, 1972), 14,15(illus.); Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (1979), 206; J. Stevens Curl, The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 (Chichester, 1986), 438, Pl.368; Simon Walker, Historic Ulster Churches (Institute of Irish Studies, 2000), 89

Building: CO. DERRY, COLERAINE, CASTLEROCK ROAD, COLERAINE ACADEMICAL INSTITUTION
Date: 1853;1857-60
Nature: Isaac Farrell wins competition for same. Plain 2-storey block. FS laid 4 Jun 1857. In progress, 1859, when cost expect to be about £4,000. Builder: Kilpatrick, Coleraine.
Refs: B 11, 20 Aug,22 Oct 1853, 533,654; 15, 20 Jun 1857, 355; IB 1, 1 Feb 1859, 22; W.D. Girvan, Historic Buildings…in Coleraine and Portstewart (UAHS, 1972), 24(illus.).25(no. 64) Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (1979), 207; J. Stevens Curl, The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 (Chichester, 1986), 392,Pl.315.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CASTLE AVENUE (CLONTARF), WALPOLE TERRACE
Date: 1859
Nature: Terrace of 4 houses, with Wm. R. Farrell, for Francis Byrne.
Refs: DB 1, 1 Jul 1859, 85;  Claire Gogarty, From Village to Suburb: The Building of Clontarf since 1760 (2013), 232 (illus.),170 (illus.).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION SQUARE, NO. 001
Date: 1859
Nature: Addition of conservatory & other apartments, with Wm. R. Farrell, for Dr Wilde Builder: Meighan.
Refs: DB 1, 1 Nov 1859, 145

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PEMBROKE ROAD, HOUSES (002)
Date: 1860
Nature: 2 villas, opposite Botanic Gardens. By Mssrs. Farrell (i.e. Isaac & Wm. R. Farrell) for P. Sullivan.
Refs: DB 2, 1 Oct 1860, 352

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, SIMMONSCOURT HOUSE
Date: 1860
Nature: Adds. to offices & improvements to residence. By Mssrs. Farrell (i.e. Isaac & Wm. R. Farrell) for B.M. Tabuteau.
Refs: DB 2, 1 Oct 1860, 352

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ST ANDREW'S STREET, ST ANDREW'S CHURCH (CI, 3RD)
Date: 1860
Nature: Competition entrant, with William Farrell. (Motto 'Respice finem'.)
Refs: B 18, 2 Jun 1860, 352

Building: CO. TYRONE, AUGHENTAINE
Date: 1860
Nature: Italianate mansion. By Mssrs. Farrell (i.e. Isaac & Wm. R. Farrell), for Thomas Richardson Browne. Begun in 1860. Estimated cost £6,000.
Refs: Plans in PRONI, T.1132(6); DB 2, 1 Oct 1860, 352

Building: CO. WICKLOW, BRAY, ESPLANADE, HOUSES (004)
Date: 1861-62
Nature: 4 houses to be built to designs by Isaac and William Farrell, Sep 1861.  Isaac Farrell advertises 4 first-class, 4-bedroom houses with garden, stables &c., Oct 1862. Garner suggests that this is Esplanade Terrace.
Refs: DB 3, 1 Sep 1861, 620; Irish Times, 21 Oct 1862; William Garner, Bray: Architectural Heritage (An Foras Forbatha, 1980), 54,55 (illus.).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, JAMES'S STREET, SOUTH DUBLIN UNION WORKHOUSE
Date: 1863
Nature: Protestant chapel.
Refs: DB 5, 1 Sep 1863, 148

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, TEMPLE STREET, TURKISH BATHS
Date: 1866a
Nature: Brown and Henderson, builders, take case in  Nisi Prius Court against proporietor, McGee, for recovery of £56.11s.6½d for work done and materials supplied. Testimony corroborated by Mr Harford, surveyor, and Mr Farrell, architect. 
Refs: Irish Times, 4 Feb 1867.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CARLISLE BRIDGE (OLD)
Date: ?
Nature: Designed by 'J. Farrell'. Is this Isaac?
Refs: B 8, 17 Aug 1850, 392

Author Title Date Details
Farrell, Isaac 'A descriptive notice of the Archimedian Railway' 1845 TICEI 1 (1845), 95. (Also published as booklet.)
Farrell, Isaac Suggestions on the Dublin Improvements 1848 [Dublin],1848. (Copy in RIA, 2004/8.)