Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Dublin.   According to the Dublin census of 1911, Louis François Giron, son of André Jean Giron, commercial clerk, of 5, Charleville Road, North Circular Road, Dublin, and his wife, Marie, was born in Dublin circa 1890.  He appears to have been a pupil of RUDOLF MAXIMILIAN BUTLER RUDOLF MAXIMILIAN BUTLER , working in Butler's office at 12 Dawson Street, between 1908 and 1913. In December 1908 his sketches of Georgian ironwork in Dublin were reproduced in the Irish Builder(1) and he also drew some of the illustrations in the first three volumes of the Georgian Society Records which were published in 1909,1910 and 1911.(2)   He was a student in the Metropolitan School of Art in 1915, exhibiting designs for a motor garage in the School's annula exhibition in December of that Year.(3)  At around this time he entered the office of O'CALLAGHAN & CALLAGHAN & amp; WEBB at 31 South Frederick Street, where he became chief assistant circa 1920. When Webb retired in 1931, Giron became O'Callaghan's partner and the firm became known as O'CALLAGHAN & CALLAGHAN & amp; GIRON GIRON . After O'Callaghan's death in 1954, Giron carried on the office at 31 South Frederick Street until circa 1957, then moved to 1 Upper Pembroke Street where he practised until his retirement, probably circa 1964.

Giron exhibited 'Designs for a proposed church' at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1919 and three sketches made in Normandy in 1928.(4) He was an active member of the AAI. In 1914, with H.G. LEASK, he founded the Association's Rambling Club,(5) of which he was honorary secretary for some years, and he took part in the excursions to London in 1914(6) and Chester in 1919.(7) After becoming a member of the RIAI in 1920, he served for many years in various offices of that body.

Giron died in 1976, survived by his widow, Eileen.(8) He is described by his obituarist in the RIAI Yearbook, Eoghan Buckley, as 'a man of the greatest integrity' who 'devoted much of his time to charitable works, particularly with the Society of St Vincent de Paul'.

A number of Giron's drawings of architectural subjects in Dublin and its surroundings, made between 1909 and 1918, are in the National Library of Ireland.

AAI:(9) member, 1908; secretary AAI Ramblers' Club 1913-1921; vice-president, 1917-18; winner of Downes Bronze Medal for session 1914-15; hon. sec. 1914-17; designed AAI Roll of Honour, 1916;(10) lecture on 'My Holiday in Italy', 20 Feb 1923; representative of AAI on council of RIAI 1921-25; president, 1924-25.
RIAI:(11) elected student, having obtained highest marks, 1918;(12) elected member, 1920;(13) member of council, 1921->=1930,1935-38,1940-41,1944-48,1952,1953,; hon. secretary, <=1932-33; vice-president 1934; president 1942,1943.
RSAI: elected member, 25 Jan 1918;(14) elected fellow 29 Jan 1920.(15)

Addresses:(16) Work: 12 Dawson St, <=1908->=1913; 31 South Frederick St, <=1921-1957ca; 1 Upper Pembroke St, 1958-1964 Home: 5 Charleville Rd, N. Circular Rd, Dublin, <=1909->=1927; Dalmeny, The Burrow, Sutton, 1928->=1930; 12 North Circular Rd, 1933->=1937; Rathgorman, 39 Park Ave, Sydney Pde, <=1939->=1956; 49 Whitebeam Rd, 1960->=1971.

See WORKS, BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY . See also O'CALLAGHAN & CALLAGHAN & amp; WEBB and O'CALLAGHAN & CALLAGHAN & amp; GIRON GIRON . Works by O'Callaghan & Giron from 1955 onwards are listed under Giron.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for has been pieced together from Giron's addresses as given in in Thom's and Post Office Directories, membership lists of the RIAI and AAI and lists of subscribers to Georgian Society Records. There is a short biography of Giron in AJ 78, 14 Sep 1933, 336 (not seen), and in IB 84, 3 Jan 1942, 11 (not seen) and a brief obituary by 'E.B.' (Eoghan Buckley) in RIAI Year Book (1977), 54. There are portrait photographs in AAI Green Book (1925), facing p. 25 (also repr. in Irish Times, 8 May 1924), AJ 60, 24 Dec 1924, 970, AJ 78, 14 Sep 1933, 336, IB 84, 3 Jan 1942, 11, and RIAI Year Book (1942), facing p. 1; he also appears in a group photographs of members of council of the RIAI in IB 74, 27 Feb 1932, 200, and in another group photograph of attendees at the Dublin Housing Conference in Irish Times, 27 Feb 1934..


(1) IB 50, 26 Dec 1908, 789,800.
(2) Other drawings by Giron to be published include: sketches of buildings in Oxford, in AAI Green Book (1915), 32,33; tomb of Christopher Lord of Howth, in AAI Green Book (1917), facing p. 30; Ardrass Church, Co. Kildare, in AAI Green Book (1919), facing p. 48; Roll of Honour of the Architectural Association of Ireland, in IB 58, 25 Nov 1916, 574. Other drawings by Giron are in the National Library of Ireland, AD 1229,1231-2,1238-42,1248-50,1252-3,1257,1260-62,1269.
(3) Irish Times, 27 Dec 1915.
(4) RHA 1919, no. 344; 1028, nos. 220,222,298.
(5) Information from Jones, who was a member of the club; according to Jones all the drawings made by members of the Rambling Club, which was formed with the purpose of giving its members the oportunity to measure and draw old buildings in and around Dublin, are in the National Library of Ireland.
(6) See AAI Green Book (1915), 30-35.
(7) IB 61, 6 Dec 1919, 554.
(8) Letter to Mrs Eileen Giron, 17 Nov 1976, from Seamus Ward, general secretary RIAI, among RIAI papers at IAA.
(9) Information from AAI Green Books, unless otherwise stated.
(10) See note 2, above.
(11) From Jones transcripts of lists of RIAI officers unless otherwise stated.
(12) JRIAI (1919), 3.
(13) JRIAI (1921), 2.
(14) JRSAI 48 (1918), 88.
(15) JRSAI 50 (1920), 79.
(16) From lists of subscribers to Georgian Society Records 1909-13, AAI and RIAI lists of members, Thom's Directories and Index of RHA Exhibitors.


9 work entries listed in chronological order for GIRON, LOUIS FRANÇOIS


Sort by date | Sort alphabetically


Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BACK LANE, NO. 056-60, ST VINCENT DE PAUL NIGHT SHELTER
Date: 1955
Nature: Additional dormitories.
Refs: IB 97, 2 Jul 1955, 691

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ARRAN QUAY, NO. 035-37 (L. & E. EGAN)
Date: 1955;1957
Nature: Renovations for L. & E. Egan, wholesale wine & spirit merchants, 1955. Lift, 1957.
Refs: IB 97, 10 Sep 1955, 951; 99, 10 Aug 1957, 637

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, VICAR STREET, CITY LABOUR YARD
Date: 1956
Nature: Proposed rebuilding for St Vincent de Paul Society.
Refs: IB 98, 29 Dec 1956, 1171

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION ROAD (BALLSBRIDGE), ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY
Date: 1956;1959
Nature: Cafeteria, kitchen & sanitary accommodation, 1956. Adds. at grounds, 1959.
Refs: IB 98, 25 Aug 1956, 773; 101, 19 Sep 1959. 687

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ZION ROAD (RATHGAR), NO. 019
Date: 1957
Nature: Alts., lock-up garages at
Refs: IB 99, 6,20 Apr 1957, 261,295

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BAGGOT STREET UPPER, CITY OF DUBLIN HOSPITAL
Date: 1958
Nature: Alts.
Refs: IB 100, 13 Dec 1958, 929

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BERESFORD PLACE, NO. 003
Date: 1959
Nature: Repairs, for Catholic Seamen's Insitutute.
Refs: IB 101, 26 Dec 1959, 973

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HADDINGTON ROAD, NO. 019
Date: 1960
Nature: Alts., for Royal City of Dublin Hospital.
Refs: IB 102, 2 Apr 1960, 212

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION ROAD (BALLSBRIDGE), ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY
Date: ?
Nature: Library (1965), concert hall, new front, renovation.
Refs: IB 107, 19 Jun 1965, 458; RIAI Yearbook 1977, 54

Author Title Date Details
Giron, Louis Francis 'Nationality in Architecture' 1924 AAI Green Book (1925), 25-31; IB 66, 29 Nov 1924, 1021; (also?)AJ 60, 24 Dec 1924, 970. (Presidential address to AAI.)
Giron, Louis Francis Inaugural address to RIAI 1942 JRIAI (1942), 4.
Giron, Louis Francis. & Robinson, John Joseph 'The Dublin Town Place' 1942 Studies 31 (1942), 154. (Comments by LFG and JJR.).