Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

County engineer for Co. Wicklow, 1940-1964. Joseph O'Byrne was born in Co. Wicklow in 1899.   He attended Mungret College and Clongowes Wood College before studying engineering at University College, Dublin, from 1918 to 1921, when he received the BE degree.  After graduating he worked on improvements to the Wicklow town waterworks and on the preliminary planning of the Liffey reservoir scheme.  He was appointed a temporary assistant county surveyor first for Co. Carlow and then, in August 1925, for Co. Wicklow (1)  He remained in the latter position for thirteen years and also held the position of Wicklow town surveyor in February 1935, when he was threatened with dismissal or suspension following a 'difference' with a local contractor, William Clarke.(2)  He also ran a private practice in Wicklow town.  Following the retirement of STEPHEN GERALD GALLAGHER STEPHEN GERALD GALLAGHER , the Wicklow county surveyor, in May 1938, he was appointed acting county surveyor.   In July 1940 he was appointed to the permanent position .   He retired on 13 March 1964 and  died at the age of eighty-eight on 9 September 1987.

ICEI: elected associate member, 4 May 1925;(3) transferred to member, 2 November 1931.(4)

Addresses: Bridge Hotel, Bridge Street, Wicklow, 1925;  Bridge Street, Wicklow, 1929;(5) Main Street, Wicklow, 1930;(6) Ardcairn, Wicklow, 1936.(7)

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise referenced for is from Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 270, and ICEI lists of members.


(1) Letter from P.T. Healy, secretary, Wicklow Co. Council, 4 Sep 1925, to O'Byrne (B.O'D.).
(2)  Irish Times, 25 Feb 1935. 
(3) TICEI 51(1924-25), 212.
(4) TICEI 58 (1931-32), 1.
(5) IB 71, 31 Aug 1929, 787.
(8) IB 72, 21 Jun 1930, 564.
(7) IB 78, 17 Oct 1936, 950.


10 work entries listed in chronological order for O'BYRNE, JOSEPH THOMAS


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Building: CO. WICKLOW, WICKLOW, COOLBEG HOUSE
Date: 1927
Nature: New buildings & installation of water supply system. Tenders invited.
Refs: IB 69, 25 Jun 1927, 474

Building: CO. WICKLOW, WICKLOW?, NATIONAL SCHOOL
Date: 1929
Nature: Addition.
Refs: IB 71, 31 Aug 1929, 787

Building: CO. WICKLOW, ENNISKERRY, DISPENSARY RESIDENCE
Date: 1930
Nature: Repairs.
Refs: IB 72, 21 Jun 1930, 564

Building: CO. WICKLOW, GREYSTONES, BLACKLION, HOUSE
Date: 1931
Nature: New. Builder:H. Lawless.
Refs: IB 73, 15 Aug 1931, 726

Building: CO. WICKLOW, GREYSTONES, BLACKLION, HOUSE
Date: 1931
Nature: New bungalow. Builder: W.J. Young, Rivervale.
Refs: IB 73, 15 Aug 1931, 726

Building: CO. WICKLOW, GREYSTONES, BLACKLION, HOUSE
Date: 1931
Nature: New bungalow. Builder: Sam Evans, Novara.
Refs: IB 73, 15 Aug 1931, 726

Building: CO. WICKLOW, GREYSTONES, BLACKLION, HOUSE
Date: 1931
Nature: New bungalow. Builder: James Evans, Yara-Yara.
Refs: IB 73, 15 Aug 1931, 726

Building: CO. WICKLOW, WICKLOW, MONKTON ROW, HOUSES (022 + 6)
Date: 1933-34
Nature: Tenders invited for erecting 22 2-storey, 3-roomed houses for Wicklow Urban District Council, Jun 1933.  Tender for erecting 6 additional houses given to present contractor, Ryan Bros., Kildare (£1,825), Mar 1934.
Refs: Irish Times, 24 Jun 1933, 15 Mar 1934. 

Building: CO. WICKLOW, KILCOOLE, WATER SUPPLY
Date: 1936
Nature: -
Refs: IB 78, 17 Oct 1936, 950

Building: CO. WICKLOW, DUNDRUM, ST COLMAN'S HOSPITAL
Date: 1950
Nature: Concrete fire escape.
Refs: IB 92, 1 Apr 1950, 330