Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Monumental sculptor, of Dublin, active from the 1890s onwards. George Smyth, who was born in Dublin in 1858 or 1859, was a great-grandson of EDWARD SMYTH  EDWARD SMYTH and a grandson of JOHN SMYTH[4]. JOHN SMYTH[4]. (1) His father, GEORGE SMYTH[1]  GEORGE SMYTH[1] was also a sculptor. In a letter to a daily newspaper which was reprinted in the Irish Builder in July 1921, Edmund Burke, MA, responding to an article in the Freeman's Journal on Edward Smyth's Custom House statues, sought to draw the public's attention to George Smyth: 'The Smyth family are a curious and remarkable instance of the principle that the genius and characteristics of the grandfather, or great-grandfather, are often strikingly repeated in the grandson or great-grandson. Mr George Smyth (of Dublin), a great-grandson of Edward Smyth, is a distinguished sculptor of high reputeā€¦His great-grandfather, Edward Smyth, slighted by his own countrymen, was appreciated and honoured by Gandon. In Ireland, largely helped thereto by the Freeman article, we shall henceforth duly honour Edward Smyth. But why not honour the living, and value the skill and the genius which is in our midst?'(2)   Smyth's works seem to have been almost exclusively for Catholic churches.

According to the 1911 census, Smyth married his wife, Esther, in 1880 or 1881 and at the time of the census had four surviving children.   He had taken his son George into partnership by 1915 and appears to have continued in business in Great Brunswick (later Pearse) Street until circa 1935.

Address: 196 Great Brunswick Street, <=1896->=1907; 192 Great Brunswick Street, <=1915->=1934.
Home: 6 Victoria Terrace, Pembroke, Dublin, 1911.

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from the 1911 Census of Ireland, www.census.nationalarchives.ie (last visited, May 2010) and from Thom's directories.

(1) W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392.
(2) IB 63, 2 Jul 1921, 449.


15 work entries listed in chronological order for SMYTH, GEORGE [2] *


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Building: CO. LONGFORD, LONGFORD, ST MEL'S ROAD, CATHEDRAL OF ST MEL (RC)
Date: 1890ca
Nature: Pedimental sculpture in portico designed by Ashlin.
Refs: IB 35, 15 Apr 1893, 95; Christine Casey & Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North Leinster (1993), 378

Building: CO. CORK, MIDLETON, CHURCH OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY (RC)
Date: 1895
Nature: Altar rails, to designs by G.C. Ashlin.
Refs: Drawings in IAA, Ashlin & Coleman drawings collection

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, JAMES'S STREET, CHURCH OF ST JAMES (RC)
Date: 1897
Nature: High altar and reredos.
Refs: Clonliffe College Archive, MS p1/2;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005),  630.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, WICKLOW, MARKET SQUARE, BILLY BYRNE MONUMENT
Date: 1899-1900
Nature: GS sculptor of statue (6ft 6 ins high) on monument and of 4relief panels on base, representing Erin, Michael Dwyer, General William J. Holt and William Michael Byrne.
Refs: Wicklow Newsletter, 15 Dec 1900.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, BALTINGLASS, 1798 MEMORIAL
Date: 1904
Nature: Statue of young man with gun by 'Smyth of Dublin'.
Refs: Paula Murphy, Nineteenth-Century Irish Sculpture: Native Genius Reaffirmed  (Yale University Press: New Haven & London, 2010),243(illus.).
.

Building: CO. CORK, COBH, CATHEDRAL OF ST COLMAN (RC)
Date: 1911-1917
Nature: 3 statues of SS. Joseph, John the Baptist and the Virgin on W doorway.
Refs: Jesse Castle Metlitski and Richard Oram, Report on Cobh Cathedral for Carrig Conservation, Dublin (2001)
 (information from Mgr. James O'Brien, Buttevant, Co. Cork, Aug 2010).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BEECHWOOD AVENUE UPPER (RANELAGH), CHURCH OF THE HOLY NAME (RC)
Date: 1914
Nature: Execution of high and side altars, to designs by W.H. Byrne & Son.
Refs: Freeman's Journal, 20 Jun 1914.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, ASHFORD, CHURCH OF THE HOLY ROSARY (RC)
Date: 1917a
Nature: High altar of Sicilian marble.
Refs: Wicklow Newsletter, 28 Jul 1917.

Building: CO. GALWAY, HEADFORD, CHURCH (RC)
Date: 1921
Nature: High altar and marble flooring. (Architect: R.M. Butler).
Refs: Tuam Herald, 16 Jul 1921.

Building: CO. DERRY, BELLAGHY, CHURCH OF ST MARY (RC)
Date: 1923
Nature: High altar in Sicilian marble designed by John Valentine Brennan executed by Smyth & Sons.
Refs: Tuam Herald, 4 Aug 1923.

Building: CO. WESTMEATH, MULLINGAR, CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE KING (RC)
Date: 1936a
Nature: Sanctuary fittings by Earley & Co, Gunning, Smyth;s, J. & C. McGloughin.
Refs: Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar: a guide (reference from B. of I. files).

Building: CO. CAVAN, CAVAN, FARNHAM STREET, CATHEDRAL OF SS PATRICK & FELIM (RC, DIOCESE OF KILMORE)
Date: ?
Nature: Statues of Christ, SS Patrick & Felim.
Refs: The Book of Kilmore Cathedral (1947) (B. of I.)

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILKENNY, DUBLIN ROAD, CHURCH OF ST JOHN (RC)
Date: ?
Nature: 'For grasp and vigour of design, for symmetry of outline and for delicacy of detail the sculptured groups and figurs around the High Altar...could scarcely be excelled.'
Refs: Letter from Edmund Burke, MA, in IB 63, 2 Jul 1921, 449

Building: CO. ARMAGH, ARMAGH, CATHEDRAL ROAD, CATHEDRAL OF ST PATRICK (RC)
Date: ?
Nature: 'Much of his fine work adorns our churches and cathedrals - notably in Queenstown and Armagh.'
Refs: Letter from Edmund Burke, MA, in IB 63, 2 Jul 1921, 449

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, SANDYMOUNT ROAD, CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA (RC)
Date: ?
Nature: Portrait bust of Canon O'Hanlon.
Refs: Letter from Edmund Burke, MA, in IB 63, 2 Jul 1921, 449