Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Dublin. James Joseph Farrall,(1) who, according to the 1911 census was born in Co. Dublin in 1856 or 1857,was the son of James J. Farrall of Lissonfield, Rathmines, veterinary surgeon to the Lord Lieutenant and the Royal Irish Constabulary. He was a nephew of JOHN MCCURDY  JOHN MCCURDY to whom he was articled and in whose office he spent many years as pupil and assistant. He later worked for WILLIAM SIDNEY COX  WILLIAM SIDNEY COX of Limerick, and WALTER GLYNN DOOLIN  WALTER GLYNN DOOLIN of Dublin. He then set up in business on his own, practising in Waterford and Clonmel before finally establishing himself in Dublin in 1883.(2) He worked principally on commercial buildings. He also carried out work for the Pembroke Township Commissioners.(3) For many years he employed ALFRED RICHARD OWEN  ALFRED RICHARD OWEN to help him with the preparation of drawings. Owen, an 'extraordinarily neat, rapid and skilful draughtsman', was on the staff of the Office of Public Works but was capable of 'accomplishing as much drawing in a single evening after office hours as an ordinary assistant would do in a week'.(4)   In 1905 Farrall established the Rosslare Golf Club as a business venture but went bankrupt the following year, when the links and the rest of the land which he had bought in 1904 - including Rosslare House - were sold.(5)

Farrall died suddenly in September 1911 on a professional visit to Belfast.   Earlier in the year he appears in the census as living on his own as a boarder at Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, although he is also described as 'Married'.  He is described in his obituary in the Irish Builder as friendly and genial. 'Socially a very popular personality, he was much sought after at all social functions as the possessor of a magnificent baritone voice; unquestionably in his day no amateur, and few professionals in Ireland had so fine a voice, an accomplishment he used with delightful taste and cultured skill.' His pupils and assistants included RUDOLF MAXIMILIAN BUTLER.& RUDOLF MAXIMILIAN BUTLER.& #160;

AAI: a 'J. Farrell' was elected member on 30 January 1873.(5)
RIAI: proposed as member by J. McCurdy, 19 April 1880;(6) elected member, 7? April 1883;(7) ceased membership in 1907.(8)

Addresses: 16 Leeson Park Avenue, 1868-1871;(9) 8 Johnston Street, Clonmel, 1880; (10) 6 Westmoreland Street, Dublin, 1883->=1907;(11) 19 Kildare Street, 1909 until death.(12)
Home:(13) 44 Sandycove Road, 1884-1885; Mount Alverno, Dalkey, 1887; Marietta, Breffni Road, Sandycove, 1888->=1900;  4 Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, 1911.

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from the obituary of Farrall in IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672.

(1) The name is frequently spelled Farrell, but the unusual spelling Farrall is the correct one.
(2) He was still in Clonmel when he was elected a member of the RIAI in Apr 1883 but he reappears in Thom's Directory for 1884.
(3) IB 49, 6 Apr 1907, 237.
(4) Obituary of Owen in IB 56, 31 Jan 1914, 83.
(5)   Irish Times, 10 May.2 Jun 1906.  See also Tom Williams Fairways of The Sea - 100 years of golf at Rosslare 1905 - 2005 (Rossclare Golf Club, 2005), 7-15. 
(6) IB 15, 15 Jan,15 Feb 1873, 25,56.
(7) RIAI council meeting minutes, 19 Apr 1880, 219.
(8) RIAI council meeting minutes, 7 Apr 1883, 226; but Jones's transcripts are not clear; another transcript from the council meeting minutes (p. 225) says that he was passed for ballot on 9 Apr.
(9) RIAI lists of members.
(10) Jones transcripts from lists of architects in trades section of Thom's directories.
(11) RIAI council meeting minutes, 19 Apr 1880, 219.
(12) RIAI council meeting minutes, 7 Apr 1883, 226; Thom's Directory, 1884; RIAI lists of members; IB 49, 27 Jul 1907, 509.
(13) IB 51, 20 Feb 1909, 113.
(14) Jones transcripts from lists of architects in trades section of Thom's directories.


34 work entries listed in chronological order for FARRALL, JAMES JOSEPH


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Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, O'CONNELL STREET LOWER, O'CONNELL MONUMENT
Date: 1864-1865
Nature: JF competition entrant. (First competition announced, Oct 1864.)
Refs: B 23, 4 Mar 1865, 152

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, CLONMEL, PARNELL STREET, TOWN HALL
Date: 1879
Nature: New town hall. Tenders invited, Jul-Aug 1879.JJF exhibits design for at RHA, 1881
Refs: Drawing, signed and dated 1879, in IAA Workhouse Drawings Collection, 85/138.93;  Irish Times, 25,28,29 Jul,1,4,5,6,9 Aug 1879;  RHA 1881, no. 645 (name given as J.C. Farrell in RHA Index); IAA, PKS B09/16

Building: CO. MEATH, MOYNALTY, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1884
Nature: Completed 1884; 'adds immensely to the importance and beauty of the village'. By 'J.A. Farrel'. Could this be JJF?
Refs: IB 26, 15 Oct 1884, 312

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WESTMORELAND STREET, NO. 007 (NORTHERN FIRE & LIFE ASSURANCE CO.)
Date: 1885
Nature: Competition entrant.
Refs: RHA 1887, no. 480; IB 29, 1 Jan 1887, 4; 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, COLLEGE GREEN, NO. 032-33 (ULSTER BANK)
Date: 1887
Nature: JJF placed second in competition.
Refs: RHA 1888, No. 481; IB 31, 15 Apr 1889, 103 (illus.); IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HARCOURT STREET, NO. 089-90 (WELLINGTON HOUSE PRIVATE HOME HOSPITAL)
Date: 1888
Nature: Works at same, for Major Carr. (Tenant of premises, Dr Purefoy). Builder: Larkin.
Refs: IAA, PKS B14/32

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WESTMORELAND STREET, NO. 006 (BATTERSBY & CO.)
Date: 1889
Nature: Rebuilding in gabled Queen Anne idiom.. JJF had his own office at No. 6.
Refs: IB 31, 15 Jun 1889, 159, 30 Sep 1911, 672;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 421.


Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DAME STREET, NO. 059-61 (LIPTON)
Date: 1890
Nature: Reconstruction of former premises of Mr Loftus Bryan.Work started Sep 1890. Opened 19 Dec 1890.  Said to have cost between £7,000 and £8,000. Contractor: Samuel Worthington, Dame St.
Refs: Irish Times, 20 Dec 1890 (description).

Building: CO. KILDARE, NAAS, ULSTER BANK
Date: 1890ca
Nature: New bank. Tenders invited Sep, Oct 1890.
Refs: Architect 44, 24 Oct 1890, supplement, p. 2; IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672;  Irish Times, 18 Oct 1890.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, KING STREET SOUTH, NO. 026-28 (HERRON, CONOLLY & CO.)
Date: 1890ca
Nature: -
Refs: Architect, ? ? 1890, ?

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CAMBRIDGE ROAD (RINGSEND), HOUSES (040)
Date: 1892
Nature: 40 artisans' dwellings for Pembroke Township Commissioners.
Refs: Irish Times, 26 Apr,10 May 1892;   IB 34, 15 May,1 Jun 1892, 117,124

Building: CO. DOWN, NEWCASTLE, SLIEVE DONARD HOTEL
Date: 1895-98
Nature: JJF wins competition held by directors of Belfast and Co. Down Railway. (Assessor: Alfred Waterhouse). With Young & Mackenzie. Tenders invited, Feb 1896. Clerk of Works: Matthew Alexander Robinson.. Hotel opened Summer, 1898. Cost: £80,000. Ruabon brick with Dumfries stone. Green tiled and copper roof. Contractor: H. & J. Martin.
Refs: PRONI, W.H. Stephens & Son papers, D1898/1/25-6; IB 37, 1 Apr 1895, 84; 40, 1 Jul 1898, 100; 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672;  IAA, RIAI office archives (Acc. 93/136), membership forms 1878-1909 (extremely fragile);  Irish Times, 2 Apr 1895, 5 Feb 1896;   B 68, 6 Apr 1895, 263; Building News 68, 5 Apr 1895, 498;  Paul Harron, Architects of Ulster: Young & Mackenzie, a transformational provincial practice 1850-1960 (Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2016), 259(ILLUS.).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, RINGSEND, HOUSES (100)
Date: 1899
Nature: JJF to prepare artisans' housing scheme 'of about 100 dwellings of different classes, those for the very poor to be in a different street' for Pembroke Urban District Council.
Refs: Irish Times, 22 Aug 1899.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WESTMORELAND STREET, NO. 039 (BATTERSBY & CO.)
Date: 1900
Nature: Conversion of premises (formerly Austin & Co., jewellers) into auctioneer's sale rooms for Battersby & Co. Contractor: H. & J. Martin, Dublin. Battersby & Co. given ossession of premises, 5 Jun 1900.
Refs: Irish Times, 23 Jun 1900;  IB 42, 1,15 Jul 1900, 403,422; 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672; B 79, 14 Jul 1900, 39.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DONNYBROOK, BATHS & WASHHOUSES
Date: 1900
Nature: New baths to be erected at cost of £3,200 for Pembroke UDC.
Refs: IB 42, 15 Jan,15 Apr 1900, 243,335

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MOLESWORTH STREET, NO. 017-18 (FREEMASONS' HALL)
Date: 1900
Nature: Warming, ventilation & cooking arrangements. Contractors: Maguire & Gatchell. (And also extensive additions at rear in 1901? See Browne.)
Refs: IB 42, 1 Apr 1900, 323;  Tony Browne, 'A Building Study (2008) of the Freemason's Hall', 98-9http://irishmasonicjewels.ie/ (last visited Feb 2010).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DONNYBROOK, HOUSES
Date: 1900
Nature: Labourers' cottages, for Pembroke Township Commissioners.
Refs: Irish Times, 18 Apr 1900;  IB 42, 1 May 1900, 347

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ANNE STREET SOUTH, SAVOY BUFFET
Date: 1900
Nature: Proposed rebuilding of premises at cost between £6000 and £8000.
Refs: Irish Times, 14 Jan 1901.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, BRAY, ESPLANADE, BRESLIN'S MARINE STATION HOTEL
Date: 1900
Nature: Breslin's Royal Marine Hotel purchased by Dublin, Wicklow & Wexford Railway for £14,000 and to be remodelled 'on modern lines as a station hotel' by Mssrs. Meade to designs by JJF.  Reopened, 18 Aug 1900.
Refs: Irish Times, 20 Aug 1900;  IB 42, 15 Jan,1 Mar,1 Apr,15 Sep 1900, 242,293,323,483.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, GRAFTON STREET, NO. 003 (FITZHENRY)
Date: 1900a
Nature: New building 'transformed into a magnificent restaurant' for the Misses M & C.M. FitzHenry. 6 storeys witn bay windows.  Exterior of red Dumfries sandstone 'with handsomely carved stone pediments'. Contractor: H. & W. Martin.
Refs: Irish Times, 23 Oct 1900.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WESTMORELAND STREET, NO. 035-36 (WILLIAM BOLTON & CO.)
Date: 1901
Nature: Remodelling of premises for W. Bolton & Co., wine merchants and grocers.. Interior turned into one large warehouse and old front made into one instead of two shops. New 'granite and mahogany-framed shop front, with handsome carved plate glass fitted in'. Contractors: Millar & Beatty.
Refs: Irish Times, 21 Dec 1901; IB 44, 2 Jan 1902, 994

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ABBEY STREET MIDDLE, NO. 068 (GEORGE YOUNG)
Date: 1903-04
Nature: New large shop. Contractor: A. Frazer, Bray & Dun Laoghaire.
Refs: IB 54, 13 Aug 1903, 1912; 46, 16 Jul 1904, 446

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CLARE STREET, NO. 029 (LEINSTER CLUB)
Date: 1907
Nature: Renovation and addition.
Refs: IB 49, 4 May,27 Jul 1907, 324,509; IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CLONTARF ROAD, NO. 198-199 (THE SHEDS PUBLIC HOUSE)
Date: 1909
Nature: Rebuilding and interior fittings. Contractor: P. Shortall, Temple St.
Refs: IB 51, 20 Feb,24 Jul 1909, 113,469

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DAME STREET, NO. 072 (EMPIRE PALACE THEATRE, LATER OLYMPIA THEATRE)
Date: ?
Nature: Alterations.
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ANNE STREET SOUTH, NO. 032-34 (THEATRE, PROPOSED)
Date: ?
Nature: Proposed new theatre on site of former Grafton Theatre of Varieties, with Bertie Crewe. For Savoy Palace of Varieties, Dublin, Ltd.
Refs: Prospectus in Irish Times, 21 Nov 1896; obituary of Farrall in IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, LEINSTER STREET, NO. 009 (ALEX. FINDLATER)
Date: ?
Nature: JJF designs premises and adjoining premises.
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BAGGOT STREET UPPER, NO. 032 (HAYES, CONYNGHAM & ROBINSON)
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BAGGOT STREET UPPER, NO. 028-30 (ALEX. FINDLATER)
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BAGGOT STREET UPPER, NO. 014 (COONEY BROS)
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BAGGOT STREET UPPER, NO. 012 (EASTMAN'S)
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. DUBLIN, LUCAN, SPA HOTEL
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. WEXFORD, ROSSLARE, ROSSLARE HOTEL
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672

Building: CO. WICKLOW, ALTIDORE CASTLE
Date: ?
Nature: Extensive alts. & adds. (Used as private sanatorium from 1901, see Wicklow Newsletter, 16 Mar 1901.))
Refs: IB 53, 30 Sep 1911, 672