Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect and civil engineer, of Dublin and South Africa, active in Ireland during the1920s. Brendan Clinch, who was born on 25 August 1905, was a son of Francis Clinch, solicitor, of 10 Greenmount Road, Terenure. He served a pupillage, under GEORGE LUKE O'CONNOR  GEORGE LUKE O'CONNOR while also attending architectural courses arranged by the Architectural Association of Ireland.   On completing his pupillage in 1926, he worked in the office of JOSEPH FRANCIS DELANY  JOSEPH FRANCIS DELANY at 97 St Stephen's Green, before joining the staff of the Office of Public Works as an architectural assistant.   In the latter capacity he worked on the restoration of the  General Post Office, damaged by British forces in 1916, and the Custom House, burnt out by the IRA in 1921.

In August 1928 Clinch emigrated to South Africa, armed with a letter of introduction from the English architect Sir HERBERT BAKER HERBERT BAKER , who had designed major buildings for the South African government, including Government House and the Capital Buildings.  He arrived in September 1828 and remained in the country for the rest of his life. After working initially for the public works department in Pretoria, he moved to Johannesburg, where he set up in private practice, designing many buildings for the Catholic community, including the Catholic cathedral in Pretoria and at least four Catholic churches in Johannesburg.   He remained active until at least 1982.   In 1987 he moved to the neighbourhood of Durban, where he died on 9 July 1989.   He had married Transvaal-born Joan Winifred Leslie in Pretoria on 20 June 1932 and had two daughters and a son.

RIAI: elected student, 1925;(2) elected member, 6 February1928; ceased membership, 1933.(3)

Addresses:(4) 10 Greenmount Road, Terenure 1925-6; 97 St Stephen's Green 1928; Arcadia Hotel, Beatrix Street, Pretoria 1929-1933.

See WORKS, for Irish work onlly.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from Jonas Hughes, grandson of Brendan Clinch, Feb 2011, and from www.sahra.org.za, the website of the South African Heritage Resource Agency.

(1) JRIAI (1926), 5.
(2) JRIAI (1929), 7. 
(3) JRIAI (1934), 7.
(4) From RIAI membership lists.


1 work entries listed in chronological order for CLINCH, BRENDAN JOSEPH


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Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, INCHICORE, HOUSES (006)
Date: 1925
Nature: 6 new houses
Refs: IB 67, 11 Jul 1925, 570