Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Belfast. Denis O'Donoghue Hanna, son of JAMES A. HANNA JAMES A. HANNA , was born in 1901 and educated at Campbell College, Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. He was at Trinity, according to his obituarist in the RSUA Yearbook, 'at a time when the Celtic Revival was rampant in literary Dublin and he was swept into the tide in his most impressionable years. For the rest of his life he was imbued with the love of theatre'. Hanna also attended the College of Art (?Belfast or Dublin). He was practising as a civil engineer and architect from 29 Molesworth Street, Dublin, in 1927. Later he moved to Belfast, where he was in practice with his father from 1933(1) or earlier until 1939. Between 1939 and 1942 he gave up his Belfast office and worked instead from his home at Holywood, Co. Down. He is described as diocesan architect for the diocese of Cashel in 1959(2) and for the diocese of Connor in 1961.(3) He exhibited designs at the Royal Hibernian Academy between 1932 and 1939.

Hanna was also a lecturer, illustrator and writer,(4) best known for his book The Face of Ulster, published in 1952.  He is remembered by one of his former draughtsmen, Francis Heaney, who worked for Hanna in the early 1960s, as 'a very fine gentleman and teacher' who provided employment for artists in many of his churches.(5)  He died in October 1971, survived by his widow, Nora. His sons Brian and Colm, who moved to England, were also architects.(5)

RIBA: elected licentiate, 1938.(6)
RSUA: associate member by 1937.

Addresses: Work: 29 Molesworth Street, Dublin, 1927; 3 Wellington Place, Belfast, 1933-1937;(7) 3 College Square North, Belfast, 1937-1939;(8) 22 Howard Street, Belfast, 1957  15 Chichester Street, from 1962 or earlier.(9)
Home: Shielmartin, Baily, Howth, Co. Dublin, 1927; Cuillaire, Church Road, Holywood, Co. Down, <=1942 until death.

See WORKS, BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from the obituary of Hanna in RSUA Year Book (1973), 75, which also contains an illustrated appreciation, 82-85, and from Thom's directories (street directory section and lists of members of RSUA).

(1) He gaves 3 Wellington Place, Belfast, as his address when he exhibited at the RHA in 1933; see RHA Index, II, 53.
(2) IB 101, 19 Sep 1959, 691.
(3) IB 103, 15 Apr 1961, 293.
(4) See IB 80, 12 Nov 1938, 950; 91, 10 Dec 1949, 1160; 94, 30 Sep 1952, 820.
(5) E-mail communication from Franics Heaney, Dec 2010.
(6) Information from Francis Heaney, as above.
(6) RIBA Kalendar 1957-1958, 251.
(7) See note 1, above.
(8) See RHA Index, II, 53. .
(9) RSUA Year Book 1962-63, 112;  information from Francis Heaney, as above.


14 work entries listed in chronological order for HANNA, DENIS O'DONOGHUE


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Building: CO. DERRY, DERRY, CLOONEY TERRACE (WATERSIDE), PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Date: 1924-1927
Nature: Tenders sought for carrying out adds., 1924.. Chancel enriced by erection of handsome arcading in Derbyshire alabaster. Builders: Purdy & Millard.
Refs: B 127, 25 Jul 1924, 145; IB 69, 25 Jun 1927, 473

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CIRCULAR ROAD, HOUSE
Date: 1934
Nature: -
Refs: IB 76, 14 Jul 1934, 601

Building: CO. ARMAGH, LURGAN, CHURCH PLACE, CHRIST CHURCH (CI, SHANKILL PARISH)
Date: 1938
Nature: Oak panelling in west porch.
Refs: IB 80, 14 May 1938, 414

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, TAUGHMONAGH, CHURCH HALL
Date: 1954
Nature: For Presbyterian and Methodist congregations.
Refs: IB 96, 13 Mar 1954, 257

Building: CO. DOWN, BANGOR, HOUSES (008)
Date: 1954a
Nature: Speculative housing scheme for lower income groups.
Refs: Architectural Survey 1954, 12(illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, RATHCOOLE ESTATE (NEWTOWNABBEY), ST COMGALL'S CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1955-56
Nature: New 'double decker church' with church on top of hall. Builder: F. & W. Bell. £15,700. Consecrated 1 Dec 1956.
Refs: IB 97, 19 Nov 1955, 1205; 98, 1 Dec 1956, 1100; 99, 26 Jan 1957, 57(illus.); Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 104 (no. N9, illus.); Clergy of Connor (Ulster Historical Foundation, 1993), 182

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, SYDENHAM AVENUE, HOUSE
Date: 1956
Nature: Caretaker's house for St Mark's church and hall.
Refs: Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 82 (no. 189)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, DUNMURRY, CHURCH HALL (ST HILDA'S CI PARISH)
Date: 1958
Nature: Builder: William Grace & Co. Cost: £17,000.
Refs: IB 101, 4 Oct 1958, 727

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, KILLOSCULLY, CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1959
Nature: New.
Refs: IB 101, 19 Sep 1959, 691

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CHICHESTER STREET, NO. 015-19 (ALEXANDER KINNAIRD & SONS)
Date: 1960ca
Nature: 5-storey framed block with bronze relief sculpture. Contained Hanna's own office.
Refs: Marcus Patton, Central Belfast: an historical gazetteer (UAHS, 1993), 61;  information from Francis Heaney, draughtsman in Hanna's office ca 1961-64, Dec 2010.

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, NEWTOWNARDS ROAD UPPER, CHURCH OF ST MOLUA (CI)
Date: 1961-2
Nature: Church (£60,000) and church hall behind it. Ded. 16 Apr 1960, FS laid 17 Jun 1961. Consecrated 3 Nov 1962.
Refs: IB 103, 1 Apr,19 Aug 1961, 251,661; 104, 10 Nov 1962, 851; 105, 11 May 1963, 359(illus.); Clergy of Down & Dromore (Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996), 87(illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MOUNT MERRION AVENUE (CREGAGH), CHURCH OF THE PENTECOST (CI)
Date: 1961-63
Nature: Gabled red-brick church added to earlier hall.
Refs: IB 103, 19 Aug 1961, 661; 105, 30 Mar 1963, 231; Clergy of Down & Dromore (Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996), 74(illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, LARKFIELD ROAD (SYDENHAM), CHURCH OF ST BRENDAN (CI)
Date: 1962
Nature: FS laid, Apr 1962. Consecrated 5 Jan 1963. Stone came from 12th century Ardfert Cathedral. £23,000. Completely demolished in storm of 13 Jan 1965 and later replaced with church designed by Gordon McKnight.
Refs: IB 103, 15Apr 1961, 293; 104, 14 Apr 1962, 282; 105, 19 Jan 1963, 51; Clergy of Down & Dromore (Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996), 77

Building: CO. FERMANAGH, LISNASKEA, CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY (CI)
Date: ?
Nature: Carved oak reredos in S aisle.
Refs: Claude Costegalde & Brian Walker, The Church of Ireland: an illustrated history (2013), 152.

Author Title Date Details
Hanna, Denis O'donoghue 'The Ulster tradition'
Essay in An Exhibition of Architecture (RSUA, 1951), 9-13.
Hanna, Denis O'donoghue Georgian Architecture in Northern Ireland…A photographic exhibition organised by CEMA, Northern Ireland 1949 [London]: Arts Council of Great Britain, 1949.
Hanna, Denis O'donoghue Ulster Barn Churches 1952 Exhibition catalogue, 1952.
Hanna, Denis O'donoghue The Face of Ulster 1952 London & New York: Batsford, 1952.
Hanna, Denis O'donoghue 'Ulster Georgian' 1958 BIGSI 1, no. 3 (July-Sep 1958), 36.