Ralph Henry Byrne

He was born in Largo House, Rathmines, Dublin^[1] on 25 April 1877. His parents were William Henry, architect, and May Anna Gertrude Byrne (née Dillon). He had four brothers and one sister.^[2] He was educated at home and at St George's College, Weybridge. He was articled by his father from 1896 to 1901, becoming a partner in his father's firm in 1902 under the name William H. Byrne & Son.^[2][3] He spent six months apprenticed to Thomas Edward Marshall of Harrogate.^[1]

Byrne worked closely with his father, designing the church of St Agatha, North William Street, Dublin, which was completed in 1909.^[2] His father became blind in 1913, with Byrne taking over the practice. After his father's death, Byrne kept trading as William H. Byrne & Son.^[1] As well as designing buildings, Byrne was involved in reconstruction.^[2]

His assistants and students included Arnold Francis Hendy, Sheila Tindal and Guy Hemingway Yeoman.^[1] Simon Aloysius Leonard (1903–1976), his wife's nephew, became his partner in 1936. Byrne became a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland in 1902, a fellow in 1920, and served as vice-president in 1938. He was a member of the Architectural Association of Ireland from 1906 to 1946.^[2][3]

• Hibernian Bank building (1917–1919), O'Connell Street
• National Maternity Hospital, Dublin (1937), possibly Europe's first fully electrified hospital
• SS Peter and Paul, Athlone, County Westmeath (commenced 1932)
• Church of the Sacred Heart, Cardonagh, County Donegal (1941–1945)
• SS Patrick and Felim, Cavan (dedicated 1942)^[2]

He married Mary Josephine Mangan (died 1947) of Dunboyne Castle on 21 November 1905. They had one son, Frank William Barrett Mangan Byrne (1910-30 May 1940), a captain in the Royal Irish Fusiliers.^[1]

He died in his home at 9 Ailesbury Road on 15 April 1946,^[1] and is buried in Glasnevin cemetery.^[2]