Gabriel Hayes (25 August 1909 – 28 October 1978) was an Irish artist born in
Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
. She was a
sculptor
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
and
medallist
A medalist (or medallist) is an artist who designs medals, plaquettes, badges, metal medallions, coins and similar small works in relief in metal. Historically, medalists were typically also involved in producing their designs, and were usually e ...
who studied in Dublin, France, and Italy and was also an accomplished painter.
Early life and family
![Gabriel hayse 2020 art](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Gabriel_hayse_2020_art.jpg)
Mary Gabriel Hayes was born on 25 August 1909 at
Holles Street Hospital
The National Maternity Hospital ( ga, An tOspidéal Náisiúnta Máithreachais), popularly known as Holles Street Hospital, is a large maternity hospital in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The hospital is located at the eastern corner of Merrion Squ ...
, Dublin. Her parents were Jeremiah and Gertrude Hayes (née Lawlor). Her father was a member of the
Royal Irish Constabulary
The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC, ga, Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann; simply called the Irish Constabulary 1836–67) was the police force in Ireland from 1822 until 1922, when all of the country was part of the United Kingdom. A separate ...
, and worked in the prison service. Hayes was primarily raised by her aunt.
She attended in the Dominican College, Eccles Street, Dublin. She studied for a year at the
Dublin Metropolitan School of Art
The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) is Ireland's oldest art institution, offering the largest range of art and design degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the country. Originating as a drawing school in 1746, many of th ...
(DMSA) in 1925 to 1926,
before living in the United States for a short time. She then moved to France to study French in Montpellier for 3 years. While there, she took art classes and visited art galleries before moving to Paris. Returning to Dublin, she enrolled in the DMSA in 1930, spending her summer holidays in Italy or France.
While at the DMSA, she focused on painting while studying under
Seán Keating
Seán Keating (born John Keating, 28 September 1889 – 21 December 1977) was an Irish romantic-realist painter who painted some iconic images of the Irish War of Independence and of the early industrialization of Ireland. He spent two week ...
and
Oliver Sheppard
Oliver Sheppard (10 April 1865 – 14 September 1941) was an Irish sculptor, most famous for his 1911 bronze statue of the mythical Cuchullain dying in battle. His work was also part of the art competitions at the 1924 Summer Olympics and the ...
. In her second year at the DMSA, she won the teachers-in-training scholarship. She finished her studies at the DMSA in 1936.
In 1936, Hayes married
Seán P. Ó Ríordáin, an archaeologist who was working at the
National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland ( ga, Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann) is Ireland's leading museum institution, with a strong emphasis on national and some international archaeology, Irish history, Irish art, culture, and natural history. It has thre ...
at the time. They moved to
Monkstown, County Cork
Monkstown ( - 'the town of the monk', formerly anglicised as ''Ballinvannegh'') is a village in County Cork, Ireland, in the old barony of Kerrycurrihy. It lies 14 kilometres southeast of Cork city on the estuary of the River Lee, facing Great Is ...
when he took up a post as chair of archaeology in
University College Cork
University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork.
The university was founded in 1845 as one of ...
.
They had one daughter and one son.
After the death of her husband, Hayes moved to near
Celbridge
Celbridge (; ) is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. Both a local centre and a commuter town within the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the ...
, County Kildare.
Career
Whilst a student at the
Dublin Metropolitan School of Art
The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) is Ireland's oldest art institution, offering the largest range of art and design degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the country. Originating as a drawing school in 1746, many of th ...
, Hayes provided at least two paintings for an exhibition at Egan's Gallery, St Stephen's Green, Dublin in October 1934. The Irish Independent newspaper reported: "In the still life section, 'The Goddess of the Moon', by Gabriel Hayes, is outstanding. The brushwork in the oil painting is exceptionally good". The report elsewhere states that "Amongst the heads, mention must be made of ... Gabriel Hayes's 'Emigrants'". Her large oil painting depicting St Brigid "attracted much attention" when it was exhibited at the
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823. Like many other Irish institutions, such as the RIA, the academy retained the word "Royal" after most of Ireland became in ...
in Dublin in 1936 When Archdeacon John Begley completed his third and final volume on the history of the diocese of Limerick ("The Diocese of Limerick from 1691 to the Present Time", pub. Browne & Nolan 1938), he was presented with his "much admired" portrait which was painted in oil by Hayes. Hayes' portrait of Professor
Aloys Fleischmann (1910-1992), the German-born Professor of Music at University College Cork, titled "At Rehearsal" or "Professor A. Fleischmann - A Rehearsal", "attracted considerable attention" when it was exhibited in 1938 in Dublin at the 109th Exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy. The artist described how she had sketched the details of the picture in her home in Cork, and then brought the unfinished canvas to Dublin for completion, depicting the background as that of the Exhibition Hall where the picture was subsequently exhibited. Most of her works are in private hands. Hayes illustrated two books of stories for younger readers: ''Tales of Tara'' by Ethel Boyce Parsons (Talbot Press Ltd., Dublin, 1934) and ''The Long-Tailed Hen and other stories'' by M.F. MacGeehin (Talbot Press Ltd., Dublin, 1935).
Hayes designed several artworks in public and religious buildings in Ireland. Her best known works were the
halfpenny,
penny
A penny is a coin ( pennies) or a unit of currency (pl. pence) in various countries. Borrowed from the Carolingian denarius (hence its former abbreviation d.), it is usually the smallest denomination within a currency system. Presently, it is t ...
, and
two pence coins she designed for the
Irish decimal currency introduced in 1971. She submitted ideas at her own initiative when no design competition was held. She is also responsible for the other aspects of the decimal currency such as lettering and decoration.
One year before she died, in June 1977, Hayes was one of just four prize winners from 260 entries in the Oireachtas Art Exhibition for her wooden sculpture titled ''Grainne Mhaol Looking Out to Sea''. The sculpture, carved in walnut, depicted the head of Grace O'Malley (Grainne Mhaol) - the 16th century chief of the O'Malley clan often referred to as "The Pirate Queen".
In February 2005, when
An Post
(; literally 'The Post') is the state-owned provider of postal services in Ireland. An Post provides a "universal postal service" to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union. Services provided include letter post, p ...
issued a set of stamps celebrating female Irish artists, Hayes was commemorated on the 65c stamp with a picture of her work, ''The Three Graces'' (1941).
Adams Auction House Dublin, Ireland are selling "Portrait of a young boy" by Gabriel Hayes in March 2020
One of her works "The Cork Bowler" was sold at Christies in London in May 2000 for £23,500 stg. "The Cork Bowler" was sold again by auction at Sotheby's in London on 18 November 2019 for £81,250 stg (exceeding the estimate of £30,000-50,000 stg).
Excerpts from a biography of Gabriel Hayes by Professor Paula Murphy, are online at Sculpture Dublin
Works on display
* "Portrait of a young Boy" - Adams Auction House, St Stephens Green Dublin 2 (March 2020)
*
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The station ...
(1933) in plaster relief, Willington Parish,
Templeogue
Templeogue () is a southwestern suburb of Dublin in Ireland. It lies between the River Poddle and River Dodder, and is about halfway from Dublin's centre to the mountains to the south.
Geography Location
The centre of Templeogue is from bo ...
, Dublin.
* ''The Three Graces'' (1941),
Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT, ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath) was a major third-level institution in Dublin, Ireland. On 1 January 2019 DIT was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Technological Un ...
, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin
(Picture.)* Bas-reliefs (1942) on the facade o
Department of Industry and Commerce Kildare Street
Kildare Street () is a street in Dublin, Ireland.
Location
Kildare Street is close to the principal shopping area of Grafton Street and Dawson Street, to which it is joined by Molesworth Street. Trinity College lies at the north end of the ...
, Dublin. Note that this building now holds the Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
* Two bronze statues on sides altars of
Glanworth
Glanworth () is a village on the R512 road (Ireland), R512 regional road in County Cork, Ireland. It lies approximately northwest of the town of Fermoy and northeast of Cork (city), Cork city. As of 2016, Glanworth's population was 603.
Glanwo ...
church,
County Cork
County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns are ...
(1944)
* Stone statue of Madonna and child in the grounds of the Servite Priory,
Benburb
Benburb ()) is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies 7.5 miles from Armagh and 8 miles from Dungannon. The River Blackwater runs alongside the village as does the Ulster Canal.
History
It is best known, in his ...
,
County Tyrone
County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional Counties of Ireland, counties of Ireland. It is no longer used as an admini ...
(1950).
* Carving of the Ascension and two mosaics on the face of the parish church in
Gurranabraher
Gurranabraher () is a residential suburb on the north western side of Cork City. Its bounds range from the North Cathedral to Bakers Road to Blarney Street. Gurranabraher is located in Cork North-Central Dáil Éireann constituency.
Amenities ...
, Cork. There is also a mosaic behind the altar of the day chapel inside the church (1953/4).
* Stone Madonna on the front facade of the parish church in
Leixlip
Leixlip ( or ; , IPA: lʲeːmʲənˠˈwɾˠad̪ˠaːnʲ is a town in north-east County Kildare, Ireland. Its location on the confluence of the River Liffey and the Rye Water has marked it as a frontier town historically: on the border between ...
,
County Kildare
County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...
(1954).
* Bronze Madonna on the face of the church in the
Black Valley
The Black Valley or Cummeenduff () is a remote valley at the southern end of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountain range in Kerry, situated south of the Gap of Dunloe and north of Moll's Gap; it is used as a southerly access into the Gap of Dunloe. ...
,
County Kerry
County Kerry ( gle, Contae Chiarraí) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and forms part of the province of Munster. It is named after the Ciarraige who lived in part of the present county. The population of the co ...
(1955).
* Statue of Our Lady above the Franciscan Friary, Merchants Quay, Dublin (1955).
* Second of fourteen Stations of the cross, a stone carving in Saint John's Church,
Tralee
Tralee ( ; ga, Trá Lí, ; formerly , meaning 'strand of the Lee River') is the county town of County Kerry in the south-west of Ireland. The town is on the northern side of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula, and is the largest town in County ...
, County Kerry (1957). Note the other thirteen stations are paintings by
Seán Keating
Seán Keating (born John Keating, 28 September 1889 – 21 December 1977) was an Irish romantic-realist painter who painted some iconic images of the Irish War of Independence and of the early industrialization of Ireland. He spent two week ...
who taught her in the Metropolitan School of Art.
* Stone statue of
Saint Brendan
Brendan of Clonfert (c. AD 484 - c.577), is one of the early Celtic Christianity, Irish monastic saints and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is also referred to as Brendan the Navigator, Brendan the Voyager, Brendan the Anchorite, Br ...
in Saint John's Church,
Tralee
Tralee ( ; ga, Trá Lí, ; formerly , meaning 'strand of the Lee River') is the county town of County Kerry in the south-west of Ireland. The town is on the northern side of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula, and is the largest town in County ...
, County Kerry (1957).
* Bronze statue of
Luke Wadding
Luke Wadding, O.F.M. (16 October 158818 November 1657), was an Irish Franciscan friar and historian.
Life
Early life
Wadding was born on 16 October 1588 in Waterford to Walter Wadding of Waterford, a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Anastasia ...
(1958), Greyfriars street,
Waterford
"Waterford remains the untaken city"
, mapsize = 220px
, pushpin_map = Ireland#Europe
, pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ireland##Location within Europe
, pushpin_relief = 1
, coordinates ...
.
* Bronze Madonna on front facade of church in
Westport,
County Mayo
County Mayo (; ga, Contae Mhaigh Eo, meaning "Plain of the Taxus baccata, yew trees") is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Conn ...
(1960).
*
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The station ...
in Portland stone (1958–76),
Galway Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas (Irish language: ''Ard-Eaglais Mhaighdean na Deastógála agus Naomh Nioclás''), commonly known as Galway Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Galway, Ireland, and one of the ...
consisting of 28 life size figures.
* Stone Holy Family on the face of the school of the Holy Family in
Newbridge, County Kildare (1970).
* The Irish halfpenny, penny and two penny decimal coins (1971) (withdrawn from circulation in 2002 upon introduction of the euro).
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayes, Gabriel
1909 births
1978 deaths
20th-century Irish sculptors
Irish women sculptors
20th-century Irish women artists
Alumni of the National College of Art and Design
Currency designers
Irish designers
Irish sculptors
People from County Kildare
Women graphic designers