Desmond Rea O'Kelly facts for kids
Desmond Rea O’Kelly (born 7 November 1923 – died 18 February 2011) was a famous architect from Ireland. He is best known for designing Liberty Hall in Dublin. This building was once the tallest office building in Ireland. It stood at 59.4 meters (195 feet) high. Liberty Hall was very modern for its time in the late 1950s. It was mostly built using strong reinforced concrete.
Contents
Who Was Desmond Rea O'Kelly?
Desmond Rea O'Kelly was a talented person who loved to design and build. He studied at University College Dublin. In 1945, he earned a degree in civil engineering. This means he learned how to plan and build large structures like buildings and bridges.
Becoming a Top Architect
Desmond Rea O'Kelly became a very respected architect. In 1977, he joined the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). This is a special group for architects in Ireland. Later, in 2002, he was chosen as a "fellow" of the RIAI. This means he was recognized as one of the best architects in the country. He also became a fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland in 1985.
Amazing Building Projects
Desmond Rea O'Kelly worked on many important buildings. His most famous design is Liberty Hall. But he also helped to preserve and improve other historic places.
Working on Malahide Castle
Later in his career, Dublin Tourism asked him to work on Malahide Castle. This is a very old and important castle. He found a clever way to make its old staircase stronger. He did this so well that you couldn't even see how he had fixed it! This showed how smart and skilled he was as an engineer and architect.
Saving History at Dublin Writers Museum
He also worked on the Dublin Writers Museum. This museum is in Parnell Square. Some parts of the building had been damaged. The plasterwork inside had gotten wet and was in bad shape. Desmond Rea O'Kelly managed to save this important plasterwork. His work helped to protect a piece of history for everyone to enjoy.
Beyond Architecture
Besides his work as an architect, Desmond Rea O’Kelly also enjoyed golf. This shows he had interests outside of his professional life.
