John Tuomey facts for kids

John Tuomey (born in 1954) is a famous Irish architect. He is known for designing buildings. He is also a member of Aosdána, which is an Irish group for artists. John Tuomey works with his wife, Sheila O'Donnell, in their company called O'Donnell & Tuomey. They started their company in 1988.

His Early Life

John Tuomey was born in a town called Tralee in 1954. Tralee is in County Kerry, Ireland. He spent most of his childhood growing up in Dundalk.

Building a Career in Architecture

John Tuomey studied architecture at University College Dublin (UCD). He finished his studies in 1976. After college, he joined a company called Stirling Wilford & Associates. He helped with many projects there, including the Neue Staatsgalerie in Germany.

In 1988, he started his own company with Sheila O'Donnell. In 1991, he led a group of architects called Group '91 Architects. This group helped to change and improve the Temple Bar, Dublin area in Dublin.

This is the Multidenominational school in Ranelagh, Dublin. O'Donnell & Tuomey were nominated for an award for this building.

O'Donnell and Tuomey have won the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) gold medal two times. This is a very important award for architects in Ireland. The Architectural League of New York says their buildings are special. They design buildings that show how they were built. Their designs also fit well with the history and look of the area.

John Tuomey earned a Master's degree in Architecture in 2004. In 2011, he was chosen to join Aosdána. This is a special honor for artists in Ireland. He also taught architecture at UCD from 1980 until 2019. He was the first Professor of Architectural Design there.

This is The Lyric Theatre in Belfast. O'Donnell & Tuomey won an RIAI gold medal for designing this building.

Life Outside of Work

John Tuomey lives in Rathmines with his wife, Sheila O'Donnell. She is also his business partner. He really loves the old stone buildings on the Aran Islands in Ireland. He thinks they are some of Ireland's most amazing buildings. He visits the Aran Islands every year.