Sir Thomas Manly Deane was involved in many architectural projects that can still be seen in Ireland today. He began his career alongside his father, Thomas Newenham Deane, in the co-founded practice of ‘Thomas N. Deane and Son’ in 1878, until the death of his father in 1899.[1] Together, the most notable building they designed together was the National Library and National Museum of Ireland.[2][3][4] The building was designed in a classical style to compliment the Palladian Leinster House. The father- son- duo received a prize for their architectural ideas on this building in 1884.[5]
In his early career, Manly Deane composed designs for the former Town Hall in Bray, Co.Wicklow in 1882, which is now a modern day McDonalds.[6][7] Manly Deane’s input on this design was his idea to put a waterproof plaster over the “Brabazon, Pembroke and Lauderdale families and its figure of an armoured knight”, however this element was later altered by the Brabazon family. His impact was minor in comparison to his colleague, Guy Bawber.[8] The Sligo Allied Irish Bank was designed by Manly Deane in 1877.[9][10] He also submitted a series of designs to Trinity College Dublin regarding their new Reading Room and War Memorial in 1919.[11][12] Deane incorporated an octagonal shape to the building and a grand entrance to commemorate the late Trinity students and staff who lost their lives in the war.[11]
One of Thomas Manly Deane’s most credited works was the College of Science and Government Buildings on Upper Merrion Street This piece of architecture was co-designed by Aston Webb.[13] The men were appointed co- architects in March 1904 and were given a budget of £225,000. The building was completed five years later.[4] It was because of the work on this building that Thomas Manly Deane was Knighted by King George V in 1911 to become Sir Thomas Manly Deane.[4][5]