James Joseph McCarthy
James Joseph McCarthy (1817-1882) was an Irish architect known for his design of ecclesiastical buildings. McCarthy was born in Dublin, Ireland on 6 January 1817. His parents were from County Kerry.
Also recorded as John James McCarthy · J. J. McCarthy · J.J. McCarthy · James J. McCarthy
James Joseph McCarthy

J. J. McCarthy · Scan downloaded from the collection British Newspapers 1600–1900 of Gale. · Public domain
- Name
- James Joseph McCarthy
- Born
- 6 January 1817
- Birthplace
- Dublin, Ireland
- Died
- 28 November 1882
- Place of death
- Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- Occupation
- Architect
- Known for
- Architect of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical buildings
- Nationality
- Ireland
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
James Joseph McCarthy (1817-1882) was an Irish architect known for his design of ecclesiastical buildings. McCarthy was born in Dublin, Ireland on 6 January 1817. His parents were from County Kerry.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for James Joseph McCarthy. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1680644 · wikipedia · James Joseph McCarthy
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was educated by the Christian Brothers in Richmond St., and went on to study architecture at the Royal Dublin Society School. He was a follower of the style of the architect Pugin and Gothic Revival. He designed many religious buildings to include convents and 80 churches and cathedrals. McCarthy served as Professor of Ecclesiastical Architecture at All Hallows College, Dublin. He was also appointed Professor of Architecture at the Catholic University of Ireland and at the Royal Hibernian Academy. McCarthy was a friend of Dr. Bartholomew Woodlock, who had been rector of both All Hallows' and the Catholic University, and he helped Woodlock to found the Irish Ecclesiological Society in 1849. He was also a close friend of Charles Gavan Duffy and was a member of the Young Irelanders. He died in 1882 and is interred in Glasnevin Cemetery. • Illustration — St Patrick's RC cathedral, Armagh, Northern Ireland lit up in green for a St Patrick's Day concert • Illustration — Monaghan Saint Macartan's Cathedral 2016 08 25

Letter to the editor by Timothy Murphy which appeared in the issue of Freeman's Journal on 27 January 1863, p. 3.
Timothy Murphy (died in 1876) (see DIA entry). · Scan downloaded from the collection British Newspapers 1600–1900 of Gale.

Commentary on J. J. McCarthys criticism of the restoration of St. Patrick's Cathedral, titled The Restoration of St. Patrick's which appeared on 23 January 1863 in Freeman's Journal, p. 2.
Scan downloaded from the collection British Newspapers 1600–1900 of Gale.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — James Joseph McCarthy • Born — 6 January 1817 • Birthplace — Dublin, Ireland • Died — 28 November 1882 • Place of death — Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland • Resting Place — Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland • Occupation — Architect • Known for — Architect of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical buildings
Buildings
Buildings
J.J McCarthy completed over fifty commissions for churches, monasteries, convents and cathedrals. • Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, County Tipperary • St. Brendan's, Ardfert, County Kerry • Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Ballingarry, County Limerick • St. Kevins, Glendalough • St. James's Church, Killorglin, County Kerry • St. Joseph's, Carrickmacross, Monaghan • St Macartan's Cathedral, Monaghan • St. Mary's Church, Dingle, County Kerry • St. Mary's Parish Church, Maynooth, County Kildare • St. Mary's Church, Rathkeale, County Limerick. • St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh • St. Peter and Paul Church, Kilmallock, County Limerick, • Mortuary Chapel, Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin • Killarney Franciscan Friary, County Kerry • Capuchian Franciscan Church, Church Street, Dublin • Holy Trinity Church, Cookstown. County Tyrone • College Chapel, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, County Kildare • College Chapel, Clonliffe College, Dublin • Ladychapel Church, Maynooth, County Kildare • St. Michael's Church, Ballinasloe, County Galway • St Patrick's church, Mayobridge • St Patricks church Dungannon, Tyrone • St. Saviour’s Dominican Church, Dublin (1861) • St. Saviour's Dominican Church, Limerick (1870)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1817
James Joseph McCarthy was born on 6 January 1817.
1882
James Joseph McCarthy died on 6 February 1882.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “James Joseph McCarthy”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1680644: James Joseph McCarthy
General reference · Wikidata
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The authorities additionally record the headings John James McCarthy, J.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Design
11,558 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- James HuckerbyDesigner
- James Ingo FreedDesigner
- James IrelandDesigner
- James J. EganDesigner
- James K. M. ChengDesigner
- James Knox TaylorDesigner
- James Leslie FindlayDesigner
- James LockyerDesigner
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by James Joseph McCarthy?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.