New Principal Architect Appointed

The Government has appointed Mr. Ciaran O’Connor Dip. Arch.; B. Arch Sc.; FRIAI as the new Principal Architect in the Office of Public Works/State Architect. Mr. O’Connor succeeds Mr. Patrick Cooney, who retired from this role in February 2012.

A graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, Ciaran worked in Germany and Canada prior to joining the Office of Public Works.


His previous position was Assistant Principal Architect with responsibilities for a wide variety of new-build, conservation and landscape projects. He is presently completing the government’s Green Public Procurement document for Construction. While working in OPW, he has received numerous Architectural and Conservation awards. He is also co-author of a number of books and has contributed to Irish and international publications.

Mr. O’Connor will be a member of Senior Management in OPW. He will be responsible for leading and managing the Office’s architectural team, with oversight of the architectural input to construction projects, maintenance of the quality of the fabric of the State’s property portfolio and the conservation of heritage properties in State care, as well as being the main advisor to the Government in relation to Architectural matters.

(CD/GK)