Details of Sculptor

Surname

Sheehan

Alternative Surname

First Name

David

Initial of Surname

S

Year of Birth/Baptism

Flourished

Year of Death

- 1756

Biographical Details

A Dublin sculptor and mason, he worked in Marlborough Street in the mid-18th century. He rebuilt the entrance to Dublin Castle in 1746 at a cost of £341 7s 7d, and worked on Doneraile House, 45 Kildare Street, between 1745 and 1750. His monument to Lieutenant-General Nevil closely follows a design by Robert Kidwell, who could conceivably have trained Sheehan (1). He worked with John Houghton on two monuments (2, 3). The Barrymore is 18 feet high and features a military bust in a niche between two Corinthian columns. That to Miss Rogers also has a bust in Italian marble. Faulkner's Journal of 28-31 July 1753 described the Barrymore monument as ‘magnificent’ and a good demonstration that ‘performance of this nature need not now be purchased in other countries’ (Potterton 1975, 79).
Sheehan died in 1756 and was buried in Drumcondra churchyard. In his will, proved on 13 February 1756, he mentions his ‘stock of stones in Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny and elsewhere’ (Strickland 2, 1913, 348). His eldest son was Cornelius Sheehan. Another member of the family was Mordecai Sheehan, who also worked as a stone-cutter in Marlborough Street, and went bankrupt in 1774 when his stock, including some ‘capital chimneypieces’ was sold. Strickland notes that Mordecai worked until about 1789.
Literary References: Strickland 2, 1913, 348-349; Potterton 1975, 78-9