Michael Scott (24 June 1905 – 24 January 1989) was an Irish architect whose buildings included the Busáras building in Dublin, Cork Opera House, the Abbey Theatre and both Tullamore and Portlaoise Hospitals.
Early life and education
He was born John Michael Scott in Drogheda in 1905. His family originated in the province of Munster. His father, William Scott, was a school inspector from Blackwater near Sneem on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. His mother, Hilda Louise Scott () was from Cork city. She drowned in the River Dodder in a suspected suicide when Michael was 15 years old. He had a brother William Joseph, and two sisters Mary Elizabeth and Hilda.
The family lived in Navan, County Meath for a time before moving to Dublin where they are recorded at Leinster Road West, Rathmines in the 1926 Irish Free State census.
Michael was educated at Belvedere College, Dublin. There he first demonstrated his skills in painting and acting. Initially, he wanted to pursue a career as a painter but his father pointed out that it might make more financial sense to become an architect. He remained there from 1923 until 1926, where he studied under Alfred E. Jones. In the evenings after work, he also attended the Metropolitan School of Art and the Abbey School of Acting, and appeared in many plays there until 1927, including the first productions of Seán O'Casey's (1884–1964) Juno and the Paycock and The Plough and the Stars.
In 1931 he partnered with Norman D. Good to form Scott and Good, and they opened an office in Dublin. Scott and Good's designed the hospital at Tullamore (1934–37) and Portlaoise General Hospital (1935). Between 1937 and 1938, Scott was the President of the Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI). He founded his company, Michael Scott Architects, in 1938. That same year he also designed his house Geragh, at Sandycove, County Dublin. Rosc '67 was a large, first of its kind, Irish art exhibition which showed historic treasures from Irish history alongside hundreds of contemporary artworks. The Rosc series of exhibitions continued for 21 years.
Later, Ronnie Tallon and Robin Walker became partners, and the firm was renamed Scott Tallon Walker in 1975, shortly after the firm won the RIBA Royal Gold Medal.
Personal life
Scott was married to Patricia (Patty) Nixon for over 40 years until her death in 1976. They had four sons and one daughter. He died on 24 January 1989 at his home in Sandycove, and was buried in Tahilla churchyard, near Sneem.