Gabriel Hayes

The penny coin designed by Gabriel Hayes

Gabriel Hayes (1909–1978) was an Irish artist born in Monasterevin, County Kildare. She was a sculptor who studied in Dublin, France, and Italy.

Hayes designed several artworks in public and religious buildings in Ireland. Her best known works were the halfpenny, penny, and two pence coins she designed for the Irish decimal currency introduced in 1971. She submitted ideas at her own initiative when no design competition was held. She is also responsible for the other aspects of the decimal currency such as lettering and decoration.

In February 2005, when An Post issued a set of stamps celebrating female Irish artists, Hayes was commemorated on the 65c stamp with a picture of her work, The Three Graces (1941).

Works on display

• Bas-reliefs (1942) on the facade of Department of Industry and Commerce, Kildare Street, Dublin.
• The Three Graces (1941), Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin. (Picture.)
• Stations of the Cross in portland stone (1957–69), Galway Cathedral.
• Statue of Luke Wadding (1958), Waterford.
• The Irish halfpenny, penny and two penny decimal coins (withdrawn from circulation in 2002 upon introduction of the euro currency).
• Stone Madonna on the face of parish church in Leixlip, County Kildare.
• Stone Holy Family on the face of the school of the Holy Family in Newbridge, County Kildare.
• Bronze Madonna on the face of the church in the Black Valley, County Kerry.
• Carving of the Ascension on the face of the parish church in Gurnabraher, Cork.
• Statue of Our Lady above the Franciscan Friary, Merchants Quay, Dublin.
• Stations of the Cross in plaster relief 1933, Willington Parish, Templeogue, Dublin.