George Francis Beckett was born in Dublin, Ireland on 15 April 1877 and was articled to James Franklin Fuller (1835-1925) in Dublin. He then moved to Manchester where he was an improver with Thomas Worthington (1826-1909) and Percy Scott Worthington (1864-1939) of Thomas Worthington & Son. Following his return to Ireland, Beckett set up his own independent architectural practice in Dublin in 1897. He subsequently designed commercial and industrial buildings, private houses and churches in the Dublin area,
Beckett was elected a member of the Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI) in 1900 and President of the AAI in 1909-10 and 1919-20. He was also elected a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) in 1905 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (FRIAI) in 1915. He was Vice-President of the RIAI in 1928-29, and President of the RIAI in 1932-33. In 1906 he was awarded the AAI Downes Bronze Medal for measured drawing.
Beckett's address was given as 97, Stephen's Green, Dublin in 1914; Fernhill, Carrickbrack Road, Baily, Howth in 1915 and 1918; Sydenham Villas, Putland Road, Bray in 1918 and 1927; Caragh, Gordon Avenue, Foxrock, in 1930 and 1947; and 73 Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge in 1955-56. He died on 21 December 1961
Dublin Bread Co.'s premises, Dublin; Methodist Churches, Abbey Street, Dublin; Kingstown, Dolphin's Barn, Portarlington, Killarnoy, Sutton; extensive additions, Month Schools, Blackrock; Dublin; Booth Brothers' Warehouse, Dublin; Concert Hall, Woodbrook; factory buildings for W. B. Jacob A Co. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
For a detailed list of architectural projects by George Francis Beckett see the Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720-1940
Cooney, Dudley Levistone. ‘A Dublin Architect: George F. Beckett’. Dublin Historical Record Vol. 59, No. 1, Spring, 2006 pp. 47-64
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Who'\s Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914