Gabriel Hayes

Who was Gabriel Hayes?

Gabriel Hayes was an Irish artist born in Dublin. She was a sculptor who studied in Dublin, France, and Italy. Hayes was also an accomplished painter with one of her works "The Cork Bowler" selling at Christies in London in May 2000 for 23,500 stg. Most of her works are in private hands.

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.