Irene Broe

Irene Broe (19 February 1923 – 27 August 1992) was an Irish sculptor.

Life and family Broe was born on 19 February 1923 in Nassau Street, Dublin. Her father, Leo, was a sculptor, with the family sculpting business run from a premises in Harold's Cross, Dublin. Her brother, Desmond, was also a sculptor. Broe first undertook courses in beauty studies before attending the National College of Art and Design from 1947, studying sculpture. She first enrolled in night classes, before becoming a full-time student According to Professor Friedrich Herkner, a professor at NCAD, "She was a very serious student and made numerous studies from life and imagination and carried out her work in various materials. She was a very ambitious and conscientious student who always attended all her classes." In 1952, she visited Paris where on her return to Dublin, she became a member of the first council of institute of the sculptors of Ireland. Among her notable pieces are heads of Irish Free Education pioneer Donagh O'Malley (1968), Arland Ussher (1978), Roger Casement, W.B. Yeats, Brendan Behan and Samuel Beckett. She also sculpted portrait heads of her father, brother, and son, Shane McDonnell. These portraits were made from bronze and have become some of her most famous works. Shane learned sculpting from Irene and similarly chose bronze as his primary medium.

In 1959, Broe moved with her husband to Malaysia and lived there for seven years continuing her career. Broe was "actively involved in the art scene in Malaysia" Her statue of St Valentine at the shrine at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, Dublin is possibly her best known work. The statue shows St Valentine in the "red vestments of a martyr and holding a crocus in his hand". Four bronze castings have been made of the piece of art. The sculpture was made shortly before O'Malley died in 1968, four bronze castings were made and some can be found within colleges in Ireland such as Trinity College Dublin, the University of Limerick and the National College of Ireland.