MURPHY/DEVITT/STUDIOS
1955 STAINED GLASS ART 2004
Latest update- March 2023
In the early 1950s at Harry Clarke Studios, Dublin, John (Johnny) Murphy and John (Des) Devitt first met. By 1958 Johnny and Des along with Johnny’s wife Róisín Dowd Murphy decided to strike out alone and immediately started to create some of the most stunning stained glass ever seen in Ireland and beyond. It was a relationship that lasted almost fifty years, most notably in the form of Murphy/DevittStudios Limited from 1969-1980.
In 2006, shortly after the passing of Des Devitt, Johnny was quoted as saying “we only ever wanted to create the best work we possibly could and we were happy that we did”. Within 2006 Des, Johnny and Róisín all passed away but their legacy of literally hundreds, quite possibly thousands, of the most avant-garde, radical and truly beautiful stained glass windows live on in the churches, public buildings and homes of Ireland and beyond.
And so to the present day. Reiltín Murphy and Anthony Devitt are delighted to bring you this website dedicated to the work of these wonderful characters and talents. As we build the site we look forward to crediting every person who worked with the Murphy/Devitt partnership over the years. We welcome all contact from anyone with any information or stories you would like to share with us. Please click on the Contact tab above to get in touch.
The ultimate aim of our project is to provide a comprehensive catalogue and history of this incredible, life-long, partnership which continues to this day between the Murphy and Devitt families. Reiltín is immersed in hundreds of original cartoons and drawings and chasing down locations while Anthony is sifting through documentation, slides and photographs. If you have any information please DO contact us and don’t assume we know as we are finding out new things every day. Click on the Portfolio tab to see what we have established so far - if you spot an error or omission please get in touch.
Most of all we would love to hear from former members of the Murphy/Devitt ‘clan’; from the ‘once-off’ artists and craftsmen who made the windows, to fitters, architects, builders, et al. Please tell us your story or pass on information.
We hope you will enjoy this website as it develops and grows. We have exciting plans for the next year as we ensure the place of Murphy/DevittStudios in the history of one of the most visible art forms on the planet - Stained Glass.
©2014 -2023 Anthony Devitt & Reiltin Murphy. Website created by Anthony Devitt at www.lightbulb-ideas.com