Founded in 2013, OBFA’s diverse body of work includes cultural, residential, commercial and educational buildings and spaces for both the private and public sectors, as well as civic projects.
Our team represents our commitment to the field of architecture. Our staff are passionate about about art and architecture, and have published in a variety of media. Photography: Myles Shelly
Team Contributions
Each team member contributes to the wide range of projects and typologies, driving common architectural ambitions and a shared commitment to the collaborative aspect of creating architecture that is reflective of social, cultural, and physical context.



Ciaran O’Brien
Director MRIAI, B.Arch
Ciaran O’Brien is Director and founding member of OBFA. He studied at University College Dublin, and has over 23 years experience working in both the public and private sectors. He is expert in the procurement and management of large and complex projects and working with multi-disciplinary teams. Ciaran has a particular interest and expertise in the education and supported housing sectors and extensive experience in working with historic buildings. He is highly skilled in initial brief formation and client guidance.
He has undertaken and completed projects in the Housing, Education, Health and Conservation sectors with capital values up to €45M, and delivered under RIAI and CWMF environments. He is currently heading up the public housing group within the practice, delivering multi-unit supported housing projects across the country. He continues to develop and oversee the practice’s implementation of BIM processes and the use of modern technologies in architecture.


Kate Newe
B.Sc. (Arch) M.Arch
Kate completed her Masters of Architecture at University College Dublin, receiving a first class honours degree, before joining OBFA in 2021. Kate has experience as an Architectural Assistant in New Zealand where she worked on a range of community, industrial, logistic and masterplanning projects for both public and private clients. Kate was a winner of the international Concrete Design Competition 2019/2020 for her innovation and sustainability in concrete design.


Kate Omelia
B.A. Arch Technology & Construction Management
Kate leads Technology and BIM at OBFA. Kate joined OBFA in 2021 as an Architectural Technologist, and now leads BIM processes at the Practice. Kate is working on a large range of projects at OBFA, including large projects for Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities, Education, Healthcare and private client projects.


Paul Conway
B.Sc(Arch) B.Arch MRIAI
Paul joined OBFA in 2016 having worked as a Lead Architect in the UK. While in London Paul worked on many prestigious office fit-outs, educational and sports facilities. Paul leads large projects in public housing, and education master-planning. Paul is also qualified as Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP).


Stefano Del Vecchio
MArch MRIAI
Stefano completed a Masters degree in Architecture at Politecnico di Milano, before working in a number of architectural and engineering practices in Italy. In Ireland, Stefano has been adding to his BIM and Building Regulations knowledge at TUD and CIT. He joined OBFA in 2018. Stefano is Lead Architect on a number of housing projects around Ireland.


Conor English
B.Arch M.Arch
Conor joined OBFA after completing his Master of Architecture at University College Dublin. As an architecture student, Conor has won a number of awards in Ireland and the UK and received a Venice Student Fellowship during the 16th Venice Biennale. A keen writer, he has written and published on the subject of architecture and contributes to the ‘Architecture Ireland’ journal. Conor has taught 4th year design studio at the Cork Centre for Architectural Education and is currently sitting his Prof. Dip in Architecture, UCD. He works on a variety of housing and conservation projects.


Yeu Yeu NG
B.Sc(Hons) Arch Tech. ACIAT
Yeu Yeu is a Design Technology Manager / Business Analytics Professional. With years of experience in design management and implementation of BIM processes and technologies, his role within OBFA Architects is to assist the design teams in implementation and management with BIM projects, and architectural technology.


Liam Hayes
B.Arch (Hons)
Liam holds a BArch (Hons) from TUD. Liam joined OBFA in 2022 having worked on large residential housing projects. He is working on a number of housing projects for private clients, and housing bodies. Liam also works on a number of cultural competitions and co-design initiatives at OBFA.


Jackie Cuthbert
BA Art History, Cert Leadership Management, BSc (Hons) Applied Accounting (ACCA)
Jackie joined OBFA in 2016, and became a Director in 2020. She is an Art Historian and has worked as a Production Accountant in the Arts for over 20 years. She previously managed The Dublin International Film Festival, Graphic Studio Dublin and Draíocht Arts Centre. She also lectures in arts finance on the MA in Cultural Policy and Arts Management at UCD, and the MSc in Arts and Cultural Management at Burgundy School of Business.


Robert Holmes
BA Architecture, 2023
Robert joined OBFA in 2021 as an architectural intern. He is working to obtain his Bachelor of Architecture at the Dublin School of Architecture, TUD. He holds a BMus in Performance and Musicology and worked in that sector prior to pursuing a career in architecture. He is passionate about cultural and civic projects, and is eager to further his architecture education within the OBFA team.


Alannah Quinlan
BSc. (Hons) Architectural Technology
Alannah joined OBFA as a Technologist with experience in hospitality, interior design and architectural technology. Prior to joining OBFA Alannah had worked with a large architectural practice specialising in large scale apartment complexes, urban realm and commercial design. Alannah also has excellent skills in using 3-d scanning technology integrated with Revit for design on projects at OBFA, as well as a host of other design software.


Gráinne Keane
B Sc (Arch) B Arch MRIAI
After graduating from UCD in 2008, Gráinne worked on housing and public projects in Ireland and Canada. She joined the OBFA team following ten years in London working with two award-winning practices. With extensive experience on site, Grainne leads a number of projects in the housing, arts and museum sector at the Practice.


Cuala McGann
Dip Arch BSc. ARCH MRIAI Conservation Architect
Cuala joined OBFA with extensive experience both in private practice and as a Local Authority architect. Her experience ranges from individual residential dwellings, multi-unit apartment projects, hotel extensions, hospitality/ commercial fit out, renovation of protected structure projects, renovation-renewal of existing derelict buildings to construction of new multi-unit social housing projects. She is also Conservation accredited (Grade 2). Cuala leads a number of housing and cultural projects at the Practice. She is also qualified Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP).


Get in touch
1 Johnson Place, Dublin 2, D02HW58
Contact us by email: office(at)obfa.ie
