It’s impossible for a young person to get the same start that we got

World-renowned architects Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey say the key to creating great architecture is place, space and form

JOHN TUOMEY AND SHEILA O’DONNELL
JOHN TUOMEY AND SHEILA O’DONNELL

CV: Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey

Roles: both are the principal architects at O’Donnell+Tuomey and teach at UCD’s School of Architecture, where O’Donnell is a lecturer and Tuomey is a professor.

Ages: O’Donnell, 61; Tuomey, 60.

Family: two sons, aged 25 and 29.

Favourite books: too many to choose just one.

‘We can’t get university work in Ireland,” says Sheila O’Donnell, her hands folded on the table before her. “We ...