Donal is a Registered Architect and Partner at DH Ryan Architects. He worked in the UK with Quattro Design Architects for nearly 5 years prior to returning to Ireland in 2006. While working with Quattro, Donal was the project Architect on a number of Sure Start Childrens Centres in Birmingham and Bristol.

Since returning to work in Ireland, Donals interest and expertise in Buildings for Children has led to the practice being appointed Architects for a number of Childrens Centres in Tipperary, Kilkenny and Dublin. These projects range in value from €1.075 million to €1.2 million. His passion for landscape design helped him secure a Silver Gilt medal at the Dublin Bloom Garden Festival in the Phoenix Park in 2010.

The garden was commissioned by the Irish Preschool Playgroups Association. Donal is one of only a handful of Registered Architects in the UK and Ireland to become certified by the Passive House Institute in Darmstadt, Germany. He is now listed on the International Certified Passive House Designer register maintained by the German Institute.

Donal is a Graduate of Plymouth University, UK and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland and a Certified Passive House Designer. Hugh is the founding Partner of DH Ryan Architects. After graduating from Plymouth University in 2002 he returned to Ireland where he set about establishing his name in the residential and commercial sectors.