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Later Life and Death
Brenan succeeded R. E. Lyne as Headmaster at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art (DMSA) in 1889, where he continued his passion for teaching. He devoted himself to the school, seen through his extension and improvement of it as well as his expansion of industrial art throughout Ireland. Among those he taught were Henry Jones Thaddeus and William Orpen. He continued his interest for the lace industry in the DMSA and established lacemaking in the Department of Science and Art from the 1890s, advancing lacemaking throughout Ireland and becoming the first craft introduced in school that was not utilising paper design. Brenan had also developed and made many links with convents, who had small workshops creating lace. As a headteacher, Brenan established craft classes along with the help of T.P. Gill, which became a prominent feature in the school. While Brenan was headmaster, summer schools at DMSA were implemented in 1900 to help teachers already in the field with art, giving certificates for completion. Brenan believed "that by this plan, the teaching in many schools throughout the country will improve” . Already by 1902, there were 99 teachers enrolled then by 1903, 118 teachers enrolled. Although the summer school received praise, reports stated that the course was catered for an elementary level of art, with some individuals going directly to Brenan for more advanced work . Looking at opinions from previous students taught under Brenan, the summer courses were stereotyped and when taken over by George Atkinson, a future headmaster of DMSA, there was a more balanced programme of fine art and design.

In 1902, Brenan criticised the board of education saying “the DMSA is at present passing through a transitional period. In former days we devoted ourselves to working for the examinations and the National Competition; now the training for art teachers for the country and the introduction of craft classes have taken up a good deal of attention”. However, observations were made about Brenan’s work as Headmaster for example, William Orpen. a former student, who commented on why both the industrial and fine arts should not be under the headmastership of one man. Towards the end of his time as headmaster, Brenan reflected on the introduction of art craft classes saying “Owing to the establishment of art craft classes to which their very best students had devoted their attention, the school was in the very forefront of the movement in favour of industrial art" . He was succeeded in 1904 by R.H.A Willis who had a passion for the arts and Irish culture . After retiring from Headmaster, Brenan was part of the committee of an important 3rd exhibition of the Arts and Crafts Society of Ireland, held in 1904 and a direct result of the new craft developments . Following his retirement, on the 20th September 1904, Brenan received an illuminated address and purse of sovereigns from his friends and pupils . Three years after, he died at his residence in Rathmines, on the 7th August 1907, aged 70.