She studied for a year at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art (DMSA) in 1925 to 1926,[2] before living in the United States for a short time.

[1][3] In 1936, Hayes married Seán P. Ó Ríordáin, an archaeologist who was working at the National Museum of Ireland at the time.

The Irish Independent newspaper reported: "In the still life section, 'The Goddess of the Moon', by Gabriel Hayes, is outstanding.

[7] Her large oil painting depicting St Brigid "attracted much attention" when it was exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin in 1936 [8] When Archdeacon John Begley completed his third and final volume on the history of the diocese of Limerick ("The Diocese of Limerick from 1691 to the Present Time", pub.

One year before she died, in June 1977, Hayes was one of just four prize winners from 260 entries in the Oireachtas Art Exhibition for her wooden sculpture titled Grainne Mhaol Looking Out to Sea.

[16] Adams Auction House Dublin, Ireland are selling "Portrait of a young boy" by Gabriel Hayes in March 2020 One of her works "The Cork Bowler" was sold at Christies in London in May 2000 for £23,500 stg.

[18] Excerpts from a biography of Gabriel Hayes by Professor Paula Murphy, are online at Sculpture Dublin[19]