Biographies A-Z

Wallace, (William) Vincent (1812–65), composer of operas, piano music, and songs, was born 11 March 1812 in Waterford city, son of Spencer (‘William’) Wallace, fifer in the North Mayo Militia, born in Ballina, Co. Mayo, in 1789, who had a long career in the British army (1804–26),…

Waller, Bolton Charles (1890–1936), journalist, soldier, public servant, peace activist and clergyman, was born on 3 May 1890, the only son of the Reverend Bolton Waller, rector of St Munchin, Limerick, and Jane Dorothea Waller (née Garfit). He had one younger sister,…

Waller, James Hardress de Warrenne (1884–1968), engineer and inventor, was born in Tasmania, tenth and youngest child of George Arthur Waller from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, and Sarah Waller (née Atkinson). After attending school in Hobart, he served a two-year pupilage with his brother…

Waller, John Francis (1809–94), writer, was born 21 July 1809 in Limerick, third son of Thomas Maunsell Waller (1781–1843) of Finoe House, Co. Tipperary, and his wife Margaret (née Vereker). The Waller family came to Ireland with Cromwell…

Waller, Sir Hardress (1604–66), soldier, politician, and regicide, was the son and heir of George Waller of Groombridge, Kent, England, and his wife Mary, daughter of Richard Hardress. Waller's family was one of the wealthiest in Kent, and his cousin was the parliamentarian…

Wall, Joseph (1737–1802), soldier and governor, was born in Dublin, eldest of three sons of Garrett Wall, farmer, from Derryknavin, near Abbeyleix, Queen's Co. (Laois); his mother's name is unknown. Educated locally, he entered TCD (1752…

Wall, Maureen (1918–72), historian, was born 27 June 1918 in Seacor, Glenswilly, Co. Donegal, one of eight daughters and one son of Peader MacGeehinn from nearby Fintown; her mother was a native of Glenswilly. She went to Treankeel national school, where her parents were the only…

Wall, Mervyn Eugene Welply (1908–97), novelist, playwright, broadcaster, and civil servant, was born 23 August 1908 at 27 Palmerston Rd, Dublin, the third eldest of three sons and one daughter of Thomas Patrick Wall, barrister, and Beatrice Agnes Wall (née Morrissey), both of Co.…

Wallop, Sir Henry (c.1531–1599), administrator, was eldest son of Sir Oliver Wallop of Farleigh, Hampshire, England, and his wife Bridget Pigott of Beachampton, Buckinghamshire. At an unknown date, he married Katherine, daughter of Richard Gifford of King's Somborne,…

Walls, Arthur J. (1926–2000), company director, was born 25 May 1926 in Dublin, second child among four sons and one daughter of Arthur Walls, civil servant with the revenue commissioners, and Marie Walls (née Murray). He was educated at O'Connell Schools, Dublin, and graduated…

Wall, Seán (1882–1921), revolutionary, was born 1 February 1882 near Bruff, Co. Limerick, one of at least three sons of Thomas Wall, small farmer, and Deborah Wall (née Lynch). The family had a tradition of Fenian sympathy and activity. He attended Bruff national school, but his…

Walmsley, James Andrew (1912–2008), Indian civil servant and Dublin businessman, was born 4 October 1912 at The Green, in the townland of Aughnahoory, near Kilkeel, Co. Down, eldest of four boys of James Charles Walmsley, a farmer, and Margaret ('Peggy') Walmsley (née Fairbairn),…

Walpole, Edward (1706–84), MP and chief secretary for Ireland (1737–41), was born in Frogmore, Berkshire, England, second son of Sir Robert Walpole, politician and landowner, and his first wife Catherine (née Shorter). Edward attended Eton College before entering Lincoln's Inn (…

Walsh, Albert Jasper (1815–80), doctor, was born 15 April 1815 in Dundrum Castle, Co. Dublin, second among at least three sons and one daughter of John Walsh, merchant and Prussian consul in Dublin, and Sarah Walsh (née Hayes). He was educated at Feinaiglian School, Dublin, before…

Walsh (Bhailís, Wallis, Uailis), Francis (Proinsias) (1654–1724), lexicographer and Franciscan priest, was born in the Fingal area of north Co. Dublin. Nothing is known of his family or early education. He entered the Franciscan order and was ordained (1677) in the Irish Franciscan…

Walsh (Breathnach), Róisín (1889–1949), librarian and republican, was born on 24 March 1889 into a staunchly nationalist catholic family in the townland of Lisnamaghery, Clogher, Co. Tyone, the eldest of eight children (five sisters and two brothers) of James Walsh (d. 1925), a national…

Walsh, Brian Cathal Patrick (1918–98), judge of the supreme court and of the European Court of Human Rights, was born 23 March 1918 at 4 Great Denmark Street, Dublin, the eldest in a family of three sons of Patrick Walsh, civil servant, and Elsie Walsh (née O'Brien), who died in 1930…

Walsh, Cornelius (‘Con’) (1881–1961), Olympic hammer thrower, was born 24 April 1881 in Carriganima (Carriganimmy), Clondrohid, near Macroom, Co. Cork, eldest of at least nine children of Edmond Walsh, farmer, from Carriganima, and Hannah Walsh (née Kelleher), originally from…

Walsh, Dick (Richard Colman) (1937–2003), journalist, was born in Cratloe, Co. Clare, on 29 October 1937, youngest of two sons and two daughters of Seán Walsh, principal of Cratloe National School (in succession to his own father), and his wife Pauline (née McNamara), also a teacher…

Walsh, Edward (1756–1832), physician and writer, was born in Waterford, eldest son of John Walsh, merchant of Ballymountain House, Co. Kilkenny, and brother of the writer and clergyman Robert Walsh (qv). He was sent to school in England, and…

Walsh, Edward (1805–50), translator, poet, and schoolteacher, was born in Derry city, where his father, an evicted small farmer who became a sergeant in the north Cork militia was posted during the Napolelonic period; his mother was from a more genteel background. After the battle of…

Walsh, Edward J. (‘Ned’) (c.1865–1939), athlete and rugby international, was born c.1865. Some sources give 1868 or later as his birth year, but his death certificate suggests 1865 as more likely, and this date tallies better with his subsequent sporting career.…

Walshe, Edward (fl.1544–77), army officer and author, was a member of a leading Waterford family that was prominent in civic politics. It appears that he entered the service of Anthony St Leger (qv) about 1537. The exact…

Walshe, Joseph Patrick (1886–1956), diplomat, was born 2 October 1886 in Killenaule, Co. Tipperary, fifth among six children of James Walshe (1835–1900), hotelier, retailer, farmer, and nationalist county councillor for Tipperary South Riding (1899–1900), and Frances Ellen (‘Fannie’)…

Walsh, James Joseph (1880–1948), politician and businessman, was born 20 February 1880 at Rathroon, near Bandon, Co. Cork, one of ten children of James J. Walsh, a medium-sized farmer who fattened cattle for export, and his wife Mary. He was educated at Bandon national school and became…