Biographies A-Z

Burke, John Fitz-Thomas (fl.1646), mayor of Limerick, served as a sheriff of Limerick city in 1634 and as mayor in 1645–6. Though the city joined the confederate cause in the 1640s, Burke refused to allow confederate troops directed to the siege of Bunratty castle to pass…

Burke, John (‘Sean’) (1899–1974), champion amateur golfer, was born 26 April 1899 in Moybeg, Ennistimon, Co. Clare, second among eight sons and a daughter of Patrick Burke, farmer, originally from Liscannor, Co. Clare, and Mary Burke (née Hayes) of Moybeg. He was educated at Moy…

Burke, Martin (1787/8–1863), hotelier, was a son of Michael Burke of Springfield House, Co. Tipperary, and his wife Honora (née Hogan); in 1832, on the death of his brother Michael, an attorney, Martin inherited Springfield and lands. In 1824 Burke purchased for £3,000 a 150-year…

This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Rourke (Ó Ruairc), Brian Ballach. View the original entry.

Burke, Oliver (c.1598–1672), Dominican priest and ecclesiastical administrator in Rome and Connacht, was born in Co. Galway, a member of the Clanricard Burke family. He studied at Burgos and was listed as a priest in Spain in 1627. In that year he became an honours…

Burke, Patrick (Thomas; 'Tom') (1923–2008), Carmelite priest, scientist and co-founder of the Young Scientist exhibition, was born Thomas Burke on 4 November 1923 in Dublin, one of five children (four boys and a girl) of Edmund Burke, and his wife Elizabeth (née Traynor), who later…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Burke (de Burgh), Risdeárd. View the original entry.

Burke, Ricard O'Sullivan (1838–1922), Fenian, was born 24 January 1838 in Kenneigh, near Dunmanway, Co. Cork, youngest son among eight sons and four daughters of Denis Burke, substantial tenant farmer, and Margaret Burke (née O'Sullivan). Educated at Dunmanway model national school, he…

Burke, Richard (c.1569–1635), 4th earl of Clanricard, nobleman, was the second, but eldest surviving, son of the six sons and two daughters of Ulick Burke, 3rd earl of Clanricard, and his wife, Honora, daughter of John Burke of Clogheroka, Co. Galway. His date of birth is…

Burke, Robert O'Hara (1820/21?–1861), police officer and explorer, was born at Issercleran House, near Loughrea, Co. Galway, second son of James Hardiman Burke (1788–1854), high sheriff (1826), and his wife Anne (d. 1844), daughter of Robert O'Hara of Raheen, Co. Galway. The family…

Burke, Sir Thomas (c.1750–1813), baronet and landowner, was born in Marble Hill, Co. Galway, son of John Burke (1713–93) of Grallough, Co. Galway, a catholic landowner, and Mary Burke, eldest daughter of Michael Carroll of Killoran, Co. Galway. With the passing of the…

Burke, Thomas (1876–1951), politician, farmer, and bonesetter, was born in Dunsallagh, Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare, son of Thomas Burke, farmer, and his wife Mary (née Burke). From age 16 he developed a wide reputation throughout Co. Clare and beyond for his putative skills as a…

Burke, Thomas Henry (1829–82), under-secretary for Ireland, was born 29 May 1829, second among seven sons of William Burke (1794?–1877), a catholic landed gentleman of Knocknagur, Co. Galway, and Fanny Xaviera Burke (née Tucker) of Brook Lodge, Sussex, England. He was a grand-…

Burke, Thomas Nicholas (‘Tom’) (1830–83), Dominican preacher and historian, was born Nicholas Anthony Burke on 8 September 1830 in Kirwan's Lane, off Cross St., Galway, fourth surviving child and only son of Walter Burke, baker, and Margaret Burke (née MacDonough). He was educated…

Burke, Uilleag (‘Uilleag an Fhiona’) (Ulick de Burgh) (d. 1423), 3rd lord of Clanricard, was eldest son of Richard Óg de Burgh (qv), 2nd lord of Clanricard. From Clanricard's central location in Galway, Uilleag Burke was able to…

Burke, Ulick (d. 1601), 3rd earl of Clanricard and military leader, was eldest son of Richard Burke (qv), 2nd earl of Clanricard, and his first wife, Margaret, daughter of …

Burke, Ulick (1604–58), 1st marquess of Clanricard , politician, was born at Athlone in 1604, the only son of politician and landowner, Richard Burke (qv), 4th earl of Clanricard, and Frances, daughter and heir of the Elizabethan secretary of…

Burke, Ulick (d. 1655), army officer, was the son of John Burke of Castle Hacket, Co. Galway, and his wife, Margaret, daughter of Thady Kelly of Mullaghmore. His property in Co. Galway was erected into the manor of Castle Hacket in 1619. He married Honora Bourke, daughter of…

Burke, Ulick (c.1670–1691), viscount of Galway , Jacobite soldier, was fourth son of William Burke, 7th earl of Clanricarde (and first son by William's second wife Helen, daughter of the 1st earl of Clancarty (qv)). On 2…

Burke, Ulick (de Burgh, Uilleag) (‘Uilleag na gCeann’) (d. 1544), 1st earl of Clanricard , eldest son of Ricard Mór (qv), 9th lord of Clanricard, and his wife Margaret, daughter of…

Burke, Ulick Ralph (1845–95), lawyer and Hispanicist, was born in Dublin on 21 October 1845, the elder son of Charles Granby Burke (1814–98) of Milltown, Co. Dublin, master of the court of common pleas, and his wife, Emma Jane, daughter of Ralph Creyke of Marton, Yorkshire. His…

Burke, William (d. 1687), 7th earl of Clanricard , catholic nobleman, was the second son of Sir William Burke and Joan, daughter of Dermot O'Shaugnessy (qv; see Roger O'Shaugnessy) of Gort, Co. Galway. He was a colonel in the king's service in 1640 and…

Burke, William (1793?–1829), murderer, was born probably at Urney, near Strabane, Co. Tyrone, son of Neil Burke, labourer. Born into a catholic, Irish-speaking family, he received some education and was servant to a presbyterian minister for a time. When he tired of this he tried the…

Burke, William P. (1864–1941), priest and historian, was born 11 October 1864 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, second son of Edmund Burke, founder of Burke's bacon-curers, and Eileen Burke (née McGrath). He was educated by the Christian Brothers in Clonmel, at Rockwell College, Cashel,…

Burkhead, Henry (fl. 1645), possibly a merchant of Bristol, wrote the drama ‘A tragedy of Cola's furie, or Lirenda's miserie’ (the first Irish play to condemn English conduct), printed 1646 in Kilkenny, headquarters of the catholic confederacy. Dedicated to…