Biographies A-Z

Dongan (D'Unguent), Thomas (1634–1715), 2nd earl of Limerick , soldier and first governor of New York, was third son of Sir John Dongan, baronet, of Castletown Kildrought (Celbridge), Co. Kildare, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir William Talbot, baronet, of Carton, and niece of…

Dongan, William (1630–98), Viscount Dongan of Clane and 1st earl of Limerick , soldier and Jacobite governor of Munster, was second son of Sir John Dongan, 2nd baronet, of Castletown, Co. Kildare, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir William Talbot, 1st baronet, of Carton. His elder…

Donlevy, Andrew (1680?–1746), catholic priest and catechist, was born, probably in 1680, near Bellaghy (Charlestown) on the Mayo–Sligo border. Seemingly ordained in Ireland, he entered the Irish college (housed in the Collège des Lombards) at Paris in 1710, and later registered (…

Donnán (d. 615) of Eigg, missionary and martyr in Scotland, was born (according to tradition) in north-eastern Ireland; he trained under Finnian (qv) of Movilla, and came as a missionary to Scotland sometime before 590. He…

Donnan, Frederick George (1870–1956), physical chemist, was born 6 September 1870 in Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), second son of William Donnan, merchant, and his wife Jane Ross Turnley (née Liggate), who also had four daughters. His first cousin once removed was…

Donnchad (d. 1064), son of Brian, was a son of Brian Bórama (qv) and his wife Gormlaith (qv) (d. 1030), daughter of Murchad son of Finn of the Uí Fháeláin; she had previously been married to…

Donnchad (d. 1039), son of Gilla-Pátraic, king of Osraige and overking of Leinster, belonged to the dynasty of Dál mBirn, which was traced to a proto-historic ancestor, Lóegaire Bern Buadach. Donnchad's father, Gilla-Pátraic son of Donnchad, died in 996 as king of Osraige. While the…

Donnchad Donn (‘the brown-haired’) (d. 944), son of Flann Sinna and king of Tara, belonged to the Clann Cholmáin dynasty of the Southern Uí Néill. His father Flann Sinna (qv) held the kingship of Tara till his death in 916; his mother was…

Donnchad Máel Na Mbó (d. 1006), son of Diarmait and king of Uí Chennselaig, belonged to the lineage of Síl nOnchon. He played an important part in retaining the Uí Chennselaig kingship for that segment of Síl nOnchon that later emerged as the family line of Mac Murchada. He was…

Donnchad Midi (‘of Meath’) (d. 797), son of Domnall Midi and king of Tara, belonged to the Clann Cholmáin dynasty of the Southern Uí Néill. Arguably the most powerful Irish king of his day, Donnchad suppressed resistance within his own province of Meath, acted as kingmaker in…

Donnellan, Anne (c.1700–62), literary critic, and promoter of literature, learning, and the arts, was the daughter of Nehemiah Donnellan (qv), MP and chief baron of the Irish exchequer (c.1702–05), by his…

Donnellan, James (1588?–1665), lawyer, was third son of Nehemias Donellan (qv), archbishop of Tuam (1595–1609), and his wife Elizabeth O'Donnell of Tyrconnell. He was a scholar of…

Donnellan, Michael (‘Mick’) (1900–64), politician and GAA footballer, was born in Dromore, Co. Galway, the eldest of four children (two boys and two girls) of a local farmer. After being educated at the local national school and St Jarlath's College, Tuam, Co. Galway, he worked…

Donnellan, Nehemiah (1649–1705), MP and chief baron of the exchequer, was born in Dublin, third son of Sir James Donnellan (qv), MP and lord chief justice of the common pleas, and his second wife, Sarah, fourth daughter of Jonas…

Donnelly, Catherine (1948–2014), advertising copywriter, arts advocate and novelist, was born on 29 April 1948 in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, the youngest of four girls and two boys to Thomas Donnelly, a spirit merchant and wine importer, and Margaret Donnelly. Her earliest years were…

Donnelly, Charles Patrick (1914–37), poet and republican, was born 10 July 1914 at Killybrackey House, Killybrackey, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, eldest son among six sons and two daughters of Joseph Donnelly, cattle-breeder, shopkeeper, and landlord, and Rose Donnelly (née McCaughey),…

Donnelly, Dan (1788–1820), pugilist, was born in 1788 in Townsend Street, Dublin, eldest surviving son among seventeen children of Joseph Donnelly, carpenter, of Dublin; his mother’s surname was Gore. His life is one in which reality and mythology are not easily separated. The main…

Donnelly, Donal (1931–2010), actor, was born on 6 July 1931 in Bradford, Yorkshire, the third son among seven children of James Donnelly (d. 1964), a general practitioner, and his wife Nora (née O'Connor). Dr Donnelly was originally from Tyrone and Nora from Kerry, and the family moved…

Donnelly, Eamon (1877–1944), republican politician, was born Edward John Donnelly on 19 July 1877 in Middletown, Tynan, Co. Armagh, son of Francis Donnelly, mason, and Catherine Donnelly (née Haggin). Probably educated locally, he joined the…

Donnelly, Helen Ruth (‘Nellie’) Gifford (1880–1971), republican activist, was born 9 November 1880 at 26 Cabra Parade, Phibsborough, Dublin, fifth child and second eldest daughter among six daughters and six sons of Frederick Gifford (1835/6–1917), a well-to-do solicitor, and Isabella…

Donnelly, John (1934–1991), chemist, was born 8 August 1934 in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, second son among three sons and two daughters of Michael Donnelly, garda sergeant, originally from Dublin, and Maureen Donnelly (née Carroll) from Tipperary. He spent his early life in Nenagh,…

Donnelly, Nicholas (1837–1920), catholic bishop, church musician, and local historian, was born 23 November 1837, in St Paul's parish, Dublin, eldest son of John Donnelly, a merchant. He was educated at Castleknock College and the Irish College, Rome, where he was ordained priest…

Donnelly (O'Donnelly), Patrick (Pádraig Ó Donnghaile) (1649–1716), catholic bishop of Dromore, born at Desertcreat, near Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, was possibly the son of the Patrick O'Donnelly who was deemed to be a person ‘excepted from pardon of life or estate’ under legislation of the…

Donoghue, Stephen (1884–1945), jockey, was born 8 November 1884 at Aikin Street, Warrington, Lancashire, the eldest of three sons and two daughters of an Irish immigrant, Patrick Donoghue, an iron puddler, and Mary, née Mitchell, also of Irish ancestry. He was educated at St Mary'…

Donovan, Charles (1863–1951), military doctor, parasitologist, and entomologist, was born in Calcutta, India, of a Cork family, the eldest of the four children of Charles Donovan, of the Bengal civil service, whose wife's name was probably Grace Jennings. When he was thirteen…