Biographies A-Z

Donovan, Michael (1790–1876), chemist and pharmacist, was born in Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny, son of John Donovan. He received his diploma (1811) from Apothecaries' Hall, Dublin, and opened an apothecary's shop in Townsend St. He was a founder member (1812) of the Kirwanian Chemical and…

Donovan, Robert (1862–1934), journalist and professor, was born 24 May 1862 in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, son of Thomas Donovan. (Some obituaries state he was an only son, but the Irish Independent says a brother was parish priest of Kill, Co. Kildare.) Educated at St…

Dooge, James Clement Ignatius ('Jim') (1922–2010), academic and politician, was born on 30 July 1922 in Grange Road West, Birkenhead, near Liverpool, the only son of Denis Dooge, marine engineer, and his wife Veronica (née Carroll). The Dooges were a family of engineers, most notably…

Dooley, James Thomas (1877–1950), New South Wales premier, was born 26 April 1877 at Carrick Crean, Co. Longford, fourth son of Thomas Dooley, farmer, and Elizabeth Dooley (née O'Connor). The family emigrated to Australia when James was a child, landing in Brisbane on 1 August…

Doolin, William (1887–1962), surgeon, editor, and medical historian, was born 19 July 1887 at 20 Ely Place, Dublin, eldest child of Walter G. Doolin, architect, and Marion Doolin (née Creedon). His siblings were Daniel and Walter. He was educated at the Catholic University School…

Doonan, William (‘Willie’; ‘Bill’) (1920–76), Gaelic footballer, was born 16 April 1920 in Cavan town, one of thirteen children of John Doonan, a UDC employee from Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, and Mary Anne Doonan (née Dempsey) from Templeport, Co…

Doonican, Val (1927–2015), singer and musician, was born Michael Valentine Doonican on 3 February 1927 at 10 Passage Road in Waterford, the youngest of eight children (four boys and four girls) of John Doonican, a metal worker, and his wife Agnes (née Kavanagh). To distinguish him from…

Dopping, Anthony (1643–97), Church of Ireland bishop of Meath, was born 26 March 1643, son of Anthony Dopping (d. 1649), clerk of the pleas and the exchequer and MP for Bandon in the 1640 parliament, and his second wife Margaret, sister of…

Doran, Charles Guilfoyle (1835–1909), civil engineer, Fenian, and bibliophile, was born on 1 February 1835 at Knockanna, Co. Carlow (not as previously stated at Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow), the first of seven surviving children of John Doran and his wife Mary (née Guilfoyle). He was…

Doran, Johnny (1908–50), uilleann piper, was one of four sons and five daughters of John Doran, horse dealer, and Kathleen Doran (neé McCann); the family were members of the travelling community. Although his father played the pipes, Johnny also learned his skills on the instrument…

Dorbéne (d. 713), 3rd abbot of Iona in succession to Adomnán (qv), belonged to a branch of the Cenél Conaill that had not previously held the abbacy. An entry in the Annals of Ulster states that he ‘obtained the chair of Iona and having spent…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Doris, William. View the original entry.

Doris, William (1860–1926), politician, agrarian agitator, and newspaper proprietor, was born 13 April 1860 in Westport, Co. Mayo, son of Robert Doris, postman, and Margaret Doris (née Madden). After attending the local CBS, he…

Dorrian, Patrick (1814–85), Catholic bishop of Down and Connor1865–85, was born 29 March 1814 in Downpatrick, Co. Down, son of Patrick Dorrian, shopkeeper, and Rose Dorrian (née Murphy). He had three brothers: one became a priest, one a doctor, and one farmed near Clough, Co. Down…

Dottin, Henri-Georges (1863–1928), philologist and Celticist, was born 29 October 1863 at Liancourt, in the Oise department of northern France, son of Henri Dottin, public official, and Marie Dottin (née Pourcelle). He was educated in Laval College and afterwards at the University of…

Dougal, James Joseph ('Jim') (1945–2010), journalist, was born on 19 March 1945 in Belfast, one of six children (three boys and three girls) of Samuel Dougal, who worked for the electricity board, and his wife Christina (née Higgins), a nurse before their marriage. The family was…

Dougan, (Alexander) Derek (1938–2007), footballer and author, was born 20 January 1938 at 41 Susan Street in the Newtownards Road district of east Belfast, the eldest of six children (three boys and three girls) of John 'Jackie' Dougan, a boilermaker at the Harland and Wolff…

Dougherty, Sir James Brown (1844–1934), presbyterian minister, academic, politician, and under-secretary for Ireland (1908–14), was born 13 November 1844 at Garvagh, Co. Londonderry, eldest of two sons of Archibald Dougherty, surgeon, and Matilda Dougherty (née Brown), both of…

Douglas, Caroline Margaret (1821–1904), marchioness of Queensberry , nationalist benefactor, was born in Ireland, younger daughter of Sir William Clayton , former army general and MP for Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, and Alice Clayton (née O'Donel), an heiress originally…

Douglas, James Green (1887–1954), senator and businessman, was born 11 July 1887 in 19 Brighton Square, Dublin, eldest among five sons and three daughters of John Douglas (proprietor of John Douglas & Sons Ltd, drapers and outfitters, of Wexford St.) and Emily Douglas (née Mitton)…

Dowdall, George (1487–1558), archbishop of Armagh, was appointed primate of all Ireland by Henry VIII on 29 April 1543, but was removed from office following his flight to continental Europe in July 1551. He was provided to Armagh by the papacy on 1 March 1553, and was re-instituted…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Dowdall, Thomas Patrick. View the original entry.

Dowdall, Jane (‘Jennie’) (1899–1974), philanthropist and politician, was born Jane Doggett at 28 Smithfield, Dublin, on 29 September 1899, the daughter of Michael Doggett , eating-house keeper, and Mary Ellen Doggett (née Andrews). After her schooling she worked as a nurse at St…

Dowdall, Paddy (1920–68), boxer, was born 16 June 1920 at 23 The Coombe, Dublin city, son of Patrick Dowdall, porter, and Catherine Dowdall (née Kinsella). His mother died when he was an infant, and the children were raised by their father. He was educated locally at Francis St.…

Dowdall, Thomas Patrick (1872–1942), businessman and politician, was born at Chatham Barracks, Gillingham, Kent, the son of Charles Dowdall, colour sergeant in the 48th foot, and Margaret Dowdall (née Cassidy; d. 1938) of Bandon, Co. Cork. He and his brother James (see below) were…