Biographies A-Z

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Goulding, Cathal

Goulding, Cathal (1923–98), socialist republican, was born 2 January 1923 at 1 East Arran Street, Dublin, one of four sons and three daughters of Charles Goulding, a housepainter, and Bridget Goulding (née Costello). The family had a long tradition of republican activism and working-…

Goulding, Sir William Basil

Goulding, Sir William Basil (1909–82), 3rd baronet, businessman and modernist, was born 4 November 1909 at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, the elder of two sons of Sir William Lingard Amphlett Goulding (qv) and his wife Nesta Violet (née Wright). Educated at Winchester…

Goulding, Sir William Joshua

Goulding, Sir William Joshua (1856–1925), 1st baronet, businessman and politician, was born 7 March 1856 in Cork, one of seven children of William Goulding (qv) and his second wife Maria Heath Manders (d. 1892), daughter of Edward…

Goulding, Valerie

Goulding, Valerie (1918–2003), philanthropist and senator, was born Valerie Hamilton Monckton on 12 September 1918 in Kent, younger of two children (she had an elder brother) of Walter Monckton, barrister (later a confidant of King Edward VIII and afterwards a conservative cabinet…

Goulding, William

Goulding, William (1817–84), businessman and politician, was born 15 November 1817 in Birr, Co. Offaly, the elder son of Joshua Goulding (1788–1826) of Birr, Co. Offaly, and his wife Sarah, daughter of Humphreys Manders of Blackpool, Co. Cork. Educated at Mountmellick grammar school,…

Goulding, William Lingard Amphlett

This is a co-subject for the entry on Goulding, Sir William Joshua. View the original entry.

Goulet, Yann Renard-

Goulet, Yann Renard- (1914–99), artist and sculptor, was born Jean Gustave Réné Goulet on 20 August 1914 at Saint-Nazaire, Brittany, France, son of Gustave Goulet, hotelier and chef. After being educated locally he began studying architecture before winning a scholarship to the…

Gowan, John Hunter

Gowan, John Hunter (1737?–1825), loyalist, was born near Gorey, Co. Wexford, son of John Gowan, lawyer and small landowner; his mother was a daughter of the Rev. William Hatton of Gorey and niece of Col. Henry Hatton, MP for Co. Wexford 1727–35. Inheriting the minor leasehold estate…

Gowan, Ogle Robert

Gowan, Ogle Robert (1803–76), grand master of the Orange order in Canada, journalist, and politician, was born 13 July 1803 in Wexford, eighteenth child of John Hunter Gowan (qv), magistrate of Gorey, Co. Wexford, and captain of the…

Gowan, Thomas

Gowan, Thomas (1631–83), presbyterian minister and philosophy teacher, was born in Caldermuir, Scotland, an undeveloped region on the western border of Edinburghshire. His parentage is not known. He studied at the College of Edinburgh, where he graduated…

Gower, Francis Leveson-

Gower, Francis Leveson- (1800–1857), 1st earl of Ellesmere , chief secretary for Ireland, was born 1 January 1800 in London, the youngest son of George Leveson-Gower (1758–1833), 1st duke of Sutherland, and his wife, Elizabeth (1765–1839), countess of Sutherland. Educated at Eton (…

Grace, John (‘Jack’)

Grace, John (‘Jack’) (1884–1915), Gaelic footballer and hurler, was born 8 February 1884 at Gaulstown, Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny, one among eleven children of Nicholas Grace, farmer, of Gaulstown, and Catherine (‘Kate’) Grace (née Keoghan) of Purcellsgarden, Threecastles, Co.…

Grace, Pierce

This is a co-subject for the entry on Grace, John (‘Jack’). View the original entry.

Grace, Richard

Grace, Richard (c.1620–1691), royalist and Jacobite governor of Athlone, was a younger son of Robert Grace, baron of Courtstown, Co. Kilkenny; nothing is known of his mother. Recommended to Charles I by James Butler (qv),…

Grace, Richard (Dick)

This is a co-subject for the entry on Grace, John (‘Jack’). View the original entry.

Grace, William Russell

Grace, William Russell (1832–1904), international capitalist and mayor of New York City, was born 10 May 1832 in Riverstown, Co. Cork, while his family was on holiday, eldest son among four sons and three daughters of James Grace, farmer, and Ellen Mary Grace (née Russell), of…

Gracey, (Samuel) Harold

Gracey, (Samuel) Harold (1935–2004), Orangeman, was born in Portadown, Co. Armagh, on 30 June 1935, son of Samuel Gracey, deliveryman and Orangeman, and his wife Lizzy, a member of the Women's Orange Order; he had two sisters and a brother. He was educated at Edenderry elementary…

Graham, Edgar Samuel David

Graham, Edgar Samuel David (1954–1983), politician, was born 24 February 1954 at Massereene Hospital, Antrim, son of David Norman Graham of Whinney Hill, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, and his wife Annie Matilda (née Graham); he had one sister. Grahams had farmed in Randalstown for centuries…

Graham, John

Graham, John (1775/6–1844), clergyman and writer, was born in Co. Fermanagh or Co. Longford, son of James Graham, gentleman. John, most likely a younger son, was educated by a Mr Robinson, and entered TCD in 1794, graduating…

Graham, Sean (John) Patrick

Graham, Sean (John) Patrick (1936–86), bookmaker, was born at 90 Great George's Street, Belfast, on 14 April 1936, one of seven children of John Patrick Graham, bookmaker, and his wife Bridget (née Neill). He was educated at St Mary's CBS…

Graham, William

Graham, William (1839–1911), academic, writer, philosopher, and economist, was born at Saintfield, Co. Down, son of Alexander Graham, farmer and horse-dealer, and Maria Graham (née Crawford). Educated at the Educational Institute, Dundalk, on a scholarship, he later worked as a…

Grainger, John

Grainger, John (1830–1891), clergyman and antiquarian, was born 19 March 1830 in Queen St., Belfast the eldest of six children (four boys and two girls) of David Grainger, a wealthy shipowner, and Maria (or Mary) Belinda Grainger (née Parke) of Whiteabbey, near Belfast. He…

Gráinne

Gráinne was a legendary daughter of the equally legendary pre-Christian king of Tara, Cormac (qv) son of Art. The story of her love for the tragic hero Diarmait grandson of Duibne is one of the most famous tales of the Fenian Cycle, a tale…

Graisberry, Daniel

This is a co-subject for the entry on Graisberry, Daniel. View the original entry.

Graisberry, Daniel

Graisberry, Daniel (c.1740–1785), printer, was the son of William Graisberry, printer, of Drumcondra, Dublin, and Elizabeth Graisberry. Admitted to the Guild of St Luke (24 August 1775) after completing his apprenticeship under the king's printer, Hugh…