Biographies A-Z

Hanley, James (1901–85), writer, was reputedly born 3 September 1901 in Dublin, second among eight children of Edward Hanley, merchant seaman, and Brigid Hanley (née Roche). His father had forsaken an established family printing business and legal studies to go to sea; his mother…

Hanley, (Luke) Vincent (1954–87), music broadcaster, was born 2 April 1954 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, elder son of Michael Hanley and Joan Hanley (née Cleary). His father was a soldier, who served overseas with the Irish army on UN duties. Vincent attended the Sisters of Charity…

Hanlon, Jack P. (John Thomas) (1913–68), priest and artist, was born 6 May 1913 in Dublin, eldest of three sons of James Francis Hanlon, butcher, and Kathleen Mary Hanlon (née Doyle). Christened John Thomas (13 May 1913) at St Joseph's church in Terenure, he rarely used this form of…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Brady, Joe. View the original entry.

Hanly, Dáithi (1917–2003), architect and preservationist, was born David Patrick Hanly on 11 March 1917 at Glenview, Cavan town, one of at least five children (three sons and two daughters) of (Francis) Joseph Hanly (c.1880–1960), an instructor in the Department of…

Hanmer, Meredith (1543–1604), cleric and historian, was born at Porkington, Shropshire, England, son of Thomas Hanmer. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he was appointed to a chaplaincy in 1567. He graduated BA (November…

Hanna, Davoren (1975–94), poet, was born 12 March 1975 in Dublin, the only child of Jack Hanna, philosophy graduate, receptionist with Telecom Éireann (1975–85), and subsequently freelance journalist and sub-editor with the Irish Press; and Brighid Hanna (née Woods),…

Hanna, Francis (‘Frank’) (1915–87), lawyer and politician, was born in the Falls Road area of Belfast and was educated at St Mary's CBS, Belfast, before attending QUB to study law.…

Hanna, Frederick Freeth ('Fred') (1934–2011), bookseller, was born on 27 January 1934 in Dublin, only son of Walter Hanna and his wife Nancy Louise (née Freeth); he had two sisters. Fred's grandfather, also called Fred Hanna (d. 1941), started work in William Magee's long-…

This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Neill (née Hanna), Sarah Ann. View the original entry.

Hanna, George Boyle (1906–64), MP and county court judge, was born 3 June 1906 at Ballymena, Co. Antrim, the only son of George Boyle Hanna (1877–1938), unionist MP and county court judge, and his wife, Sunnie, daughter of Redmond Mack, of Lisburn. He was educated at Ballymena…

Hanna, Hugh (1821–92), presbyterian minister, was born 25 February 1821 near Dromara, Co. Down, eldest among three sons and two (possibly three) daughters of Peter Hanna, of Dromara farming stock, and his wife Ellen née Finiston, whose father had served in the Black Watch regiment…

Hannan, Mary Josephine (1865–1935?), doctor, was born in Dublin; nothing is known of her parents. One of the earliest female students admitted to study medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, she became in July 1890 the first Irishwoman to graduate…

Hanna, Samuel (1771–1852), presbyterian minister and professor, was born at Kellswater, Co. Antrim, fifth son of Robert Hanna of Kellswater, who may have been a farmer, or in trade, or both. His mother's name is not known. In 1789 he graduated MA…

Hanna, Samuel Trevor (1936–2010), journalist, was born on 4 November 1936 on Lisburn Road, Belfast, the younger son of Samuel and Elizabeth (née McCutcheon) Hanna. Trevor attended Ulsterville and Fane Street public elementary schools and Methodist College. After leaving school in 1954…

Hanna, Vincent Leo (1939–97), broadcaster, was born 9 August 1939 at Falls Road, Belfast, eldest among five children of Frank Hanna (qv), solicitor and Labour MP. Educated at QUB…

Hannay, James Owen (‘George A. Birmingham’) (1865–1950), novelist and Church of Ireland clergyman, was born 16 July 1865 in Belfast, son of Robert Hannay, Church of Ireland rector of St Anne's, Belfast, and his wife Emily (née Wynne). Hannay experienced a strongly evangelical…

Hannelly, Dympna (1922–2014), missionary nun, was born Eitne Hannelly on 4 December 1922 to Patrick Hannelly and Annie Hannelly (née Egan) of Tarmon, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. Known as ‘Enna’ to her family, she had a twin brother Padraig, two other brothers and two sisters. Padraig…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Hanson, Richard Patrick Crosland. View the original entry.

Hanson, Richard Patrick Crosland (1916–88), Church of Ireland bishop and scholar of historical and contemporary theology, and his brother (Anthony) Tyrrell Hanson (1916–91), clergyman and theologian, were born 24 November 1916 in London, twin sons of Sir Philip…

Harbison, Sheelagh Helen (1914–2012), medieval historian, was born in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, on 2 September 1912, the only daughter and youngest of three surviving children, to Frederick William MacSherry , bank manager, and his wife Helen (née MacDermott). After Sheelagh was born…

Harbord, William (1635–92), politician and civil servant, was born 25 April 1635, the second son of Sir Charles Harbord, politician and civil servant, of Stanninghall, Norfolk, and his second wife, Mary, daughter of Jan van Aelst of Sandwich, Kent. He was educated at Leiden, 1651,…

Harcourt, Simon (1714–77), 1st Earl Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt, diplomat, and lord lieutenant of Ireland (1772–6), was the only son of Simon Harcourt (1684–1720), barrister and Westminster MP, and his first wife, Elizabeth Harcourt (née Evelyn). Educated at Westminster School, he…

Hardebeck, Carl Gilbert (1869–1945), collector and arranger of traditional songs, teacher of music, and composer, was born 10 December 1869 in Clerkenwell, London, son of Carl Joseph Hardebeck, an expatriate German and a successful jeweller, and Catherine Hardebeck (née Jones), who…

Hardiman, Áine (1926–2013) Dominican nun, community activist and anti-apartheid campaigner, was born Anne Hardiman on 23 April 1926 at 71 Connaught Street, Phibsborough, Dublin, the home of her parents Patrick Hardiman, a railway engine driver, and his wife Christina (née Monahan). The…