Biographies A-Z

Hayes, Michael (1889–1976), politician and academic, was born 1 December 1899 in Dublin, one among three children of John Hayes, carpenter, originally from Tipperary, and his wife Jane. After an initial education at Synge St. CBS,…

Hayes, Michael Angelo (1820–77), painter, was born 25 July 1820 in Waterford, son of Edward Hayes (1797–1864), originally of Tipperary, a painter of fashionable portraits and landscapes; his mother's name is not known. He received his artistic training from his father, and began to…

Hayes (Ó Ríordáin), (Mary) Gabriel (1909–78), sculptor and painter, was born 25 August 1909 at Holles St. hospital, Dublin, eldest of three children of Jeremiah Hayes, an RIC member who worked on maintenance in the prison service, and…

Hayes, Richard Francis (1882–1958), medical doctor, nationalist, historian, and film censor, was born in Bruree, Co. Limerick, son of Richard Hayes, local teacher, and Margaret Hayes (née Ruddle). Attending Bruree national school with his direct contemporary…

Hayes, Richard James (1902–76), librarian, was born 26 June 1902 in Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, son of Richard James Hayes, bank manager, and Katherine Hayes (née Whelan). His early childhood and youth were spent in Claremorris, Co. Mayo. He was a student at Clongowes Wood College,…

Hayes, Samuel (1743–95), politician, improving landlord, and amateur architect, was the eldest son of John Hayes of Hayesville, Co. Wicklow. He studied under a Mr Ford, before entering TCD on 8 January 1759. He registered at London's…

Hayes, Seamus (1924–89), showjumper, was born 5 November 1924 in Cork, son of Maj.-gen. Liam Hayes and Kathleen Hayes (née Walsh). The family moved to Dublin in 1930 when his father became commanding officer of the equestrian school in McKee Barracks, Dublin; he later became…

Hayes, Stephen (1902–74), revolutionary, was born 26 December 1902 in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, one of eleven children of Thomas Hayes, publican, and Ellen Hayes (née Brown). In 1920 he left the local CBS and became a clerical…

Hayes, William (1913–94), bacteriologist and molecular geneticist, was born 18 January 1913 at Edmondstown Park, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, the son of William Hayes, businessman, then aged seventy-three, and Miriam Hayes (née Harris), the only child of his father's second marriage.…

Hayman, Samuel (1818–86), Church of Ireland clergyman and antiquarian, was born at Youghal, Co. Cork, on 27 July 1818, son of Matthew Hayman (1789–1867) of South Abbey, Youghal, and his wife, Helen (née Hill; d. 1850). The Haymans, who came to Ireland in 1629, claimed an…

Hayward, (Harold) Richard (1892–1964), author and singer, was born 25 October 1892, one among five sons and a daughter of Walter Scott Hayward and Louise Ivy Hayward. The family was English, but settled in Larne, Co. Antrim, and Richard attended Larne grammar school. After his marriage…

Hazleton, Richard (1880–1943), politician, was born 5 December 1880 in Dollymount, Dublin, son of Thomas Hazleton, esq., and Bridget Rose Hazleton (née Ryan) of Tipperary. He was educated at Blackrock College, Dublin, and early developed an interest in nationalist politics. At the…

Hazlitt, William (1737–1820), unitarian minister, was born in Shronell, Co. Tipperary, one of three sons and four daughters of John and Margaret Hazlitt (or Haslett). The father, a presbyterian merchant who had left the north of Ireland some years before, was almost certainly related…

Healy-Rae, Jackie (1931–2014), politician, was born John Patrick Healy on 9 March 1931 at Reascaisleach, Meelick, near the village of Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry, the first of four sons and two daughters of Danny Healy, a farmer of Reascaisleach, and his second wife Mary (née Riordan). Danny…

Healy, Augustine (Gus) Anthony (1904–87), politician, drama and sports enthusiast, was born 20 May 1904 in Castle Road, Blackrock, Cork, the second of two sons of Timothy Healy, collector for the Cork Gas Company, from Cork, and his wife, Pauline Groegor from Germany. A fall from…

Healy, Cahir (1877–1970), nationalist politician and language revivalist, was born Charles Everard Healy, on 2 December 1877 at Doorin, near Mountcharles, Co. Donegal, the son of Patrick Healy, a small farmer and merchant. A catholic, he was educated at Drimcoo interdenominational…

Healy, Daniel (1884–1962), British police officer in India, was born 22 August 1884 in Queenstown (Cobh), Co. Cork, the eldest son of John James Healy, a shoemaker and merchant, and Anna Maria Healy (née O'Connor). His mother died a few months after giving birth to the younger of…

Healy, Dermot (1947–2014), novelist, poet, memoirist and playwright, was born on 9 November 1947 in the village of Finea, Co. Westmeath, the son of Winnie, housewife, and Jack Healy, a garda, and the brother of Tony, Úna and Miriam. When he was a young boy, the family moved to Cavan…

Healy, Francis (‘Frank’) Jerome (1869–1931), barrister, was born 29 August 1869 in Cork, son of Jeremiah Healy, victualler, and Mary Theresa Healy (née Burk), who died when Frank was six weeks old. He was educated at St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, King's Co. (Offaly), and at…

Healy (Hayley), Robert (d. 1771), artist, was born in Dublin. His family background is obscure but it would appear from one contemporary reference that his father was an architect and decorator with a particular flair for designing garden buildings and theatres. Robert Healy…

Healy, James (1824–94), priest and raconteur, was born 15 December 1824 in Francis St., Dublin, son of John Healy, provision merchant, and his first wife, Mary (née Meyler), who was from Co. Wexford. There were twenty-three children in the family. James was to inherit his father's…

Healy, James Nagle (1916–93), actor and producer, was born 3 August 1916 in Curragh Road, Turner's Cross, Cork city, second child of James Nagle Healy, clerk, and Anne Nagle (née Desmond). His mother died when he was 8 months old, and he and his sister were brought up by their…

Healy, John (1841–1918), catholic archbishop of Tuam and historian, was born in Ballinafad, Co. Sligo, on 14 November 1841, second and eldest surviving child of the four sons and three daughters of Mark Healy and his wife, Mary (née Gallagher), who were both schoolteachers. As a…

Healy, John (1930–91), journalist, author, and editor, was born 22 April 1930 in Charlestown, Co. Mayo, eldest among three sons and two daughters of Stephen Healy, insurance agent, of Charlestown, and Nora Healy (née O'Donnell), nurse. He was educated at the primary school,…

Healy, John Crichton (1869–1954), newspaper editor, was born 22 March 1869 in Cork, the son of John Healy, bookkeeper, and his wife Mary Baldwin (née M'Creight) of Blackrock, Co. Cork. He was educated at Sullivan's Quay Schools, Cork, and then moved to Kilkenny, where he began his…