Biographies A-Z

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Kennedy, Percy William (‘Darby’)

Kennedy, Percy William (‘Darby’) (1914–2016), aviator and founder of Weston aerodrome, was born on 11 June 1914 in Barronrath, Straffan, Co. Kildare, one of nine children, to Edward ‘Cub’ Kennedy, breeder of racehorses (including the famous stallion the Tetrarch), and his wife Beryl…

Kennedy, Robert Foster

Kennedy, Robert Foster (1884–1952), neurologist, was born 7 February 1884 in Belfast, youngest son of five children of William Archer Kennedy, physician, and Hessie Foster Kennedy, daughter of Robert Foster Dill, professor of obstetrics at QCB…

Kennedy, Sir Albert Henry

Kennedy, Sir Albert Henry (1906–91), inspector-general of the RUC, was born 11 February 1906 in Belfast, the son of Joseph Kennedy, RIC (and later RUC) detective sergeant, and his wife…

Kennedy, Sir James Shaw-

Kennedy, Sir James Shaw- (1788–1865), army and police officer, was born 13 October 1788 at the Largs, Straiton parish, Ayrshire, Scotland, second among six children of Capt. John Shaw, originally of Dalton, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Wilhelmina Hannah Shaw (née Macadam) of Waterhead,…

Kennedy, Sir Robert

Kennedy, Sir Robert (c. 1584–1668) baronet, landowner, member of parliament and exchequer official, was the eldest son of Robert Kennedy of Dublin (probably descended from the O’Kennedys of Tipperary). Little is known of Robert’s early life, and he is…

Kennedy, Tristram Edward

Kennedy, Tristram Edward (1805–85), lawyer, land agent, and politician, was born 27 June 1805 at Inishowen, Co. Donegal, the twelfth of fourteen children of John Pitt Kennedy (1759–1811), a respected Church of Ireland clergyman, and his wife, Mary Kennedy, only daughter of Thomas…

Kennedy, William

Kennedy, William (1768–1834), uilleann piper and pipemaker, was born near Banbridge, Co. Down. He was blind from the age of four because of smallpox. When he was thirteen he was sent to learn the fiddle and was taught by the Armagh fiddle player and piper John Moorehead. While there…

Kenney, James

Kenney, James (1780–1849), playwright, was born in Co. Limerick, son of James Kenney, later proprietor and manager of Boodle's Club in London, and his wife. Around 1800 the family moved to London, where the young James was apprenticed to the banking house of Herries, Farquhar, & Co…

Kenney, James Christopher Fitzgerald-

Kenney, James Christopher Fitzgerald- (1878–1956), politician and lawyer, was born 30 April 1878, in Ballyglass, Co. Mayo, second surviving son of James Christopher Fitzgerald-Kenney of Kilcloger, Co. Galway, and his wife Helena, daughter of Maj. Patrick Crean-Lynch of Clogher House, Co…

Kenney, James Francis

Kenney, James Francis (1884–1946), archivist and historian, was born 6 December 1884 in a small farmhouse near the village of Marysville in the township of Tyendinaga, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada, the only child of Martin Kenney, farmer, and his wife Mary (née McCullough).…

Kenney, Peter

Kenney, Peter (1779–1841), Jesuit priest and educationist, was born in Dublin, probably at 28 Drogheda Street, on 7 July 1779, the son of Peter Kenney, a businessman, and his wife, Ellen (née Molloy). He had one sister (who became a nun) and a much older brother (possibly a half-brother…

Kenny, Desmond Warren

Kenny, Desmond Warren (1917–91), co-founder of Kenny's Bookshop and Art Gallery, was born 13 October 1917 in Galway city, second son and fourth among six children of Cork-born Thomas Joseph Warren Kenny, founding editor of the Connacht Tribune newspapers, and Katherine…

Kenny, Henry Francis

Kenny, Henry Francis (1913–75), Gaelic footballer and politician, was born 7 September 1913 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, youngest child among three sons and one daughter of Anthony Kenny, publican, and Bridget Kenny (née McHale) of Rush St., Castlebar. He was educated at St Patrick's…

Kenny, John Joseph

Kenny, John Joseph (1917–87), lawyer and judge, was born 19 April 1917, eldest son of John Kenny, building contractor, of 14 Green Park, Rathgar, Co. Dublin, and his wife, Lucy O'Dea. Kenny senior later unsuccessfully sued the president of the executive council,…

Kenny, Joseph Edward

Kenny, Joseph Edward (1845–1900), physician and MP, was born in Dublin, the son of Martin Matthew Kenny of Belmont Avenue, Donnybrook, manager of a lead mine in Palmerston, Co. Dublin. He was educated at the Catholic University's medical school in Cecilia St., Dublin, graduated in…

Kenny, Kevin John

Kenny, Kevin John (1881–1954), advertising pioneer, commercial manager and publisher, was born on 22 June 1881 at 12 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin, one of eight children of Michael C. Kenny, a lithographic printer and Fenian, and Catherine Kenny (née Fleming), a book-folder (cloth…

Kenny, Patrick Dermott

Kenny, Patrick Dermott (1862–1944), journalist and cultural critic, was born at Lismagansion, Dugorry, Aghamore, near Kilkelly in south-east Mayo, where his parents farmed 33 acres. He knew some Irish. Kenny claimed he received only one year's formal education at the local…

Kenny, Paul

Kenny, Paul (c.1665–1737), catholic priest, was born in Co. Galway, son of an unknown father and Anna Kenny (née Costello). Kenny was a novice with the Discalced Carmelites of Loughrea, Co. Galway, and, on making his religious profession there (1690), assumed the…

Kenny, Sean

Kenny, Sean (1932–73), set designer and architect, was born John Noel Kenny on 23 December 1932 in Portroe, Co. Tipperary, eldest among nine sons of Thomas Joseph Kenny, builder and former IRA man, and Nora Kenny (née Gleeson). He was educated…

Kenny, Thomas Joseph Warren

Kenny, Thomas Joseph Warren (1884–1940), journalist, was born 21 August 1884 at 23 Mary Street, Cork city, only child of John Kenny, a member of the RIC, and Margaret Kenny (née Warren). During his childhood the family moved to Ardagh, Co…

Kenrick, Francis Patrick

Kenrick, Francis Patrick (1796–1863), catholic archbishop in America, was born 3 December 1796 in the Liberties, Dublin, eldest of at least two sons of Thomas Kenrick, scrivener, and his wife Jane (née Eustace). Educated locally, and then by his uncle, the Rev. Richard Kenrick, he…

Kenrick, Peter Richard

This is a co-subject for the entry on Kenrick, Francis Patrick. View the original entry.

Kent (Ceannt), Thomas

Kent (Ceannt), Thomas (1865–1916), farmer, and member of Cork Volunteer Brigade, was born 29 August 1865 in Bawnard House, Castlelyons, near Fermoy, Co. Cork, fourth among seven sons and two daughters of David Kent, a substantial farmer (leasing 200 acres), and Mary Kent (née Rice). He…

Kent, David (Ceannt, Dáithí)

Kent, David (Ceannt, Dáithí) (1867–1930), farmer, land activist, and republican, was born 2 February 1867 at Bawnard House, Coole, Castleyons, near Fermoy, Co. Cork, one of seven sons and two daughters of David Kent, farmer, and Mary Kent (née Rice). During the 1889 land agitation,…

Kent, Edmond

Kent, Edmond (1915–99), Jesuit priest and economist, was born 9 June 1915 at 15 Rostrevor Terrace, Rathgar, Dublin, son of Pierce Kent, civil servant and later commissioner of the board of works, and Mary Catherine Kent (née Connolly). Educated at Clongowes Wood College, Kildare,…