Biographies A-Z

Mac Cana, Proinsias (1926–2004), Celtic scholar, was born 6 July 1926 in Belfast, son of George McCann and his wife Mary Catherine (née Mallon). He grew up in a catholic district in east Belfast, where inter-community tensions were keenly felt. He attended St Malachy's College during…

Mac Cana, Somhairle (Soirle) (1901–75), artist, was born Samuel Malachy McCann on 23 November 1901 in Grace Street, Belfast, son of J. P. McCann, cabinetmaker, and Mary Jane McCann (née Riddell). He was educated by the Christian Brothers and in 1915 was apprenticed as textile designer…

Mac Carthaig, Christianus (Christanus) (d. 1148×1156), third abbot of St James of Regensburg, Bavaria, was a Munsterman and probably a member of the royal family of Desmond, the Meic Carthaig. His family name is given in the thirteenth-century ‘Libellus de fundacione ecclesie…

Mac Carthaig, Cormac (d. 1138), son of Muiredach, king of Desmumu (Desmond) and overking of Munster, belonged to the Clann Donngaile lineage of Éoganacht Chaisil. His father, Muiredach (d. 1092), was a son of the eponymous Carthach, who in turn was a great-grandson of…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Mac Carthaig (MacCarthy), Domnall Mór. View the original entry.

Mac Carthaig, Diarmait Mór (d. 1185), king of Desmond, was the product of an unusual union between Cormac Mac Carthaig (qv) (d. 1138) and a lady of the declining Leinster Uí Lorcáin dynasty of Ui Muiredaig; he seems to have been…

Mac Cárthaigh, Diarmaid mac Sheáin Bhuí (c.1640–1705), poet, was son of Seán Buí Mac Cárthaigh, about whom nothing is known, and brother of Donnchadh (Donough) Mac Cárthaigh who was catholic bishop of Cork and Cloyne (1713–26) and was himself the author of verse in both Irish…

Mac Cárthaigh, Eoghan ‘an Mhéirín’ (‘of the little finger’) (c.1690–1756), poet, was born near Aherla, Co. Cork, son of Diarmaid Mac Cárthaigh, a great-grandson of Tadhg an Dúna Mac Cárthaigh, chief of the Dunmanway or Gleann an Chroim branch of the MacCarthys and a prominent…

Mac Carthaig (MacCarthy), Domnall Mór (d. 1206), king of Desmond, succeeded when his father, Diarmait Mac Carthaig (qv), was murdered on 6 November 1185. After Domnall's inauguration, he captured and executed the murderer…

MacCarthy, Blessed Thaddeus (Mac Carthaigh, Tadhg, Thady) (c.1446–1492), bishop of Ross and of Cork and Cloyne, is thought to have been a kinsman of the MacCarthy lord of Muskerry, while his mother is believed to have been a daughter of Edmund Fitzmaurice, baron of Lixnaw…

MacCarthy, Callaghan (d. 1676), 3rd earl of Clancarty , nobleman, was born in Ireland in the late 1630s, the son of Donough MacCarthy (qv) (1594–1665), 1st earl of Clancarty, of Macroom, Co. Cork, and Eleanor Butler, sister of…

MacCarthy, Denis Florence (1817–82), Young Irelander, poet, and translator, was born 26 May 1817 at 24 Lower Sackville St., Dublin, the only son of John MacCarthy (d. 1857), a catholic woollen merchant with premises on Eden Quay, Dublin, and Sarah MacCarthy (née Courtney) (d. 1845…

MacCarthy, Dermod Moyle (Diarmaid Maol) (d. 1602), Gaelic chief, was the younger son of Donogh (Donnchadh) MacCarthy Reagh of Carbery, Co. Cork, and Johanna, daughter of Maurice fitz John Fitzgerald of Carrigaline Castle, sister of…

MacCarthy, Diarmuid (c.1570s–1621), founder of the Irish College, Bordeaux, was son of Sir Callaghan MacTeige MacCarthy, 15th Lord Muskerry, and his wife Ellen, daughter of James, Lord Barry. Little is known of his early life but he was probably educated in Douai and he…

This is a co-subject for the entry on MacCarthy (Mac Carthaig), Domnall Máel. View the original entry.

This is a co-subject for the entry on MacCarthy (Mac Carthaig), Fingen. View the original entry.

MacCarthy, Donogh (1668–1734), 4th earl of Clancarty , soldier and Jacobite, was born in Blarney, Co. Cork, only son of Callaghan MacCarthy (qv) (second son of Donough MacCarthy (…

MacCarthy, Donough (1594–1665), 2nd Viscount Muskerry, 1st earl of Clancarty , soldier and politician, was second (but first surviving) son of Cormac Oge MacCarthy, 1st Viscount Muskerry, and Margaret, daughter of Donough O'Brien, 4th earl of …

MacCarthy, Ethna Mary (1903–59), poet and paediatrician, was born 2 April 1903 in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, a granddaughter of the Young Ireland poet Denis Florence MacCarthy (qv), and daughter of Brendan MacCarthy (d. 1934),…

This is a co-subject for the entry on MacCarthy (Mac Carthaigh), Diarmaid an Dúna. View the original entry.

MacCarthy, John Bernard (1888–1979), author and playwright, was born 24 June 1888 in the seaside village of Crosshaven, Co. Cork, youngest of three children of John MacCarthy, merchant seaman, and Mary (‘Minnie’) MacCarthy (née Keating). Mainly self-educated, he worked as a local…

MacCarthy, John George (1829–92), MP and land commissioner, was the son of John MacCarthy, of Cork, merchant, and his wife, Jane, daughter of George O'Driscoll, of Cork, distiller. He was educated at St Vincent's Seminary in Cork. In 1845 he delivered the welcome address to the…

MacCarthy, (Joseph) Aidan (1913–95), RAF physician, was born 19 March 1913 at Castletown, Berehaven (Castletownbere), Co. Cork, one of ten children (five boys and five girls) born to Daniel Florence MacCarthy, a local publican and businessman, and Julia MacCarthy (née Murphy).…

MacCarthy, Justin (c.1643–1694), Viscount Mountcashel and Baron Castleinch , army officer, was born probably in Blarney, youngest of three sons of Donough MacCarthy (qv), Viscount Muskerry and Earl Clancarty, and his wife…

MacCarthy, Liam (1853–1928), GAA organiser and businessman, was born 21 May 1853 in London, elder son and eldest of four children of Eoghan MacCarthy, of farming stock, from Ballygarvan, Co. Cork, and Brigid MacCarthy (née Dineen) from Bruff, Co. Limerick. They emigrated to England…