Biographies A-Z

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

MacDermott (Mac Diarmata), Maolruanaidh (Máelruanaid)

MacDermott (Mac Diarmata), Maolruanaidh (Máelruanaid) (d. 1331?), king of Magh Luirg, was the second son of Gilla Críst MacDermott Mac Diarmata (d. 1260), king of Mag Luirg (north Roscommon), who was killed at the battle of Down on 16 May 1260 fighting with Áed O'…

MacDermott, Martin

MacDermott, Martin (1823–1905), poet and architect, was born 8 April 1823 in Dublin, son of John MacDermott (1785–1842), prosperous merchant and perfumer, and Amélie Thérèse MacDermott (née Boshell), of French descent. Although educated as a catholic on Usher's Quay and later at a…

MacDermott Roe, Mary (Máire)

MacDermott Roe, Mary (Máire) (d. 1739?), patron of Turlough Carolan (qv), may have been born in the 1670s, and was a daughter – possibly eldest daughter – of John Fitzgerald (d. p. 1717),…

MacDermott, Sir Terence

MacDermott, Sir Terence (d. p. 1699), Jacobite and lord mayor of Dublin. His life remains largely obscure, but his family were apparently from Co. Louth, moving to Dublin towards the end of the seventeenth century; he himself was a successful merchant in the city. He had…

MacDevitt (McDavett, M'Davit, M'Devitt), Philip

MacDevitt (McDavett, M'Davit, M'Devitt), Philip (1724–97), catholic bishop, was born in Crislagh, Inishowen, Co. Donegal, of unknown parents; he had at least two brothers. He received his doctorate from the Sorbonne, returned to Ireland, and, after serving as a priest, eventually…

Mac Diarmada (McDermott), Seán

Mac Diarmada (McDermott), Seán (1883–1916), republican revolutionary, was born January 1883 (baptised 29 January) in Corranmore (Laghty Barr), Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim, eighth child and third son among five sons and five daughters of Donald McDermott (d. 1913), a carpenter, and Mary…

Mac Domhnaill, Aodh (McDonnell, Hugh)

Mac Domhnaill, Aodh (McDonnell, Hugh) (1802–67), writer and folklore collector, was born at Drumgill, near Drumcondra, Co. Meath. His father was named Séamas Mac Domhnaill but nothing else is known of his immediate family. In 1827 he married Bridget Roe of Ardee, Co. Louth, and they had…

Mac Domhnaill, Seán ‘Clárach’

Mac Domhnaill, Seán ‘Clárach’ (c.1690–1754), poet, was a native of the parish of Churchtown, some 10 km to the south of Ráth Luirc (Charleville), Co. Cork. Nothing is known of his immediate family, but he appears to have come from a prosperous farming background. He received a…

MacDonagh, Donagh

MacDonagh, Donagh (1912–68), writer and judge, was born 22 November 1912 in Temple Villas, Rathmines, Dublin, elder of the two children of Thomas MacDonagh (qv), one of the executed leaders of the 1916 rising, and his wife…

MacDonagh, Frank

This is a co-subject for the entry on MacDonagh, Michael. View the original entry.

MacDonagh, John

This is a co-subject for the entry on MacDonagh, Thomas. View the original entry.

MacDonagh, Joseph

MacDonagh, Joseph (1883–1922), politician and businessman, was born 18 May 1883 in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, youngest of six surviving children (four sons and two daughters) of Joseph MacDonagh (1834–94), native of Rooskey, Co. Roscommon, and Mary MacDonagh (née Parker; d. 1908…

MacDonagh (MacDonogh), Michael

MacDonagh (MacDonogh), Michael (1699?–1746), catholic bishop, was a native of Coleraine, Co. Londonderry. His parents' names are unknown. He joined the Dominicans of St Mary's convent in Coleraine (c.1715–16) and subsequently left for Italy to study in Pesaro, before…

MacDonagh, Maire (Mary McDonagh)

MacDonagh, Maire (Mary McDonagh) (1918–97), trade unionist, was born 20 March 1918 in Kilconnell, Co. Galway, the second of three daughters who lived into adulthood of Michael MacDonagh, customs official, and his wife, Caroline, née Keary, both of Co. Galway. She appears to have…

MacDonagh, Michael

MacDonagh, Michael (1860–1946), journalist and historian, was born 26 August 1860 in Limerick, son of Michael MacDonagh (d. 1893). He was educated locally by the Christian Brothers and then joined a local paper as a reporter. In 1882 he moved to Dublin to work for the Freeman's…

MacDonagh, Muriel Enid Gifford

This is a co-subject for the entry on DONNELLY, Helen Ruth (‘Nellie’) Gifford. View the original entry.

MacDonagh, Oliver Ormond Gerard

MacDonagh, Oliver Ormond Gerard (1924–2002), historian, was born 23 August 1924 in Carlow town, elder son of Michael MacDonagh (1892–1972), bank official from Limerick, and his wife Loretto Oliver (1897–1970). His childhood was spent in Roscommon town, where his father was posted…

MacDonagh, Terence

MacDonagh, Terence (1640–1713), soldier, poet, Jacobite, and lawyer, also known as ‘Turlough Óg’ or ‘Tirlough Caoch’ (one-eyed), was second son of Terence (Turlough) MacDonagh, of Creevagh, Kilmactranny, Co. Sligo, and his wife Mary, daughter of the poet…

MacDonagh, Thomas

MacDonagh, Thomas (1878–1916), teacher, writer, and republican revolutionary, was born 1 February 1878 in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, third child and eldest son among six surviving children (four sons and two daughters; three elder children had died in infancy) of Joseph MacDonagh (…

Macdonald, John Smyth

Macdonald, John Smyth (1867–1941), physiologist, was born on 28 April 1867 in Rathgar, Dublin, the elder son and second of the four children of George Macdonald, merchant tailor, and Margaret Macdonald (née Smyth). The family moved to Waterford when he was a baby, and then to…

MacDonald (McDonald), James Alexander

MacDonald (McDonald), James Alexander (1853–1928), rugby international and rugby and medical administrator, was born in Newtownards, Co. Down, on 1 July 1853 (some sources suggest 1848/9), one of at least four brothers, two of whom (Robert and Malcolm) were connected with banking.…

MacDonald, Walter

MacDonald, Walter (1854–1920), catholic priest and theologian, was born in June 1854 in the parish of Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, son of a tenant farmer, and his wife, whose maiden name was Carroll. MacDonald's parents were bilingual but raised their children as monoglot English-…

MacDonnell, Alasdair (Alexander) MacColla

MacDonnell, Alasdair (Alexander) MacColla (d. 1647), Gaelic lord, was the third son of Coll MacGillespie and (most probably) Mary, daughter of Ranald MacJames of Smerby: both parents were MacDonnells, but the use of fixed hereditary surnames was not normal practice in Gaelic…

MacDonnell, Alexander

MacDonnell, Alexander (1615–99), 3rd earl of Antrim , politician and soldier, was the second son of Sir Randal MacDonnell, 1st earl of Antrim (qv), and Alice, daughter of Hugh O'…

MacDonnell, Alexander

MacDonnell, Alexander (1798–1835), chess master, was born in Belfast, son of Alexander MacDonnell, doctor. Educated locally, he began a successful career in business, spending ten years as a merchant at Demerara in the West Indies (1820–30). Moving to London around 1830, he wrote…