Biographies A-Z

Murray, Alfred (1914–99), GAA footballer and administrator, was born 24 December 1914 in Dromore, Co. Down, son of James Murray, national school principal, and Isabel Murray (née Campbell). He attended primary school locally at Dromore and Derrymacash before winning a scholarship to…

Murray, Charles Henry (1917–2008), civil servant and governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, was born 29 January 1917 in Dublin to Charles Murray and his wife Teresa (née Duke). Educated at Synge Street CBS, Dublin, he reluctantly…

Murray, Daniel (1768–1852), archbishop of Dublin, was born 18 April 1768 near Arklow, Co. Wicklow, fourth son of Thomas Murray, a prosperous tenant of Lord Wicklow, and Judith Murray. Baptised in Redross chapel, he received his early education locally. In about 1776 he was sent to…

Murray, James Andrew (1840–1921), businessman, was born in 1840 in Co. Clare, the eldest of five sons and one daughter of Michael Murray and his wife Ann (née MacNamara), of whom little is known. The family emigrated to Canada about 1845, and in 1858 at age eighteen, James left for the…

Murray, John Fisher (1811–65), journalist and nationalist, was born in February 1811 in Belfast, the eldest son of the eminent physician and chemist James Murray (qv), and his wife Margaret (née Sherlock). A catholic, he was educated…

Murray, (Joseph) Vivian (1932–2009), public servant, was born on 22 July 1932 at 26 William Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, one of six children of Jeremiah Murray, carpenter, and his wife Mary (née Lynch). After attending the local CBS, he worked in the town's post office as a…

Murray, Laurence Patrick, ('Larry'), (Ó Muireadhaigh, Lorcán) (1883–1941), priest, historian and Irish-language activist, was born 8 June 1883 in Newry Street, Carlingford, Co. Louth, the eldest of seven surviving children (four sons and three daughters) of James Murray, a member of the…

Murray, Nicholas (1802–61), presbyterian minister in the USA, was born 25 December 1802 in Ballynaskeagh, Co. Westmeath, or near Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. All that is known of his family background is that his father, Nicholas Murray, a Roman catholic farmer, wanted him to become a…

Murray, Patrick Aloysius (1811–82), theologian, was born at Clones, Co. Monaghan, on 18 November 1811, the fourth of eight children of Philip Murray, a farmer and shopowner, and his wife, Mary (née Corley). His father was prosperous enough to be able to educate three sons for the…

Murray, Paul Finbarre (1905–81), rugby player, was born 29 June 1905 in Sandycove, Dublin, one of nine children of Hugh C. Murray, chief transfer clerk of the Great Northern Railway, and Josephine A. Murray (née Farrell). Educated at Blackrock College and the…

Murray, Ruby (1935–96), popular singer, was born 29 March 1935 in Belfast, youngest daughter among four children of Daniel Murray, originally from Scotland, and Wilhelmina or Winifred Murray (née Connolly). They lived in Moltke Street in the Donegall Road area of the city. An operation…

Murray, Sean (1898–1961), communist, was born 15 June 1898 in either Laney or Ballybrack townland, Cushendall, Co. Antrim, youngest among three daughters and one son of Patrick Murray, small farmer, and Mary Ann Murray (née Gore). Raised a Roman Catholic, he was educated at Glenaan…

Murray, Sir James (1788–1871), doctor and chemist, was born in Co. Londonderry, probably in Culrady, near Maghera, eldest son of Edward Murray and Belinda Murray (née Powell). He was brought up as a Roman catholic; he had at least two brothers, and possibly other siblings. His brother…

Murray, Thomas Cornelius (1873–1959), playwright, was born 17 January 1873 in Macroom, Co. Cork, the seventh of the eleven children of Cornelius Murray and Honora Murray (née Kelleher). When they moved to Macroom, his parents opened a business combining a meal and flour shop,…

Musa, Jennifer ('Mummy'; Jennifer Jehanzeba Qazi Musa) (1917–2008), politician, tribal elder and nurse, was born Bridget Wren on 11 November 1917 in Tarmons, Tarbert, Co. Kerry, one of five daughters and two sons of John Wren, a small-holding farmer, and his wife Johanna (née…

Muschamp, Denny (c.1637–1699), office-holder and property owner, was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Agmondesham Muschamp (d. 1658), of Ballinrea, Co. Cork, and his wife, Anne Muschamp (née Denny) (d. 1668); the couple had at least one other son and a daughter, Anne, who…

Musgrave, Sir James (1826–1904), businessman, was born 30 December 1826 at Lisburn, Co. Antrim, one of twelve children of Dr Samuel Musgrave (1770–1836), a physician, and his wife, Mary (d. 1862), daughter of William Riddel of Comber, Co. Down. (There is some dispute over his…

Musgrave, Sir Richard (1746?–1818), 1st baronet, political writer, was born at Lismore, Co. Waterford, the first of the three sons of Christopher Musgrave (d. 1787) of Tourin, near Cappoquin, local agent to the duke of Devonshire, and his wife Susannah, daughter of James Usher of…

Muspratt, James (1793–1886), chemical industrialist, was born 12 August 1793 in Dublin, third child and second son among six sons and two daughters of Evan Muspratt, cork-cutter, and Sarah Muspratt (née Mainwaring), both of Dublin, whose families came originally from England. After…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Muspratt, James. View the original entry.

Myler, Robert (d. 1581), catholic martyr, was a sailor out of Wexford port. In early 1581 he was one of a number of sailors who attempted to find passage to the continent for James Eustace (qv), 3rd Viscount Baltinglass, then in…

Myles, Sir Thomas (1857–1937), surgeon and nationalist, was born 20 April 1857 in Limerick city, second son of John Myles (d. 1871), merchant, and his second wife, Prudence (d. 1904), daughter of William Bradshaw of Kylebeg, Co. Tipperary. Educated at…