Biographies A-Z

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O'Sullivan, Edward (Eamon; ‘the Doc’)

O'Sullivan, Edward (Eamon; ‘the Doc’) (1897–1966), athlete, Gaelic football trainer, sports administrator, and psychiatrist, was born 8 May 1897 in Ballincarrig, Firies, Co. Kerry, only son among three children of James ‘J. P.’ O'Sullivan, farmer, originally from Beaufort near…

O'Sullivan, Gearóid

O'Sullivan, Gearóid (1891–1948), soldier and politician, was born 28 January 1891 at Coolnagrane, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, fourth son among six sons and three daughters of Michael O'Sullivan, farmer, of Loughine, and Margaret Sullivan (née McCarthy) of Coolnagrane. It is uncertain when the…

O'Sullivan, Gerald Christopher ('Gerry')

O'Sullivan, Gerald Christopher ('Gerry') (1946–2012), surgeon and scientist, was born on 13 June 1946 to Gerald O'Sullivan, a farmer, and Bridget (née O'Sullivan) of Milleenahorna, Caheragh, Co. Cork. He was educated at Gurrane National School before taking his leaving certificate at St…

O'Sullivan, John (‘Jean Sullivan’ ‘John Francis Sullivan’)

O'Sullivan, John (‘Jean Sullivan’ ‘John Francis Sullivan’) (1877–1955), tenor, was born 27 October 1877 in Cork, son of John J. O'Sullivan, an apothecary in Killarney, Co. Kerry, and Frances Anne O'Sullivan (née Coffee). When O'Sullivan was about 7 years old his father died, and his…

O'Sullivan, John L.

O'Sullivan, John L. (1901–90), soldier, policeman, and politician, was born 8 June 1901 on his family's farm at Carrigroe, Rathbarry, near Clonakilty, Co. Cork, youngest son of James Sullivan, farmer, and Mary Anne Sullivan (née Collins). It is uncertain when the ‘O’ prefix was…

O'Sullivan, John Marcus

O'Sullivan, John Marcus (1881–1948), historian and politician, was born 18 February 1881 at Killarney, the second son of M. O'Sullivan, JP, merchant. He was part of an extended O'Sullivan family grouping, which struggled for dominance of…

O'Sullivan, Martin

O'Sullivan, Martin (1891–1956), trade unionist and politician, was born in 1891 in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. Educated locally at the CBS, he joined the Midland & Great Western Railway Co. as a clerk and worked in Sligo and Cavan…

O'Sullivan, Mary Josephine Donovan-

O'Sullivan, Mary Josephine Donovan- (1887–1966), historian, was born in Fairhill, Galway, only daughter among ten children of William and Bridget Donovan from Cork. Her father had served in the Royal Navy. Educated at Dominican convent, Taylor's Hill, Galway, she won prizes in…

O'Sullivan, Maureen Patricia (‘Paddy’)

O'Sullivan, Maureen Patricia (‘Paddy’) (1918–p. 1950), undercover agent, was born 3 January 1918 in Dublin, daughter of John O'Sullivan, journalist, and his English wife, Adelaide (née Redmond), who died when Maureen was a year old. She briefly attended St Louis' convent…

O'Sullivan, Maureen Paula

O'Sullivan, Maureen Paula (1911–98), actress, was born 17 May 1911 at Boyle, Co. Roscommon, one of the five children of Major Charles Joseph O'Sullivan of the Connaught Rangers, and his wife, Mary Lovatt (née Fraser). Educated briefly at a convent in Dublin, she also attended the…

O'Sullivan, Michael John

O'Sullivan, Michael John (1794–1845), journalist and playwright, was born in 1794, the only son of Daniel Sullivan of Cork city, woollen draper. He was educated at the academy in Cork run by the Maginn family and won a gold medal at an early age as the outstanding pupil. Deciding on…

O'Sullivan, Mortimer

O'Sullivan, Mortimer (1791–1859), Church of Ireland clergyman and polemicist, was born in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, second son of John O'Sullivan, schoolmaster. Although they were catholics, Mortimer and his elder brother Samuel (qv…

O'Sullivan, Samuel

O'Sullivan, Samuel (1790–1851), Church of Ireland clergyman and writer, was born 13 September 1790 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, eldest son of John O'Sullivan, schoolmaster. His brother was the clergyman and writer Mortimer O'Sullivan…

O'Sullivan, Seán

O'Sullivan, Seán (1906–64), artist, was born John O'Sullivan on 20 June 1906 in 44 St Joseph's Terrace, Dublin, son of John O'Sullivan, carpenter, and Mary O'Sullivan (née Taylor). Educated at Synge Street Christian Brothers' School and Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, where he was…

O'Sullivan, Seumas

O'Sullivan, Seumas (1879–1958), writer, editor, and publisher, was born James Sullivan Starkey 17 July 1879 at 7 Charleston Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin, third son among three sons and two daughters of William Starkey, physician and pharmicist, and Martha Starkey (née Sullivan). His father…

O'Sullivan (Sullivan), Sir John William

O'Sullivan (Sullivan), Sir John William (c.1700–p. 1760), Jacobite soldier and companion to Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender, was born in Co. Kerry, one of two sons of Dermot O'Sullivan, described as lord of Dunkerron, and his wife, whose maiden surname…

O'Sullivan, Terry

O'Sullivan, Terry (1911–80), journalist and broadcaster, was born 7 November 1911 at 25 Addison Road, Fairview, north-east Dublin, as Thomas Phelan, son of William Phelan, bookkeeper, and Mary Phelan (née Joyce). Later forms of his name were ‘Tomás O Phaloin’ (signature at…

O'Sullivan, Thomas Francis

O'Sullivan, Thomas Francis (1874–1950), journalist, historian, and GAA administrator, was born 16 December 1874 at Glin, Co. Limerick, although the family moved at an early age to Listowel, Co. Kerry. He studied at St Michael's CBS

O'Sullivan, Timothy James (‘Toddy’)

O'Sullivan, Timothy James (‘Toddy’) (1906–94), manager of the Gresham Hotel, Dublin, was born 15 December 1906 in Waterville, Co. Kerry, son of Timothy O'Sullivan. Educated at Presentation College, Cork, he later travelled extensively before entering hotel management. Having managed…

O'Sullivan, William Henry

O'Sullivan, William Henry (1829–87), agrarian radical and nationalist, was born in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, the only son of Thomas Luke O'Sullivan, a prosperous tenant farmer, of Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, and his wife, Nanette, daughter of Patrick Hussey, of Kilmallock. Educated…

O'Teige, Donat (Donatus; Donnchadh Ó Taidhg)

O'Teige, Donat (Donatus; Donnchadh Ó Taidhg) (d. 1562), catholic archbishop of Armagh, appears to have been of a Limerick family, and was possibly born at Adare, Co. Limerick. A priest in the diocese of Limerick, he was provided to the see of Armagh on 7 February 1560. He appears…

O'Toole, Arthur Severus

O'Toole, Arthur Severus (c.1545–1598), soldier and claimant to the O'Toole lordship of Fercullen, was the son of Brian O'Toole (qv) (Brian an Chogaidh), lord of the O'Tooles and sometime sheriff of Dublin. Arthur and his younger…

O'Toole, Art Óg

This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Toole (Ó Tuathail), Toirdhealbhach. View the original entry.

O'Toole, Barnaby

O'Toole, Barnaby (1560–97), Gaelic lord, eldest son of Fiach O'Toole (qv), lord of Castlekevin and Fartry, and Rice Basnett (d. p.1601), was an important Irish noble in north Wicklow during the late sixteenth century. On his…

O'Toole, Brian

O'Toole, Brian (c.1525–1549), Gaelic warlord, was second of four sons of Toirdhealbhach (the elder) O'Toole (qv) (d. 1542), lord of the O'Tooles, and Sadhbh MacMurrough. Brian proved himself to be a powerful…