Biographies A-Z

Reidy, James (1873–1953), nationalist and newspaper editor, was born 23 January 1873 in Knockfierna, near Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, son of Michael Reidy, farmer, and Honora Reidy (née Quaid). Educated locally, he was reputedly a member of the…

Reihill, John Philip (1933–2013), coal and oil importer, was born on 28 June 1933 in Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, the elder son of two sons and two daughters of John Reihill, a coal importer of Ailesbury Park, Dublin, originally from Co. Fermanagh, and his wife Elizabeth (née Stafford…

Reilly, Alice (1702/3–1778), printer and publisher, born Alice Abbot , was the widow (m. 10 October 1733) of Richard Reilly; she took over his business on his death in July 1741. Paying quarterage fees to the printers guild (the Guild of St Luke the Evangelist), she was unable to…

Reilly, Hugh (d. 1815), merchant, was probably a son of Walter Reilly, an apothecary, of Annagh, Co. Cavan. He was a linen merchant at Cavan town by 1779, after which he ‘grew steadily in wealth and influence and became one of the most extensive catholic property owners in the…

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Reilly, Joseph (1889–1965), chemist, was born 3 September 1889 at 11 Creighton Street, Dublin, the son of Joseph Reilly, a policeman, from Longford, and Margaret Reilly (née Fulham), from Galway. His father died before Joseph's birth. Educated at the Christian Brothers’ School,…

Reilly, Thomas Devin (1824–54), nationalist and journalist, was born 30 March 1824 in Monaghan town, one of at least two sons of Thomas Reilly, a solicitor with a large practice in Monaghan and Dublin. A catholic, Thomas senior was appointed solicitor for the mentally ill and minors in…

Reily, James (c.1735–p.1780), miniature-painter, was born in Dublin into modest family circumstances; it is possible his father was a painter. He was educated at the Blue Coat School, Oxmantown, Dublin (1745–8), and attended drawing classes at…

Reily (Reilly, O'Reilly), Hugh (d. c.1695), Jacobite lord chancellor of Ireland and historian, was born in Co. Cavan, though his parents and date of birth are unknown. He was appointed (22 May 1686) a master in chancery by James…

Relhan, Anthony (1715–76), physician, was born in Dublin, son of Anthony Relhan, merchant, and Margaret Relhan (d. 1750). Educated at Dr Sheridan's school in Dublin, he entered TCD in November 1730, was made a scholar (1734) and…

Renehan, Laurence F. (1797/8–1857), priest, bibliophile, and president of Maynooth College 1845–57, was born at Longford Pass, in the parish of Gurtnahoe, Co. Tipperary, second son of Laurence Renehan, farmer, and Catherine Renehan (née Borden). Destined for the church from an…

Rennie, John (1761–1821), civil engineer, was born 7 June 1761 at Phantassie, near East Linton, Haddingtonshire (East Lothian), Scotland, fourth son of James Rennie, farmer, and Jean Rennie (née Rennie), who is believed to have been a cousin. His elder brother was George Rennie (…

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Renny, George (1757–1848), surgeon, was born 18 August 1757 at Falkirk, Scotland, son of George Renny, procurator-fiscal (and later baillie) of Falkirk, and Jean Renny (née Glasgow) of Ayrshire. He was educated at Edinburgh University and entered the army (1775) as a surgeon's mate in…

Renouf, Louis Percy Watt (1887–1968), zoologist, was born 11 December 1887 in Lewisham, London, son of Philip Renouf and Jane Renouf (née Tomlin) of Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England. His father, a mechanical engineer, worked on the design and manufacturing of bicycles and…

Renouf, Peter le Page (1822–97), church historian and Egyptologist, was born 23 August 1822 in St Peter Port, Guernsey, the eldest child of Joseph Renouf, Master of the Town Hospital school in St Peter Port, and his wife Mary (née le Page). His brother Frederick drowned at sea in…

Rentoul, James Alexander (1845–1919), presbyterian minister, lawyer and politician, was born at Errity House, Manorcunningham, Co. Donegal, on 7 August 1845, eldest son (of three sons and five daughters) of Alexander Rentoul, presbyterian minister, and his wife Erminda (née Chittick…

Rentoul, John Laurence (1846–1926), presbyterian minister, academic, and poet, was born 6 July 1846 at Garvagh, Co. Londonderry, fourth son of the Rev. James Buchan Rentoul (d. 1886) and his wife Sarah, daughter of the Rev. William Wilson of Crossgar. He was educated at…

Rewcastle, Attracta Genevieve (1897–1951), doctor and public figure, was born 6 September 1897 in Ballaghadereen, Co. Mayo, daughter of Bartholomew Candon, publican and grocer, and Winifred Candon (née Casey). She studied in Galway and Dublin, graduating…

Reynell, Richard (1625–99), politician and judge, was born in East Ogwell, Devonshire, England, second son of Sir Richard Reynell, knight, and his wife Mary (née Reynell). He entered the Middle Temple in 1642, but was not called to the English bar until 1653. He later moved to Ireland…

Reynolds, Albert Martin (1932–2014), businessman, politician and taoiseach, was born in Roosky, Co. Roscommon, on 3 November 1932, youngest of four children (three sons and one daughter) of John P. Reynolds and his wife Catherine (née Dillon) from Cloone, Co. Leitrim. Having emigrated…

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Reynolds, Augustus Percival Harald (‘Percy’) (1895–1983), accountant, company director, racehorse owner and breeder, was born 29 August 1895 at 9 Florence Street, Dublin, son of John Richard Reynolds, bookkeeper, and Mary Reynolds (née Griffin). Educated at the O'Connell Schools, he…

Reynolds, Charles (c.1496–1535), Fitzgerald envoy to the pope, was most likely born into the Mac Raghnaill ecclesiastical dynasty based around the Augustinian priory at Mohill and the cathedral chapter at Ardagh. He was the son of a Maurus Mac Raghnaill, and someone of that…

Reynolds, Christopher Augustine (1834–93), first catholic archbishop of Adelaide, Australia, was born 25 July 1834 in Dublin, son of Patrick Reynolds and Elizabeth Reynolds (née Bourke). He received his early education from the Carmelite brothers in Clondalkin. In 1852 he went to…