Bourke, Francis Stephen (‘Freddie’) (1895–1959), medical doctor and bibliographer, was born 14/15 July 1895 in High St., Kilkenny, son of James Bourke, merchant tailor, and Kate Bourke (née Walshe). Educated at St Kieran's College, Kilkenny, he studied at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and qualified in 1922. His career as a Dublin pathologist included forty years (latterly as director) with the special treatments clinic at Dr Steevens’ Hospital. He was also an eminent bibliographer: his publications included bibliographies of the rebellion of 1803 (Bibliographical Society of Ireland Publications, v, no. 1 (1933)), Killarney (ibid., vi, no. 2 (1953)) and the Volunteers of 1782 (Ir. Sword, ii (1954–6)). He compiled but did not publish a bibliography of Irish tours. In 1959 he was president of the Bibliographical Society of Ireland. He also collected manuscripts: his large collection, now in NLI, includes maps, tours, diaries, and genealogies, indicating wide antiquarian interests. F. S. (‘Freddie’) Bourke died in Dublin 13 June 1959, survived by a wife, three sons, and two daughters. His brother was a Carmelite priest at Kilkenny known as Fr Canice.
Sources
GRO, Kilkenny, 3/398, Dublin S. 2/327; Ir. Times, 14, 20 June 1959; Charles Dickson, obituary, Ir. Jn. Med. Sci., 6th ser., no. 403 (July 1959), 308; Ir. Book, i, no. 2 (1959–60), 57