Education

Cousins, James Henry Sproull (1873–1956), writer, teacher, and theosophist, was born 22 July 1873 in Cavour Street, Belfast, the eldest child of James Cousins, a deep-sea mariner of Glastry, Co. Down, and Susan Cousins (née Davey), of Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. Educated at a local…

Cousins, Margaret (‘Gretta’) Elizabeth (1878–1954), suffragist, educator, and theosophist, was born 7 November 1878 in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, eldest of fifteen children of Joseph Gillespie , petty sessions clerk, and Margaret Annie Gillespie (née Shera). Brought up in a unionist and…

Cowley, Jane (Sister Mary Teresa) (1857–1914), Sister of Mercy, Boer war nurse, and educator, was born in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, daughter of John Cowley and Margaret Cowley (née Loughran). She entered the Convent of Mercy, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, on 2 February 1877, taking the…

Coyle, James (c.1838–1920), Gaelic scribe and national schoolteacher, was born in Co. Cavan, south of Lough Ramore, on the Meath border, son of Patrick Coyle (1790–1862), scribe, local poet, and farmer. Growing up in one of the last pockets of native Irish speech in south…

Crawford, William (1843–1926), methodist minister and principal of Wesley College, was born 17 April 1843, son of William Crawford, a civil servant in Dublin Castle; no details of his mother are known. Educated at Wesleyan Connexional School (1850–59), he entered…

Crawford, William (1740?–1800), presbyterian minister, Volunteer, and educationist, was born at Ballytromery, Crumlin, Co. Antrim, eldest son of Thomas Crawford (1696?–1782), minister there for fifty-eight years, and Anne (née Mackay); the youngest son was…

Cregan, Donal Francis (1911–95), priest, educationist, and historian, was born 16 May 1911 in Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick, only son among three children of John D. Cregan, shopkeeper, and Elizabeth Cregan (née Foley). He attended (1924–9) Castleknock College, Dublin, after which…

Cremer, Patrick Thomas (c.1880–1953), educator, was born either at Greaghnafarna, Co. Cavan, or Dowra, Co. Cavan, son of Peter Cremer, farmer; nothing else is known of his family or early life. He trained as a teacher at Marlborough St. College, Dublin, and taught art and…

Crombie, James (1730–90), presbyterian minister and founder of Belfast Academy, was born in Perth, Scotland, on 6 or 16 December 1730, eldest son of James Crombie, stonemason, and May Crombie (née Johnstoun). James was seriously ill as a young child, and it was believed that he…

Crone, Anne (1915–72), novelist and teacher, was born 16 September 1915 in Dublin, daughter of William Crone, a Belfast-born civil servant who was subsequently appointed assistant secretary in the Northern Ireland ministry of commerce, and Mary Jane (‘Mollie’) Crone (née Plunkett)…

Crookshank, Anne Olivia (1927–2016), art historian, was born in Whiteabbey, Co. Antrim, on 3 January 1927, the second of three daughters to Henry Crookshank, a geographical surveyor, and his wife Eileen ‘Kitty’ Crookshank (née Somerville-Large). For the first five years of her life Anne…

Crosbie, Patrick (‘Paddy’) (1913–82), teacher, humorist, and broadcaster, was born 1 October 1917 at 12A Bridewell Lane, Dublin, third among three sons and one daughter of Martin Crosbie, foreman-fitter, and Elizabeth (Lily) Crosbie (née Corcoran). He was educated at Stanhope St.…

Crossland, Sir Bernard (1923–2011), engineer and academic, was born on 20 October 1923 in Sydenham, south London, the youngest of three children (two boys and a girl) of Reginald Crossland, an engineer, and his wife Kathleen (née Ruddock). His grandfather and great-grandfather were…

Crotty, Bartholomew (1769–1846), college head and catholic bishop of Cloyne, was born 1 September 1769 at Clonakilty, Co. Cork, son of a prosperous weaver; nothing else is known of his family. He was educated locally and at a classical school at Glanworth, Co. Cork, from which,…

Crowley, Mary Frances (1906–90), nurse and educator, was born 1 August 1906 at 12 William Street, Wexford town, the home of her maternal grandparents, James Williams, a retired lighthouse keeper, and his wife Margaret. Mary was the eldest of six children born to John Crowley, a…

Cullen, Noel Christopher (1947–2002), chef, academic, and author, was born 30 December 1947 in Moore St., Dublin, third among five children of Thomas Cullen, labourer, and Elizabeth Cullen (née Keeley). His career combined in equal parts culinary arts, administration, research,…

Cuming, James (1833–99), medical professor in QCB, was born in Markethill, Co. Armagh, son of Edward Cuming, a prosperous catholic merchant in coal, spirits, and foodstuffs, who had at least two other children, a daughter and another son, who became a barrister. James's mother's name is…

Curtis, Maeve (1911–71), journalist and teacher, was born Alice Margaret, 7 August 1911, at West Teebane, Co. Tyrone, fifth child of four daughters and one son of John Curtis and his wife Alice Geown, both from Tyrone. Her father was a farmer-builder. Her mother died when she was…

Curtis, Patrick (1747/8–1832), college head and catholic archbishop of Armagh, was born either at Drogheda, Co. Louth, or at his family's home at Stamullen, Co. Meath. He attended the classical school at Stamullen and, after a short time in trade, took up ecclesiastical studies in…

Curwen, Annie Jessie (1845–1932), music educationist, was born 1 September 1845 in Dublin; her name at birth was Gregg . Educated at the Royal Academy of Music in Dublin, she taught piano in the city, before moving to Scotland, where she met her future husband, the musician and…

Dabzac, Henry Joseph (1737–90), academic, was born in Minorca, son of Henry d'Abzac (1677–1750) and his wife (m. 1711 in Dublin) Magdalen, daughter of Capt. D'Artoux. Henry d'Abzac, naturalised as a subject of the crown in Ireland, was the son of Marc Dabzac by Jane (b. 1703 at…

Dalgarno, Alexander (1928–2015), mathematician, physicist and astrophysicist, was born, along with his twin sister Pamela, on 5 January 1928 in Wood Green, London, at the home of their parents William Dalgarno and Margaret (née Murray). Alexander and Pamela had an older brother, Murray…

Darby, John Patrick (1941–2012), social and political scientist, was born on 18 November 1940 at 149 Springfield Road, Belfast, where his parents Sadie (née Mackle) and Patrick Darby ran a pub. When he was a young child his family moved to Portrush, Co. Antrim, where he attended St…

Darling, Sisson Putland (1737–1817), schoolmaster, was the son of Richard Darling (1685–1766) of North Strand, Dublin, and his wife, Anne (née Davis). Richard's great-grandfather was John Darling (d. 1620), protestant dean of Emly (1608–20). The family pedigree gives no clue to…

Darlington, Joseph (1850–1939), Jesuit and academic, was born 5 November 1850 in Wigan, Lancashire, second son of Ralph Darlington (occupation unknown). He matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford (2 December 1869) and graduated BA (1874)…