Journalism and Broadcasting

Dolan, (Una) Kathleen (1921–2003), radio announcer, was born 11 April 1921 in Church Street, Strabane, Co. Tyrone; she was one of three children, two daughters and a son, of James Dolan and his wife Kathleen Theresa Maude (née Reid). James had been a national school teacher, but was…

Donahoe, Patrick (1811–1901) editor, publisher, and businessman, was born 17 March 1811 in Munnery, Kilmore, Co. Cavan, the son of Terrence Donahoe and his wife Jane (née Christy). His mother died when he was an infant. In 1821 he emigrated, with his father, to Boston,…

Donnelly, Catherine (1948–2014), advertising copywriter, arts advocate and novelist, was born on 29 April 1948 in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, the youngest of four girls and two boys to Thomas Donnelly, a spirit merchant and wine importer, and Margaret Donnelly. Her earliest years were…

Donovan, Robert (1862–1934), journalist and professor, was born 24 May 1862 in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, son of Thomas Donovan. (Some obituaries state he was an only son, but the Irish Independent says a brother was parish priest of Kill, Co. Kildare.) Educated at St…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Doris, William. View the original entry.

Doris, William (1860–1926), politician, agrarian agitator, and newspaper proprietor, was born 13 April 1860 in Westport, Co. Mayo, son of Robert Doris, postman, and Margaret Doris (née Madden). After attending the local CBS, he…

Dougal, James Joseph ('Jim') (1945–2010), journalist, was born on 19 March 1945 in Belfast, one of six children (three boys and three girls) of Samuel Dougal, who worked for the electricity board, and his wife Christina (née Higgins), a nurse before their marriage. The family was…

Dowling, Vincent (1756–1825), parliamentary reporter and satirist, was born in Queen's Co. (Laois); there are no details of his parents. He began his long and successful journalistic career in Dublin in the 1780s, where he became a parliamentary reporter, memorising speeches and…

Downey, Edmund (1856–1937) publisher, editor, and author, was born 24 July 1856 in Waterford, the son of William Downey, a ship owner and broker, and his wife Margaret (née Hayes). He was educated in Waterford at the Catholic University School, and St. John's College, where he excelled…

Doyle, Mick (Michael Gerard) (1940–2004), rugby player and coach, was born 13 October 1940 in his maternal grandparents' house at Currow, Farranfore, Co. Kerry, the elder of two sons of Michael Doyle, a general merchant, publican and poultry farmer, of Castleisland, Co. Kerry, and…

Doyle, Vincent ('Vinnie') (1938–2010), newspaper editor, was born in Fontenoy Street, Dublin city, on 9 February 1938, the only child of Ned Doyle, labourer, and his wife Kathleen (née Harris). His father died in 1943, his health broken after being gassed during service with the…

Drew, Catherine (1832–1910), journalist and writer, was born 27 May 1832 in Broughshane, Co. Antrim, the third of eight daughters of the Rev. Thomas Drew (qv), DD, curate of the joint parish of St Patricks, Skerry and Racavan in Broughshane (…

Driscol, Denis (1762–1811), newspaper proprietor and radical, was born in Co. Cork. Little is known about his parentage and details of his early career are sparse, but he was born into a catholic family wealthy enough to provide him with an education on the continent. Having…

Duane, William John (1780–1865), lawyer, journalist, and US treasury secretary, was born 9 May 1780 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, eldest son of William Duane (1760–1835), catholic Irish-American radical journalist, and Catherine Duane (née Corcoran; 1760–98), a local protestant woman.…

Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan (1816–1903), politician and journalist, was born in Monaghan town on 12 April 1816, the sixth and youngest child of John Duffy (d. 1827), a shopkeeper and former United Irishman, and his wife, Anne (née Gavan). Formative years After the premature deaths of his…

Duncan, Ellen (1850–1937), arts administrator and journalist, was born in Dublin, eldest daughter of Thomas Douglas of Sydney Parade, Ballsbridge. She was educated at Alexandra College, Dublin and at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Married to James Duncan, a civil servant in Dublin…

Dunne, Michael (‘Mick’) (1929–2002), GAA broadcaster and journalist, was born 27 May 1929 in Clonaslee, Co. Laois, one of two sons of Francis Dunne, insurance agent, and Agnes Dunne (née Foley), schoolteacher. Educated at Clonaslee national school and Knockbeg College, Co. Carlow,…

Dunne, Seán Christopher (1956–95), poet, editor, and journalist, was born 30 May 1956 at Belleville nursing home, Waterford, son of Richie Dunne, factory worker, and Maureen Dunne (née Walshe). His father and a housekeeper, Tessie Ryan, looked after the family after his mother…

Dunseith, David Lumsden (1934–2011), policeman and broadcaster, was born on 2 October 1934 in Derry city, the eldest child of Robert Dunseith, a flour miller, and his wife Mary Dunseith (née Lumsden), formerly a factory worker. David grew up in the protestant Waterside area of Derry…

Dwyer, Bernie (1943–2013), journalist, filmmaker and political activist, was born in Dublin on 14 December 1943 to Mary (née Fagan) and Arthur Hannon , a clerk at Dublin Corporation. She spent her early childhood in Drimnagh, before the family moved to Sutton, Co. Dublin. She left…

Eccles, Charlotte O'Conor (1864/5–1911), journalist and novelist, was born in Ballingard House, Co. Roscommon, fourth and oldest surviving daughter of Alexander O'Conor Eccles, justice of the peace and founder of the Roscommon Messenger (1848–1935), a home rule newspaper.…

Egan, Pierce (c.1774–1849), popular novelist and sporting journalist, was the eldest son of James Egan, labourer; his uncle was John Egan (qv), the politician. Although there is no record of his birth or early life, there is reason…

Ennis, Séamus (1919–82), musician, folklorist, singer, and broadcaster, was born 5 May 1919 in Jamestown Lodge, Finglas, Dublin, son of James Ennis, civil servant and warpiper from Dublin, and Mary Josephine Ennis (née McCabe) from Co. Monaghan. He had three sisters and two brothers.…

Etchingham, Sean R. (1870–1923), politician and journalist, was born 6 February 1870 at Ballintray (near Gorey), Co. Wexford, son of Jack Etchingham, gardener, and his wife, Margaret (née Redmond), who also had at least three daughters. The family had a Fenian tradition, which…

Fallon, Padraic (1946–2012), journalist and businessman, was born on 21 September 1946 in the County Hospital, Wexford, the youngest of six sons of Padraic Fallon (qv), a poet, playwright and customs official of Rowe Street, Wexford, and his…