Theatre, Film and TV

Displaying 201 - 225 of 310 results on page 9 of 13

McKenna, Thomas Patrick ('T. P.')

McKenna, Thomas Patrick ('T. P.') (1929–2011), actor, was born on 7 September 1929 in Mullagh, Co. Cavan, the eldest of ten children of Raphael ('Ralph') McKenna, an auctioneer and merchant, and his wife Mae. After attending Mullagh national school, he boarded at St Patrick's College,…

McMaster, Anew

McMaster, Anew (Andrew) (1891–1962), actor-manager, was born 26 December 1891 at 2 Palm Hill, Birkenhead, Cheshire (not at Monaghan in 1894, as he claimed in Who's who in the theatre). ‘Anew’ was a childish mispronunciation of Andrew. His parents were Andrew McMaster, a…

Mitchel, Charles Gerald

Mitchel, Charles Gerald (1920–96), actor and broadcaster, was born 8 November 1920 at Montpelier Manor, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, third among four children of Albert David Mitchel, manufacturer of religious goods, and Netta Mitchel (née Fitzgerald), also a company director, from…

Molloy, Charles

Molloy, Charles (1690–1767), dramatist and journalist, was born in Dublin in 1690, son of Hugh Molloy; nothing is known of his mother. He is believed to have been educated at TCD, though no records survive to confirm this. Moving to…

Molony, Helena

Molony, Helena (1883–1967), actress, republican, trade unionist, and feminist, was born 15 January 1883 at 8 Coles Lane, off Henry St., Dublin, the younger of one daughter and one son of Michael Moloney, grocer, of that address, and Catherine Moloney (née McGrath). Orphaned at an early…

Montgomery, James

Montgomery, James (1870–1943), filmcensor, was born 8 October 1870 in Dublin, son of Thomas Montgomery and Mary Montgomery (née Dempsey), of Lime St., Dublin. Educated at CBS, Westland Row, he worked on the engineering staff of the…

Moody (Cochran), John

Moody (Cochran), John (1727?–1812), actor, was, according to contemporary accounts, born in Cork, the son of a hairdresser named Cochran. He later claimed that he was born in England. He worked as a hairdresser in Tuckey's Lane, Cork, until, faced with the possibility of being…

Mooney, Ria

Mooney, Ria (1904–73), actress, teacher, and producer, was born in Rathmines, Dublin, daughter of William Mooney, who had a confectionery and catering business in Baggot St. She started acting at age six, and was singing with the Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society at sixteen,…

Moore, Kieron

Moore, Kieron (1924–2007), actor and catholic activist, was born Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin in Skibbereen, Co. Cork, on 5 October 1924, one of four sons and two daughters of the Gaelic Leaguer and political activist Peadar Ó hAnnracháin (1873–1965) and his wife Máire Ní Dheasúna (Desmond) (…

Morgan, Dermot

Morgan, Dermot (1952–98), comedian, was born 31 March 1952 in a nursing home at 7 Herbert Place, Dublin, third child and elder son among two sons and two daughters of Donnchadh Morgan (d. 1974, suddenly in his early 50s), a civil servant, native of Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and Hildegarde…

Morris, Michael

Morris, Michael (1914–99), 3rd Baron Killanin, writer, film producer, and sports administrator, was born 30 July 1914 in Dublin, son of George Henry Morris, lieutenant-colonel in the Irish Guards, and Dora Morris (née Wesley Hall). His father was killed in action later that year and his…

Morrison, Bill (William McKay)

Morrison, Bill (William McKay) (1940–2011), dramatist, was born on 22 January 1940 in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, the son of Hugh Morrison, principal of Ballymoney Model School, and his wife Annie (née McKay). Receiving primary education at Ballymoney Model, and secondary education…

Morrow, Henry Cooke (‘Harry’)

Morrow, Henry Cooke (‘Harry’) (‘MacNamara, Gerald’) (1865–1938), playwright, writer and artist, was born in Co. Down on 27 August 1865, the second eldest of eight sons of George Morrow, a painter, decorator and founder of Morrow & Sons Ltd, and his wife Catherine (née MacNamara).…

Mossop, Henry

Mossop, Henry (c.1728–1774), actor and theatre manager, was born in Dublin, son of the Rev. John Mossop. In 1737 his father was appointed prebend of Kilmeen, Tuam, Co. Galway, but Henry remained in Dublin, where he was raised by his uncle, a bookseller. Educated at a…

Murphy, Arthur

Murphy, Arthur (1727–1805), dramatist, actor, and lawyer, was born 27 December 1727 at his mother's family home at Cloonyquin, Co. Roscommon, the fifth (and second surviving) child of Richard Murphy, a prosperous Dublin merchant, and his wife, Jane (née French) (d. 1761). Following…

Ní Chanainn (Ní Cheanainn) (Cannon), Áine

Ní Chanainn (Ní Cheanainn) (Cannon), Áine (1907–99), headmistress and co-founder of Cumann Scannán na nÓg, was born Annie Delia Cannon on 22 October 1907 in Derryvea, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, daughter of Michael Cannon, farmer and shopkeeper, and his wife Annie (née Kelly). She received…

Nic Shiubhlaigh, Máire

Nic Shiubhlaigh, Máire (1883–1958), actress and republican, was born Mary Elizabeth Walker, 8 May 1883, at 39 Charlemont Street, Dublin, daughter of Matthew Walker, a printer and typesetter, and Mary Anne Walker (née Dogherty), a dressmaker. Her father, who had printed Fenian and other…

Nowlan, David Shackleton

Nowlan, David Shackleton (1936–2010), journalist, critic and medical doctor, was born on 19 May 1936 at 16 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin, the eldest of four children (two boys and two girls) of Revd George Nowlan (1904–74), rector (1935–9) of St Matthias's church, Dublin, and his wife…

O'Casey, Eileen

O'Casey, Eileen (1897–1995), actress, author, and wife of writer Sean O'Casey (qv), was born 27 December 1897 in Dublin, youngest among three children of Edward Reynolds , accountant, from Athlone, Co. Westmeath, and Kathleen Reynolds (…

O'Connell, Deirdre

O'Connell, Deirdre (1939–2001), founder of the Focus Theatre, was born Eleanor O'Connell on 16 June 1939 in New York, USA, fourth among five children of Michael Joe O'Connell, worker in the Brooklyn navy yard and trade unionist, and his wife Nellie, daughter of Timothy Taaffe of…

O'Dea, Denis

O'Dea, Denis (1903–78), actor, was born 26 April 1903 in Dublin, the only child of Michael O'Dea, RIC officer, and Katherine O'Dea (née Neilson), both originally from north Co. Kerry. At the time of Denis's birth they were living at…

O'Dea, James Augustine (‘Jimmy’)

O'Dea, James Augustine (‘Jimmy’) (1899–1965), actor and comedian, was born 26 April 1899 at 11 Lower Bridge St., Dublin, over his parents’ toyshop in the historic but dilapidated Liberties. Both parents, twice-widowed James O'Dea and his third wife, Martha (née O'Gorman), former…

O'Donovan, Fred

O’Donovan, Fred (1884–1952) actor, film maker, theatre manager and television director, was born Frederick George Saunders on 13 October 1884 at the family home in 43 South William Street, Dublin, to Robert Henry Saunders, coach builder, and his wife Eliza Anne (née Oakes). He was…

O'Donovan, Frederick Michael ('Fred')

O'Donovan, Frederick Michael ('Fred') (1929–2010), theatrical impresario, theatre and radio producer, and public figure, was born 27 May 1929 at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin, the fourth of six sons of John O'Donovan, of 53 Casino Road, Croydon Park, Fairview,…

O'Donovan, Harry

O'Donovan, Harry (1890–1973), writer and actor, was born 7 February 1890 at 3 St James's Terrace, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin, one of five children of Michael Donovan, clerk in the GPO, and Elizabeth Donovan (née Maley), from Boston, USA…