Geoghegan, Patrick M.

Agnew, Sir James Wilson (1815–1901), premier of Tasmania (1886–7), was born 2 October 1815 at Ballyclare, Co. Antrim, son of James William Agnew, physician, and Ellen Agnew (née Stewart). Educated at London, Paris, and Glasgow, he trained as a doctor and graduated…

Allan, Thomas (c.1725–1798), politician and political adviser, was born in Scotland. He came to Ireland as an agent for a merchant firm trading in Pomeranian timber, and built a large fortune: first through a lottery (trading in his winning ticket brought him £9,000), and…

Barrington, George (1755–1804), celebrated pickpocket, was born George Waldron in October 1755 at Maynooth, Co. Kildare, son of Henry Waldron, silversmith, and his wife, a mantua-maker and midwife whose maiden name was Naish. Educated locally, he benefited from the patronage of a…

Bellew, Christopher Dillon (1763–1826), catholic gentleman and activist, was the eldest son of Michael Bellew of Mount Bellew, Co. Galway, and his wife Jane, daughter of Henry Dillon. Born into a wealthy catholic family, one of the few that had prospered during the penal era, he…

Bermingham, Francis (c.1602–c.1672), Franciscan priest, was born in Athenry, Co. Galway. Educated on the Continent, he joined the Franciscan order, where he was known as Franciscus a Galvia (Francis of Galway). In 1636 he left Spain to complete his…

Bingham, Sir Charles (1735–99), 1st earl of Lucan and MP, was born 22 September 1735, second son of Sir John Bingham (1696–1749), 5th baronet and governor of Co. Mayo, and Charlotte, only daughter of William Sarsfield, older brother of …

Bingley, William (fl. 1763–99), journalist and editor, appears to have been born in England; very little is known about his early life. He began his career as a radical journalist, taking over the North Briton when John Wilkes was forced to withdraw from…

Birch, James (c.1812–c.1851), journalist, was born in Londonderry; there are few other details about his personal life. He first came to prominence in 1834 when he offered the duke of Wellington (qv) his…

Bowles, Michael Andrew (1909–98), musicologist and founder of the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra (later the National Symphony Orchestra), was born 30 November 1909 at Riverstown, Co. Sligo, eldest son among six daughters and two sons of Patrick Bowles, a shopkeeper, and his wife…

Boyle, Ina (Selina Adelaide Philippa) (1889–1967), composer, was born 8 March 1889 in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, daughter of Rev. William Foster Boyle, curate in Powerscourt parish, and his wife Philippa Augusta Jephson. Her father made violins and cellos as a hobby. She grew up at…

Bradstreet, Dudley (1711–63), spy and fortune-hunter, was born in Co. Tipperary, youngest son of John Bradstreet, a landowner whose family had received considerable Cromwellian land grants. Raised by a foster-family because of his father's high-living, Dudley later attributed his…

Brady, Sir Francis William (1824–1909), judge, 2nd baronet, and founding member of the RIAM, was born in Dublin 22 July 1824, eldest son among two sons and three daughters of Sir Maziere Brady…

Bruodin, Bonaventure (c.1610–71), Franciscan priest and martyr, was born in Munster. Educated on the Continent, he joined the Franciscan order and in the late 1640s was appointed professor, holding the chair of theology and philosophy in the archiepiscopal seminary at…

Burgh, Thomas (1670–1730), architect and military engineer, was born in Drumkeen, Co. Limerick, third son of Ulysses Burgh, dean of Emly and later bishop of Ardagh, and Mary de Burgh, daughter of William Kingmill of Ballibeg, Co. Cork. Educated at Delany's school, Co. Dublin, he…

Burke, Sir Thomas (c.1750–1813), baronet and landowner, was born in Marble Hill, Co. Galway, son of John Burke (1713–93) of Grallough, Co. Galway, a catholic landowner, and Mary Burke, eldest daughter of Michael Carroll of Killoran, Co. Galway. With the passing of the…

Butler, Richard (1775–1819), 12th Baron Caher and earl of Glengall , was born 13 November 1775 in Cahir, Co. Tipperary, illegitimate son of James Butler, 11th Baron Caher (d. 1788), and a Co. Tipperary mendicant woman. His early life was shrouded in romantic intrigue: at an…

Butters, Mary (c.1770–c.1850), witch, was born in Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, the scene of the infamous Magee Island witch trial of the previous century. At an early age she became a practitioner of ‘white’ magic, using herbal and superstitious remedies to cure…

Byrne, Mary (1850–1936), witness of the Knock apparition, was the eldest daughter among three children of Dominick Byrne of Co. Mayo and his wife Margaret Bourke, and grew to be a tall, thin woman, with black hair and a pleasant voice. The defining moment in her life occurred when…

Callaghan (MacCallaghan), John (1605–64), Jansenist priest and agent, was born in Killone (Carbury), near Macroom, Co. Cork, fifth and youngest son of Dermot MacCallaghan and his wife Catherine (née MacCallaghan), a distant cousin. Raised in impoverished conditions, he dropped the…

Campbell, Lord Frederick (1729–1816), politician, chief secretary, was born 20 June 1729, third son among four sons and three daughters of John, 4th duke of Argyll, and his wife Mary, daughter of John, 2nd Lord Belleden. Educated at Westminster (1743–6) and Christ Church, Oxford (…

Canning, George (1778–1840), politician, 1st Baron Garvagh , was born 15 November 1778, only surviving son of Paul Canning of Garvagh, Co. Londonderry, and Jane Canning, daughter of Conway Spencer of Trumery, Co. Antrim; among his uncles were Sir…

Carey (Cary), Walter (1685–1757), politician, was born 17 October 1685, eldest son of Walter Carey of Everton, Bedfordshire, and his wife Annabella, daughter of Sir William Halford. Educated at New College, Oxford (matriculating 1704), his varied political career began as clerk of…

Carleton, Hugh (1739–1826), Viscount Carleton , judge and politician, was born 11 September 1739, third son among four sons and seven daughters of Francis Carleton (d. 1791) of Cork, a merchant known as the ‘king of Cork’ because of his wealth and influence, and Rebecca, daughter…

Carney (Kearney, O'Carney), James (d. 1648), Jesuit priest and rector, was born in Cashel, Co. Tipperary. As a youth in Cashel, he studied classics before being sent to Spain, because of legal restrictions, to complete his education. He read philosophy at the Irish college of…

Carroll, William (‘Willie’) (c.1880–c.1930), boxer, gymnast, rope-climber, and co-founder of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, was born in Moore St., Dublin, but there are no details of his background or family life. A strong, highly talented athlete, Carroll…