McGee, Owen

O'Connor, Thomas Power (1848–1929), journalist and politician, was born 5 October 1848 in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, eldest son of Thomas O'Connor, shopkeeper and billiard-saloon keeper, and Teresa O'Connor (née Power), daughter of a non-commissioned officer in the British army. His…

O'Donovan Rossa, Mary Jane (née Irwin) (1845–1916), poet, was born in 1844/5 (baptised 26 January 1845) in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, the daughter of Maxwell Irwin, a farmer and member of Young Ireland. She was educated in the Sacred Heart Convent, Roscrea and started writing poetry at an…

O'Kelly, James Joseph (1842–1916), Fenian, journalist, and politician, was born 1 May 1842 near Westland Row, Dublin, eldest among five children of John O'Kelly, petty landlord, dray maker, and blacksmith, and his wife Bridget (née Lawlor), daughter of a cabinet maker and Young…

Oldham, Charles Hubert (1859–1926), economist and nationalist, was born in Monkstown, Co. Dublin, seventh among eight children of Eldred Oldham, silk merchant, draper, and house furnisher, and Anne Oldham (née Alker), daughter of a house furnisher. For many years the family ran a…

O'Sullivan, William Henry (1829–87), agrarian radical and nationalist, was born in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, the only son of Thomas Luke O'Sullivan, a prosperous tenant farmer, of Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, and his wife, Nanette, daughter of Patrick Hussey, of Kilmallock. Educated…

Power, John O'Connor (1846–1919), politician, was born near Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. In later life, on enrolling to study law, he claimed to be the third son of a gentleman farmer named Patrick Power, but other evidence suggests that he was the illegitimate son of a policeman named…

Power, John Wyse (1859–1926), nationalist and journalist, was born at Knock House near Waterford city, eldest son of James Power, a prosperous farmer, and Catherine Power (née Wyse). Educated locally and at Blackrock College, Co. Dublin, he joined the civil service in 1878 but…

Quinn, Joseph Patrick (1854–1916), nationalist, was baptised 3 February 1854 in Claremorris, Co. Mayo, son of John Quinn, gardener, and Rose Quinn (née Corley). He came from an Irish-speaking family. After leaving school he worked for several years as a schoolteacher in his home…

Reidy, James (1873–1953), nationalist and newspaper editor, was born 23 January 1873 in Knockfierna, near Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, son of Michael Reidy, farmer, and Honora Reidy (née Quaid). Educated locally, he was reputedly a member of the…

Roberts, William Randall (1830–1897), Fenian leader and American politician, was born 6 February 1830 in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, son of Randall Roberts, baker, and Mary Roberts (née Bishop). He was educated locally and in July 1849 left with his family for the USA. For several years…

Ryan, Mark Francis (1844-1940), Fenian, was born 10 November 1844 near Kilconly, Co. Galway, eldest among eight children of John Ryan (d. 1882), tenant farmer, and Bridget Ryan (née Mullahy; d. 1880). He received his initial education at a hedge school and his spoken tongue was…

Savage, John (1828–88), nationalist and writer, was born 13 December 1828 in Dublin. Little is known of his background except that he came from a nationalist family: his father was a repealer and his grandfather a United Irishman. He attended school in Harold's Cross, Dublin. In…

Scanlan, Michael (1836–1917), Fenian, was born in November 1836 in Castlemahon, Co. Limerick, though his family left for America in 1843 and settled in Chicago, Illinois, where they set up a successful confectionery store; no other details of his parents are known. Largely self-…

Sheehy, David (1844–1932), parliamentarian and agrarian radical, was born 14 October 1844 in Broadford, Co. Limerick, second of three children of Richard Sheehy, mill owner, and Johanna Sheehy (née O'Shea). He was educated at St Munchin's Jesuit seminary in Limerick city and…

Sheehy, Eugene (1841–1917), priest and nationalist, was born 25 December 1841 in Broadford, Co. Limerick, first among three children of Richard Sheehy, mill owner, and Johanna Sheehy (née O'Shea). He and his brother David (qv) entered…

Sheridan, Patrick Joseph (1844–1917), revolutionary, was born in March 1844 in Bohola, Co. Mayo, son of Martin Sheridan, tenant farmer, and Sarah Sheridan (née McTyge). Nothing is known of his early years or schooling, though he was evidently literate and became a fine platform…

Smyth, Patrick James (1823–85), Young Irelander, journalist, and MP, was born at Mount Brown, Kilmainham, Dublin, the son of James Smyth originally of Co. Cavan, proprietor of a tanning business, and his wife Ann (née Bruton) of Portaine, Co. Meath. In 1839 he entered Clongowes…

Tynan, Patrick Joseph Percy (1851–1936), revolutionary, was born in March 1851 in Gorey, Co. Wexford, son of Patrick Tynan, shopkeeper, and Maryanne Tynan (née Lavelle). The family lived at 35 Main St., Gorey, and there were at least two other children: Harry Tynan later worked as a…

Walsh, John Stephen (c.1835–1894), revolutionary, was born in Milford, Co. Cork, but when he was a boy his family emigrated to Middlesborough, where he attended school. A tall, powerfully built man with a military appearance, he worked for many years as a steelworker in…