Ní Mhunghaile, Lesa

Ní Chéileachair, Síle (1924–85), teacher and Irish language author, was born 24 July 1924 in Cúil Aodh, Co. Cork, one of six children of farmer Dónall Bán Ó Céileachair and his wife, Siobhán Ní Mhulláin. Although born in the Gaeltacht, she grew up in a bilingual environment. She…

Nic Mhaicín, Maighréad (1899–1983), translator, was born 12 March 1899 in Dunglow, Co. Donegal, third eldest child of the nine children of John Macken , a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), and his wife, Margaret McNamee, commonly known as Daisy Macken. While still a young…

Ní Ghuairim, Máire (1896–1964), teacher, author and sean-nós singer, was born 6 July 1896 in Roisín na Manach, Carna, Co. Galway, eldest daughter of farmer Máirtín Gorham and his wife, Catherine Burke. She received her earliest education in the Convent of Mercy school in Roisín na…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Ní Ghuairim, Máire. View the original entry.

Ní Laoghaire, Máire ‘Bhuí’ (1774–c.1848), poet, was born in Túirín na nÉan, the area of Ballingeary in west Cork, one of five sons and three daughters of Diarmuid Ó Laoghaire , a farmer of fifty acres. Her mother's first name was Siobhán but her family name is unknown. Máire…

Ní Mhuiríosa, Máirín (1906–82), Irish scholar, poet and journalist, was born 5 September 1906 in Dublin, daughter of mathematics teacher Tomás Ó Muiríosa and his wife Mary Golden. Both her parents were Irish-speakers and the family spent their summer holidays in the Ring Gaeltacht in Co…

Ní Shéaghdha, Nessa (1916–93), Irish language scholar, was born 14 March 1916 in Drumcondra, Dublin, one of four daughters and a son of Seán Pádraig Ó Séaghdha and his wife, Kitty Nic Caochlaoich. She attended Scoil Bhríde national school and Scoil Chaitríona secondary school and…

Ó Cadhlaigh, Cormac (1884–1960), Celticist, was born 26 April 1884, in Kinsale, Co. Cork, one of seven children of shoemaker Jeremiah Ó Cadhlaigh and his wife, Marianne McCarthy. His mother had trained as a teacher but never entered the profession and instead managed Clarke's tobacco…

Ó Callanáin, Marcas (c.1789–1846), poet, was born in Carheendiveane, Craughwell, Co. Galway. Little is known of his parents except that they were farmers and the family lived in relative comfort. According to local folklore, the Ó Callanáin family came to the area from Mayo but…

Ó Ceallaigh, Brian (1889–1936), Irish language enthusiast, was born 13 January 1889 in Killarney, Co. Kerry, son of John Kelly, shopkeeper and hotelier, and Brigid Kelly (née Cronin). He was educated at Clongowes Wood College (1900–03) and Blackrock College (1906–7). On 2 November 1907…

Ó Colmáin, Domhnall (c.1645–c.1704), writer, was born probably in the Knockraha area of Co. Cork. Little is known of his background. He was most likely a priest and in the preface to Fr Cornelius Mac Curtain's Agallamh na bhFíoraon, he is referred to as a doctor of law. A…

Ó Conaill, Seán (O'Connell, John) (c.1675–c.1725), poet, was a native of Iveragh, Kerry, and a dependant of MacCarthy Mór. He is referred to by Edward O'Reilly (qv) as ‘Roman catholic bishop of Ardfert’, who flourished…

Ó Conaire, Pádraic (1882–1928), novelist and short-story writer, was born 28 February 1882 in the ‘Lobster Pot Bar’ in Galway city, one of five children of Tomás Ó Conaire, publican, and his wife Cáit (née Ní Dhonncha). Much folklore surrounds Pádraic's life and his biographers have…

Ó Conaire, Pádraic Óg (1893–1971), author and translator, was born 11 March 1893 in Turlach Beag, Ros Muc, Connemara, Co. Galway, son of Pádraic Ó Conaire and Nan Ní Fhéinneadha. His grandfather used the surname Ó Maolchonaire and according to Ó Conaire family folklore, the family moved…

O'Connell, Frederick William (1876–1929), clergyman and Irish-language scholar, was born 22 October 1876 in Clifden, Co. Galway, son of Reverend W. Morgan O'Connell, rector of Clifden. Educated at the High School, Dublin, he entered Trinity College Dublin (TCD) with entrance prizes in…

Ó Cuív, Brian (1916–99), Irish-language scholar, was born 20 November 1916 in Dublin, sixth child of Shan Ó Cuív (qv), journalist, and his wife Hannah O'Keeffe. He was educated at the O'Connell Schools and afterwards matriculated to…

Ó Dálaigh, Máirín (née Nic Dhiarmada ) (c.1909–94), Celticist and lexicographer, was born in Mussoorie, United Provinces of India and Kashmir. Both her parents were Irish and living in India as her father was a teacher with the Munster fusiliers. At the age of two and a half she was…

Ó Doirnín, Peadar (c.1700–69), poet and hedgeschoolmaster, was probably born at Roskeagh in the parish of Faughart, north of Dundalk, Co. Louth. Little is known about him and much uncertainty and folklore surround his life. Both the date and place of his birth are contested. Ó…

Ó Dónaill, Niall (1908–95), writer and lexicographer, was born 27 August 1908 in Ailt an Eidhinn near Loch an Iúir, Co. Donegal, the eldest of six children of a farmer, Tarlach Ó Dónaill, and his wife, Éilís Nic Ruairí. His mother was a musician and a storyteller and for many years his…

Ó Droighneáin, Muiris (1901–79), Irish-language scholar, was born 12 November 1901 in Clohonora House, Newtownshandrum, Co. Cork, eldest of three children of farmer James Drinan and his wife, Mary Rea. He received his earliest education in the locality and afterwards attended the…

O'Flanagan, Theophilus (c.1762–1814), classical and Irish scholar, was born in the parish of Tulla, Co. Clare, son of Mathghamhain Ó Flannagáin, scribe and hedge-schoolmaster. He was baptised Tadhg but later on entering TCD…

O'Flynn, James Christopher (1881–1962), priest and Irish language activist, was born 12 December 1881 in Mallow Lane, Cork, son of Cornelius O'Flynn who was employed in the butter market and his wife, Catherine Uppington, who was of protestant stock. O'Flynn was from a musical…

Ó Foghludha, Risteard (Richard Foley) (1871–1957), teacher, journalist and editor, was born 5 March 1871 in Knockmonlea between Youghal and Killeagh, Co. Cork, son of farmer Richard Ó Foghludha and his wife, Peg Long. He was the eldest of seven girls and five boys and attended the…

Ó Gaoithín, Micheál (1904–74), poet and writer in Irish, was born 3 January 1904 on the Great Blasket island, one of the six surviving children of Pádraig ‘Flint’ Ó Guithín, a small farmer and fisherman, and his wife Peig Sayers (qv…

Ó Gealacáin, Peadar (c.1792–1860), scribe and schoolmaster, was born in the parish of Moynalty, Co. Meath, son of Pádraig Ó Gealacáin and his wife, Margaret Williams. The year of his birth is uncertain and may have been 1792 or 1793 and his parents' occupations are unknown.…