O'Brien, Andrew

Brunker, James Ponsonby (1885–1970), naturalist, was born 17 October 1885 at Minmore, St Kevin's Park, Rathmines, Dublin, the only son of James Edward Brunker, pharmaceutical chemist and president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, and Jane Brunker (née Anderson). Nothing is…

Doran, Johnny (1908–50), uilleann piper, was one of four sons and five daughters of John Doran, horse dealer, and Kathleen Doran (neé McCann); the family were members of the travelling community. Although his father played the pipes, Johnny also learned his skills on the instrument…

Fuller, James Franklin (1835–1924), architect, novelist, and antiquary, was born at Nedanone, near Derryquin, Co. Kerry, the only son among three children of Thomas Harnett Fuller (d. 1886), landowner, and his wife Frances Diana (d. 1872), daughter of Francis Bland,…

Godkin, James (1806–79), Congregational minister, writer, and journalist, was born at Gorey, Co. Wexford, possibly to William and Hester Godkin, whose sons Edward and William were baptised in Christ Church (Church of Ireland), Gorey, in 1809 and 1812. His family was comfortably…

Hardiman, James (1782–1855), historian and librarian, was born in February 1782 at Westport, Co. Mayo, only son of Tomás (or Richard) Ó hArgadáin or Hartigan, a small estate owner, originally from Co. Meath, and his wife Marcella or Margery (née Hall). Hardiman, according to his friend…

Healy, James (1824–94), priest and raconteur, was born 15 December 1824 in Francis St., Dublin, son of John Healy, provision merchant, and his first wife, Mary (née Meyler), who was from Co. Wexford. There were twenty-three children in the family. James was to inherit his father's…

Kearney, Charles (c.1745–1824), priest, was born in Cashel, Co. Tipperary. The name Charles may have been given in honour of Prince Charles Edward Stuart if he was born, as has been stated, in the year of the Young Pretender's rebellion, but nothing more is known of his…

Kirwan, John H. (‘Jock’) (1878–1959), footballer, was born in Co. Wicklow. Nothing is known of his parents or early life; the family may have moved to England when he was a teenager. Kirwan, with the Belfast men Billy Scott and…

Lane, Timothy O'Neill (1852–1915), lexicographer and Irish scholar, was born at Templeglentan, Co. Limerick, third son of Timothy Lane, farmer, and Mary Lane (née O'Neill), who also had four daughters. As a child he spoke Irish and English, and was a pupil at Templeglentan national…

Lawlor, John (1860–1929), handball player and labour politician, was born in Glendon, Pennsylvania, USA. His family moved to Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, when he was 2 years old, before moving in 1870 to Patrick St., Dublin. As a young man, Lawlor played many games at the nearby Kenny'…

Malone, Sylvester (1822–1906), priest, ecclesiastical historian, and Irish-language enthusiast, was born in the parish of Kilmally, Co. Clare, son of Jeremiah Malone and Mary Malone (neé Slattery). A fluent Irish-speaker since his youth, he was educated at Maynooth and ordained in 1853…

Maunsell, Henry (1806–79), medical doctor and journalist, was born 3 February 1806 at James's St. Harbour, Dublin, eldest among eight children of Thomas Maunsell, general manager of the Grand Canal Co., and Anne Maunsell (neé Murray). In later years his brother E. W. Maunsell was…

Miley, John (1805–61), priest and ecclesiastical historian, was born in Co. Kildare, possibly near Eadestown (his parents’ names are not known), and educated at Maynooth and the Irish College, Rome. After his ordination he returned to Dublin, where he served under Archbishop…

Murray, Ruby (1935–96), popular singer, was born 29 March 1935 in Belfast, youngest daughter among four children of Daniel Murray, originally from Scotland, and Wilhelmina or Winifred Murray (née Connolly). They lived in Moltke Street in the Donegall Road area of the city. An operation…

Nevill, Arthur Jones (c.1712–1771), engineer and MP, was son of Maj.-gen. Edward Jones of Wexford, who assumed the surname Nevill, and Mary Jones (neé Nevill). Both his grandfathers as well as his father served as MPs in the Irish house of commons. Nevill entered…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Nevill, Arthur Jones. View the original entry.

O'Connor, Deirdre (1951–99), architect, was born 25 September 1951 at Ranelagh, Dublin, eldest among five children of Brendan O'Connor (d. 1964), engineer, originally from Mostrim, Co. Leitrim, and Sheelagh O'Connor (neé McManus). After the death of her father, when Deirdre was 13,…

O'Conor, Charles (1764–1828), priest, librarian, and antiquary, was born 15 March 1764 at Belanagare, Co. Roscommon, second of six sons of Denis O'Conor (d. 1804) and Catharine O'Conor (neé Browne), who also had six daughters. The O'Conors were catholic, descendants of a princely…

O'Murnaghan, Arthur Walter (1872–1954), polymath, artist, designer, and actor, was born in Southampton, England, eldest child among at least three sons and two daughters of Arthur O'Murnaghan (of a Loughbrickland, Co. Down, family), employed in Southampton as an official of the ordnance…

Panter, George William (1858–1928), antiquary and bibliophile, was born probably in Dublin, son of Thomas Panter. In 1872 a son was born to Thomas Panter and Ellen Panter (née Digges); Ellen may have been George's mother, or possibly his father's second wife. The family had an…

Patterson, Robert (1802–72), naturalist and poet, was born 18 April 1802 in Belfast, eldest son among three sons and a daughter of Robert Patterson, ironmonger, who supplied equipment for linen mills, and his wife Catherine Patterson (neé Clarke), who was from Dublin. He attended…

Pim, Joshua (1869–1942), tennis player, was born 20 May 1869 at Milward Terrace, Bray, Co. Wicklow, son of Joshua Pim, barrister, and Susan Pim (née Middleton). His father died in 1871 and the family moved to Crosthwaite Park, Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin. He had two or…

Price, Liam (1891–1967), district justice and antiquary, was born 23 February 1891 and christened William George (‘Willie’), the only surviving son of George Price (d. 1915), QC (queen's counsel), of 84 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, prominent in the legal profession as registrar of the…

Prim, John George Augustus (1821–75), antiquary and journalist, was born in Kilkenny city, fourth son among seven sons and three daughters of John Prim, solicitor and founder member (1811) of the Kilkenny Circulating Library Society, and Johanna Prim (née Anderson). Family tradition…

Quin, Coslett William Charles (1907–95), clergyman and Irish scholar, was born 27 February 1907 at Derriaghy rectory, Co. Antrim, the only son of the Rev. Charles Edward Quin (d. 1936), rector of Derriaghy, and his wife Edith, daughter of Coslett Waddell of Magheralin, Co. Down.…