Shanahan, Jim

Purcell, Noel Mary Joseph (1891–1962), water-polo and rugby player, was born 14 December 1891 in Dublin, one of two children of Daniel Purcell, solicitor, and Mary Clare Purcell (née Hoey) of Westland Row, Dublin. He was educated at Belvedere College, Clongowes Wood College, and…

Purcell, Patrick (Puirséal, Pádraig) (1914–79), sports journalist and novelist, was born 5 December 1914 in Carrigeen, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, one of three children of Richard Purcell, schoolteacher, from Ballyouskill, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny, and Anastasia Purcell (née Doyle). He was…

Read, Charles Anderson (1841–78), writer, journalist, and editor, was born 10 November 1841 at Killsellagh (Kilsella) House, in the parish of Drumcliffe, near Sligo. His father, George Read, was a gentleman who, having lost an inheritance, was forced to take a position as…

Roberts, Frederick Charles (‘Fred’) (1905–88), soccer player, was born 2 January 1905 in Montrose Place, Belfast, son of Frederick Charles Roberts snr, boilermaker, and Agnes Roberts (née Parker). Although he lived in Ballymacarrett, the heartland of Glentoran football club in east…

Roch(e), Regina Maria (c.1764–1845), writer, was born in Waterford, the daughter of Capt. Blundell Dalton (or D'Alton), and was brought up in Dublin; nothing is known of her mother. She began writing in her teens, encouraged by her father, and her first two novels, The…

Rogers, George Lyttelton (‘G. L.’) (1906–62), tennis player, was born 10 July 1906 in Athy, Co. Kildare, son of Francis William Lyttelton Rogers (1853–1916), RIC inspector, born in Co. Kilkenny and resident in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry,…

Rollo, David (‘Davy’) (1890–1963), soccer player, was born 26 August 1890 in Belfast, one of five children of David Rollo, plater, and Jennie Moore Rollo (née Hamilton), both originally from Scotland. Brought up on York Road, Belfast, he initially learnt his football with the 24th…

Rooke, Charles Vaughan (‘C. V.’) (1869–1946), rugby player, was born 24 September 1869 at Summerhill, Dublin, son of Thomas Slator Rooke, gentleman and member of the Plymouth Brethren, from Dublin; and Adelaide Rooke (née Reid) originally of Rossbrook, Co. Armagh. Educated…

Rowlands, David R. (‘Davy’) (1889–1975), hockey international, was born 15 October 1889 at 22 Tivoli Terrace, Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin, second of at least two sons of John Rowlands, piermaster, originally from Wales, and Lucy Rowlands (née Ferguson) from Dublin. Though…

Russell, Paul (1906–65), Gaelic footballer, was born 2 July 1906 in Killarney, Co. Kerry, one of two sons and four daughters of Richard Russell, salesman, and Mary (‘May’) Russell (née Jacob) of Mangerton View, Killarney. He was educated at the Monastery, Killarney; Franciscan…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Ryan, Michael (‘Mick’). View the original entry.

Ryan, Michael (‘Mick’) (1869–1947), rugby player, was born 4 November 1869 at Racecourse, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, eldest among three sons and two daughters of John Ryan, farmer, from Racecourse, and Anne Ryan (née Moloney), originally from Ballinhowe, Co. Tipperary. Educated at…

Ryan, Timothy (‘Timmie’) (1909–95), hurler, was born 7 May 1909 at Laught Cross, Ahane, Co. Limerick, son of Patrick Ryan, farmer, and May Ryan (née O'Meara). He was educated locally. Ryan was a founder member of the Ahane club (1926) and was a key figure in the rise of Ahane from a…

Salmon, Peter Joseph (‘Joey’) (1930–91), hurler, was born 1 April 1930 in Cappatagle, Co. Galway, second among two sons and two daughters of Michael Salmon, farmer, of Gortnamona, Co. Galway, and Katie Salmon (née Curley), originally from Kiltormer, Co. Galway. While he was a…

Sanders, Terence Robert Beaumont (1901–85), Olympic oarsman, engineer, and armaments expert, was born 2 June 1901 in Sanders Park, Charleville, Co. Cork, younger of two sons of Robert Massy Dawson Sanders of Charleville, Co. Cork, landowner, qualified mining engineer, and…

Sharkey, Thomas Joseph (‘Tom’; ‘Sailor’) (1873–1953), bare-knuckle heavyweight boxer, was born 26 November 1873 in Mill St., Dundalk, Co. Louth, son of James Sharkey, labourer, and Margaret Sharkey (née Kelly). Little is known of his early life except that he spent a decade at sea (…

Smith, Henry George (‘Harry’) Tyrell- (1907–82), motorcycle racer and development engineer, was born 3 May 1907 in Frescati, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, son of Henry ‘Harry’ Tyrell-Smith, originally from South Africa, and Irma Tyrell-Smith (née Hayes) from Dublin. Although Tyrell-Smith's…

Smith, James (‘Jim’) (1901–70), Gaelic footballer, was born 7 April 1901 in Gola, Killinkere, Co. Cavan, the third of nine surviving children of James Smith, a small farmer of Gola, and Susan Smith (née Tully), from the adjoining townland of Derryhum. He was educated locally before…

Smyth, Thomas (‘Tom’) (1884–1928), rugby international, was born 12 December 1884 in Rasharkin, Co. Antrim, most likely as one of at least three sons and two daughters of Thomas Smyth, farmer and landowner, and Margaritta Smyth (née McCaughey) of Drumack, Rasharkin. He was educated…

Spain, William (1865–p. 1920?), hurler and Gaelic footballer, was born 4 September 1865 in Moanfin, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, youngest son among four sons and six daughters of William Spain, farmer, from Moanfin, and Mary Spain (née Ryan), originally from Oatfield, Templederry…

Sugden, Mark (1902–90), international rugby player and cricketer, was born 11 February 1902 in Leek, Staffordshire, England, son of Frederick Sugden, silk merchant, from Staffordhire, and Frances Grace Sugden from London. Sugden was brought to Dublin at the age of four when his…

Sugrue, Michael (‘Butty’) (1924–77), circus strongman, entrepreneur, and boxing promoter, was born 27 July 1924 in Gortnascarry, near Killorglin, Co. Kerry, one of three sons and three daughters of Daniel Sugrue, labourer, and Hannah (‘Anna’) Sugrue (née Reilly). Known as ‘Butty’…

Thompson, John Patrick (1880–1913), champion jockey, was born 13 December 1880 in Bunclody, Co. Wexford, eldest among two sons and a daughter born to Joseph Thompson, farmer, from Newtownbarry Mills, and Katherine Thompson (née Murphy), originally from Enniscorthy. He was initially…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Vard, John (‘Jack’, ‘Jackie’). View the original entry.

Vard, John (‘Jack’, ‘Jackie’) (1926–98), sportsman and businessman, was born 29 May 1926 in 4 Rosedale Terrace, Dublin, one of six sons and two daughters of Alfred (‘Taylor’) Vard, of Dublin, originally a cobbler by profession, and his London-born first wife, Daisy May Vard (née…