Biographies A-Z

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Glendy, John

Glendy, John (1755–1832), United Irishman and chaplain to the US congress, was born 24 June 1755 at Maghera, Co. Londonderry, son of Samuel Glendy; his mother's name is unknown. Educated at the University of Glasgow, he was licensed to preach (1777) and was ordained presbyterian…

Glenn, Alice

Glenn, Alice (1921–2011), politician and moral crusader, was born Alicia Duffy on 17 December 1921 in Usher's Quay, Dublin, the eldest of ten children of (Arthur) Leo Duffy, a car mechanic, and his wife Mary (née Joyce), a dressmaker. Descended from generations of Dublin artisans on…

Glennon, John Joseph

Glennon, John Joseph (1862–1946), cardinal archbishop of St Louis, was born 14 June 1862 in Hardwood, Clonard, Co. Meath, the eldest of twelve children of Matthew Glennon, a farmer, and Catherine Glennon (née Rafferty). Educated initially at a local national school in Kinnegad, Co…

Glen, William Matthew (‘Sacky’)

Glen, William Matthew (‘Sacky’) (1903–81), soccer player, was born 18 July 1903 in 25 North William St., Dublin, son of Robert Glen, blacksmith, and Maria Glen (née Hillan). He joined Shamrock Rovers at the age of sixteen, while the club was still in the Leinster Senior League, and…

Glover (Betterton), Julia (Juliana)

Glover (Betterton), Julia (Juliana) (1779/81–1850), actress, was born 8 February in Newry, Co. Down, in either 1779 or 1781. Both her parents, Thomas Betterton, a native of Dublin, who changed his name from Butterton for professional reasons, and his wife, formerly a Mrs Palmer,…

Glover, James Mackey (‘Jimmy’)

Glover, James Mackey (‘Jimmy’) (1861–1931), music director and composer, was born 18 June 1861 at Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin, son of James Mackey, town commissioner, and Mary Jane Mackey (née Glover). His father was a Fenian who lost his official position after 1868.…

Glover, John William

Glover, John William (1815–99), conductor, organist, composer, and educator, was born 19 June 1815 in Dublin. He was the last of the circle of Irish musicians that included his friends Michael Balfe (qv),…

Glucksman, Lewis

Glucksman, Lewis (1925–2006), philanthropist and businessman, was born 22 December 1925 in New York, the second of three children of Jack Glucksman, owner of a factory that manufactured table lamps, and his wife Zipporah. His parents were second-generation Hungarian Jews. Raised in…

Glynn, Patrick McMahon

Glynn, Patrick McMahon (1855–1931), politician and lawyer in Australia, was born 25 August 1855 in Gort, Co. Galway, third among eleven children of John McMahon Glynn (1824–79), owner of a large general store, and Ellen Glynn (née Walsh; 1835–1918). Patrick was educated by the…

Glynn, Sir Joseph

Glynn, Sir Joseph (1869–1951), catholic social activist and writer, was born 25 April 1869, at The Square, Gort, Co. Galway, the second son of John McMahon Glynn, merchant, and Ellen Glynn (née Walsh). He was educated at Blackrock College, Dublin, graduating…

Gobbán (Mo-Gobbóc)

Gobbán (Mo-Gobbóc) (7th cent.) of the moccu Láime, alleged founder of Leighlin and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged (as his tribal designation indicates) to a minor population group, the Lámraige. His tribe was probably of Munster origin, but was also found as an

Gobna(i)t

Gobna(i)t , saint, although best known for her connection with the church of Ballyvourney (Bairnech/ Búirnech), west Co. Cork, was patron of many other churches. These included Kilgobnet (Cill Ghobnait/ Ghobnatan) in the parishes of Clondrohid, Kilshannig, and Magourney in Co. Cork…

Godkin, Edwin Lawrence

Godkin, Edwin Lawrence (1831–1902), journalist and newspaper editor, was born 2 October 1831 at the home of his maternal grandmother in Moyne, Co. Wicklow, eldest among five children of James Godkin (qv), Congregationalist minister,…

Godkin, James

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…

Godley, Alfred Denis

Godley, Alfred Denis (1856–1925), classicist and poet, was born 22 January 1856 at Ashfield, Co. Cavan, the eldest son of Rev. James Godley, rector of Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim, and Eliza Frances Godley (née La Touche). After attending Tilney Basset's preparatory school in Dublin, he…

Godley, John Raymond

Godley, John Raymond (1920–2005), 3rd Baron Kilbracken of Killegar , pilot, journalist, traveller, landowner and environmentalist, was born 17 October 1920 in Chester Street, Belgravia, London, England, the eldest of two sons (Wynne being the younger) and a daughter (Kathleen) of…

Godley, John Robert

Godley, John Robert (1814–61), colonialist and civil servant, was born 29 May 1814, probably in Dublin, eldest among seven children of John Godley (1775–1863) of Killigar, Co. Leitrim, JP, DL, and…

Godsil, Richard Bertram (‘Dick’)

Godsil, Richard Bertram (‘Dick’) (1912–99), company director, was born 2 January 1912 in Boherboy (Boherbue, Bothar Bhui), Co. Cork, only son among five children of Patrick Godsil, of Boherboy, manager of the local creamery, and Abina Godsil (née Mahoney). Educated at Rochestown…

Goertz, Herman

Goertz, Herman (1890–1947), German spy, was born 15 November 1890 in Lübeck, Germany, son of Dr Heinrich Goertz, lawyer and Reichstag deputy. He initially attended the Abiturium Johanneum in Lübeck before studying law at Heidelberg, Kiel, and Paris; he entered Edinburgh University (…

Goff, John W.

Goff, John W. (1848–1924), Fenian, lawyer, and judge, was born 1 January 1848 in Gorey, Co. Wexford. His parents died when he was a child and he was raised by an uncle in the north of England, where he received some schooling. He emigrated to New York at the age of sixteen and…

Gofraid Méránach

Gofraid Méránach (d. 1095), grandson of Harold and king of Dublin, is almost certainly to be identified with Godred Crovan, king of Man. Not only are they contemporaries, but the personal names are equivalents and the sobriquets may both refer to the hand, méránach

Gogan, Christina (Sr Mary de Lourdes)

Gogan, Christina (Sr Mary de Lourdes) (1908–2000), Medical Missionary of Mary, was born 21 December 1908, second among eight children of John Gogan, licensed vintner and general merchant, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, and Bridget Gogan (née Caul). After local primary school she was…

Gógan, Liam Seosamh

Gógan, Liam Seosamh (1891–1979), Irish-language poet, was born 24 October 1891 at 391 North Circular Road, Dublin, son of William J. Gogan, sweet merchant and Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) member, and Ellen Gogan (née Hendrick). He was educated in O'Connell's Christian Brothers'…

Gogarty, James Martin

Gogarty, James Martin (1917–2005), civil engineer, building company executive, and anti-corruption whistle-blower, was born 20 May 1917 in Cannon Street, Kells, Co. Meath, son of Bernard Gogarty, a mason and small-scale building contractor, and his wife Mary (née Mooney). Educated in…

Gogarty, Oliver Duane Odysseus (Noll)

This is a co-subject for the entry on Gogarty, Oliver St John. View the original entry.