Biographies A-Z

Kelly, Thomas J. (1833–1908), Fenian and soldier, was born 6 January 1833 in Mountbellew, Co. Galway. His father Patrick, a farmer (and later a public house owner), intended him for the priesthood and sent him to St Jarlath’s College, Tuam, but he did not have a vocation. Leaving school…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Brady, Joe. View the original entry.

Kelly, William (1821–1906), biblical critic and Brethren leader, was born in May 1821 in the townland of Ballyfrennis, near Millisle, Co. Down, the only son of William Kelly, a presbyterian, described as a ‘gentleman’, who died 14 April 1823, aged twenty-five, when William was not…

Kemmis, Thomas (1753–1823), solicitor, was born 4 May 1753, the third of five sons of Thomas Kemmis (1710?–1774) of Killeen, Queen's Co., a native of Monmouthshire who had settled in Ireland (where he had cousins) in 1731, and his wife, Susanna (1726?–1804), daughter of John Long of…

Kemmy, James Joseph Oliver Mary (‘Jim’) (1936–97), trade unionist, Labour politician, and local historian, was born 14 September 1936 in O'Curry St., Limerick, eldest of three sons and two daughters of Michael Kemmy and Elizabeth Kemmy (née Pilkington). His mother came from farming…

Kendrick, Matthew (c.1797–1874), marine painter, was born in Dublin, the son of a customs official. His early life was tough: he worked as a seaman on a merchant ship and then on a fishing vessel in Newfoundland, an area known for its stormy seas. When he returned to…

Kenealy, Edward Vaughan Hyde (1819–80), lawyer and politician, was born 2 July 1819 at Nile St., Cork, eldest son of William Kenealy, merchant, and Katherine Kenealy (née Vaughan). Educated locally, he entered TCD and the King's Inns in…

Kenealy, William (1828–76), journalist, poet, and nationalist, was born 1 July 1828 in Cloyne, Co. Cork, the son of a blacksmith and farmer. He worked as a teacher and was appointed headmaster of Churchtown national school, but was dismissed when authorship of an inflammatory…

Kennedy, Arthur Edward (1810–83), poor law inspector and colonial governor, was born on 9 April 1810 in Cultra, Co. Down, the fourth son of eleven children (six sons and five daughters) of Hugh Kennedy (1775–1852), a landed gentleman, JP and…

Kennedy, Eamonn Lucas (1921–2000), diplomat, was born 13 December 1921 in Dublin, son of Luke Kennedy, civil servant, and Ellen Kennedy (née Stafford). He was educated at O'Connell Schools, Dublin, and at UCD (…

Kennedy, Eileen (1914–83), district justice, was born 30 May 1914 in Dublin, daughter of Patrick Kennedy, solicitor, and Delia Kennedy (née Blood). Educated at St Louis convent, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, where her father had established a legal practice, she qualified as a…

Kennedy, Evory (1806–86), obstetrician, was born 28 November 1806 at Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, ninth of ten sons and thirteenth of fourteen children of Rev. John Pitt Kennedy, rector of Donagh, and Mary Kennedy (née Cary). He was educated at Foyle College, Derry, and studied…

Kennedy, Frank (‘Frankie’) (1955–94), flute player, was born 30 September 1955 into the family of three girls and two boys of Bill and Agnes Kennedy, of Andersonstown, Belfast. He became interested in traditional music when he was around eighteen and was influenced initially by groups…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Kennedy, Gilbert. View the original entry.

Kennedy, Gilbert (1678–1745), presbyterian minister, was born in 1678 in Dundonald, Co. Down, son of the Rev. Gilbert Kennedy and his wife (née Montgomery). Kennedy primus was a nephew of the 6th earl of Cassilis, and was born (1627) in Ardmillan, Ayrshire, Scotland; he was…

Kennedy, Hugh (1879–1936), first attorney general and chief justice of the Irish Free State, was born 11 July 1879 in Dublin, eldest among five children of Hugh Boyle Kennedy (d. 1923) of 8 Great Denmark St., Dublin (a Donegal-born surgeon who had spent some years in the Society of…

Kennedy, James (‘Jimmy’) (1902–84), songwriter, was born 20 July 1902 in Pretoria Terrace, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, one among two sons and two daughters of Joseph Hamilton Kennedy, RIC sergeant, and his wife Annie, née Baskin. The family…

Kennedy, John (fl. 1890–95), Gaelic footballer, was born in Co. Wexford, probably in the 1860s. He later moved to Dublin to work in the Guinness brewery at St James's Gate. An athlete and GAA enthusiast, he was a founder…

Kennedy, John Pitt (1796–1879), army officer and agriculturist, was born 8 May 1796 at Donagh, Co. Donegal, fourth son of John Pitt Kennedy, rector of Donagh and later Balteagh, Co. Londonderry, and Mary Kennedy (née Cary). Educated at the Foyle Academy, Derry, he entered the…

Kennedy, Kieran (1935–2013), economist, was born on 14 July 1935 in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, the fourth of five sons of Patrick Kennedy, a garda, and his wife Margaret (née Callahan). As his father was transferred frequently, Kieran spent much of his early life alone with his grandmother…

Kennedy, Martin (1898–1983), Tipperary hurler, was born 20 November 1898 in Killnafinch, Co. Tipperary, into the large family of Michael Kennedy, farmer, from Killnafinch, and Mary Kennedy (née Shanahan). He was educated at Latteragh national school until he left school at 14. He…

Kennedy, Patrick (1801–73), writer, folklorist, and bookseller, was born in Kilmyshal, near Bunclody, Co. Wexford, in early 1801. Little is known of his family life other than that his father was Patrick Kennedy and that he appears to have been the fourth child born to his parents.…

Kennedy, Patrick (1943–99), republican politician, was born on the Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, the only son among the six children of John and Sarah Kennedy. John Kennedy was a wealthy catholic middle-class businessman in east Belfast. Kennedy was educated at the Redemptorist…

Kennedy, Patrick James (1864–1947), politician, was born 19 December 1864 at Rathcore House, Enfield, Co. Meath, son of Brian Kennedy and his wife, Brigid (née Bourke). He was educated at St Vincent's College, Castleknock, Co. Dublin. In 1888 he married Cornelia Duncan, whose…

Kennedy, Patrick (‘Paddy’) (1916–79), Gaelic footballer, was born 25 September 1916 at Rathduff, Annascaul, Co. Kerry, son of Michael Kennedy, farmer, of Rathduff, and Nora Kennedy (née Herlihy). He was educated locally and subsequently at Tralee…