Biographies A-Z

Rodgers, William Robert (‘W. R.’; ‘Bertie’) (1909–69), poet and presbyterian minister, was born 1 August 1909 in Belfast, son of Robert Skelly Rodgers, insurance clerk, and his second wife, Jane Ferris Rodgers (née McCarey). Brought up in a puritan household in Ballymacarrett, his early…

Rodway, Norman John Frank (1929–2001), actor and theatre producer, was born 7 February 1929 in Dublin, son of Frank Rodway, manager of a shipping agency, and Lilian Rodway (née Moyles). The couple had recently moved to Dublin from London. They settled in Malahide, north of Dublin, where…

Rodyard (Rudyard), William de (c.1275–c.1349), dean of St Patrick's cathedral, Dublin, and chancellor of Ireland's first university, was born in the latter half of the thirteenth century, most probably in Rudyard, Staffordshire. There is no extant evidence relating…

Roe, Helen Maybury (1895–1988), librarian and antiquary, was born 18 December 1895 in Mountrath, Queen's Co. (Laois), the only child of William Ernest Roe and Anne Roe (neé Lambert Shields). Her father's family had lived in the Mountrath area since the seventeenth century and her…

Roe, Henry (1826–94), distiller and philanthropist, was born in Dublin, where his family had been involved in the distilling and brewing business since the 1750s and had acquired a seventeen-acre site off James's St. In 1863 Henry Roe, and his brother, George, inherited George Roe…

Roe, Robin (1928–2010), army chaplain and rugby player, was born on 11 November 1928 at Skeirke (Skirk), Ballybrophy, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois, the youngest of two sons and three daughters of William Henry Roe, a farmer, and his wife Anne (née Marshall). Educated at King's…

Roe, William (1841–93), obstetrician, was born 7 March 1841 in Dublin, son of William Roe, solicitor, and Arabella Roe (née Mahon). He was educated at Hollymount Academy, Rathmines, Co. Dublin, and studied at the RCSI,…

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,…

Rogers, James Edward (1838–96), architect and artist, was born in Dublin, son of James Rogers, QC. Educated at Guildford grammar school in Surrey, England, he entered TCD to study arts in 1855. While still…

Rogers, John (1740–1814), presbyterian minister and Volunteer, was youngest son of James Rogers, elder of Newbliss congregation, Co. Monaghan. He was said to be a descendant of the Rev. John Rogers, the first protestant martyr to be burned at the stake during the reign of Queen…

Rogers, John Cecil Kelly- (1905–81), aviation pioneer, was born 8 February 1905 at Raven Lodge, Sandycove, Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin, second child of Capt. Theodore Rogers, RN (later of the Dublin–Liverpool passenger service), and Violet…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Rogerson, Sir John I. View the original entry.

Rogerson, Sir John I (c.1648–1724), merchant, property developer, and MP, was probably born in Holland, son of Francis Rogerson, but grew up in Dublin; his mother's name is unknown. He descended from a merchant family, although at least two other Rogersons – a cook and a…

Rogers, Terence (‘Terry’) (1928–99), bookmaker and poker player, was born 27 July 1928 in Monkstown, Co. Dublin, eldest son of Ignatius Terence Rogers, commission agent and bookmaker, of Elphin, Co. Roscommon, and Mary (‘Lily’) Rogers (née Confrey) of Dún Laoghaire. He was educated…

Rogers, Tim (1921–84), stallion master, was born Anthony Dominick Dyke Rogers on 28 November 1921 at Sparsholt, Berkshire, England, the eldest of two sons of Captain Thomas Duggan ('Darby') Rogers, a horse trainer, of Sparsholt, and his wife Doreen (née Dyke Dennis). He took the…

Rokeby, Thomas (d. 1357), knight, justiciar of Ireland, and sheriff of Yorkshire, was son of Alexander Rokeby of Rokeby, Yorkshire, England. He first appears in 1321 as part of a group attacking the duke of Brittany's castle of Bowes during the conflict between Edward II and Thomas…

Rokeby, William (d. 1521), archbishop of Dublin and chancellor of Ireland, was a son of John Rokeby of Kirk Sandal, Yorkshire, England. At Cambridge he graduated BCnL in 1490 and was incorporated doctor in canon law five years later. He…

Rolland, Pierre (1912–93), chef, was born 29 March 1912 in Frépillon, Val-d'Oise, near Paris, an only child whose father (first name unknown) was a butcher but died in the first world war. His widowed mother Georgette (née Pouyaut) married Louis Dufond, a hotelier; they had one son…

Rolleston, Thomas William Hazen (T. W.) (1857–1920), poet, critic and journalist, was born 1 May 1857 at Glasshouse, near Shinrone, King's County (Offaly), youngest child among three sons and a daughter of Charles Rolleston-Spunner (d. 1887), barrister and county court judge for…

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…

Ronalds, Edmund (Edmond) (1819–89), chemist and first professor of chemistry at QCG, was born in Canonbury Square, London, the son of Edmund Ronalds (1790–1874), merchant, and his wife, Eliza (née Anderson). His paternal uncle, Sir…

Ronan, Myles Vincent (1877–1959), priest, church historian, and controversialist, was born 19 July 1877, third son of Myles Ronan, originally from Co. Wexford, and Margaret Ronan (neé Kenny), at 36 Fishamble St., Dublin. He was first educated by the Christian Brothers at Mary's…

Ronan, Sean Gerard (1924–2000), civil servant and diplomat, was born 11 January 1924 in Cork city, the eldest of the three children, two boys and a girl, of John Ronan of Ballintemple, Cork, and his wife, Mary, née Hogan, of Portumna, Co. Galway. He was educated locally and then…

Ronan, Stephen (1848–1925), lawyer and lord justice of appeal in Ireland, was born 13 April 1848 in Cork city, eldest son of Walter Ronan, local catholic solicitor, and Sarah Ronan (née McNamara). Historically, the family had owned property in Limerick which brought with it…

Ronan, William (1825–1907), Jesuit priest and Crimean war chaplain, was born 13 July 1825 in the parish of Clonduff, near Newry, Co. Down, son of Patrick Ronan, farmer. His mother's maiden name was Rooney. He was educated at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and was ordained priest…