Biographies A-Z

Walsh (Breathnach), Róisín (1889–1949), librarian and republican, was born on 24 March 1889 into a staunchly nationalist catholic family in the townland of Lisnamaghery, Clogher, Co. Tyone, the eldest of eight children (five sisters and two brothers) of James Walsh (d. 1925), a national…

Walsh, Brian Cathal Patrick (1918–98), judge of the supreme court and of the European Court of Human Rights, was born 23 March 1918 at 4 Great Denmark Street, Dublin, the eldest in a family of three sons of Patrick Walsh, civil servant, and Elsie Walsh (née O'Brien), who died in 1930…

Walsh, Cornelius (‘Con’) (1881–1961), Olympic hammer thrower, was born 24 April 1881 in Carriganima (Carriganimmy), Clondrohid, near Macroom, Co. Cork, eldest of at least nine children of Edmond Walsh, farmer, from Carriganima, and Hannah Walsh (née Kelleher), originally from…

Walsh, Dick (Richard Colman) (1937–2003), journalist, was born in Cratloe, Co. Clare, on 29 October 1937, youngest of two sons and two daughters of Seán Walsh, principal of Cratloe National School (in succession to his own father), and his wife Pauline (née McNamara), also a teacher…

Walsh, Edward (1756–1832), physician and writer, was born in Waterford, eldest son of John Walsh, merchant of Ballymountain House, Co. Kilkenny, and brother of the writer and clergyman Robert Walsh (qv). He was sent to school in England, and…

Walsh, Edward (1805–50), translator, poet, and schoolteacher, was born in Derry city, where his father, an evicted small farmer who became a sergeant in the north Cork militia was posted during the Napolelonic period; his mother was from a more genteel background. After the battle of…

Walsh, Edward J. (‘Ned’) (c.1865–1939), athlete and rugby international, was born c.1865. Some sources give 1868 or later as his birth year, but his death certificate suggests 1865 as more likely, and this date tallies better with his subsequent sporting career.…

Walshe, Edward (fl.1544–77), army officer and author, was a member of a leading Waterford family that was prominent in civic politics. It appears that he entered the service of Anthony St Leger (qv) about 1537. The exact…

Walshe, Joseph Patrick (1886–1956), diplomat, was born 2 October 1886 in Killenaule, Co. Tipperary, fifth among six children of James Walshe (1835–1900), hotelier, retailer, farmer, and nationalist county councillor for Tipperary South Riding (1899–1900), and Frances Ellen (‘Fannie’)…

Walsh, James Joseph (1880–1948), politician and businessman, was born 20 February 1880 at Rathroon, near Bandon, Co. Cork, one of ten children of James J. Walsh, a medium-sized farmer who fattened cattle for export, and his wife Mary. He was educated at Bandon national school and became…

Walsh, Joe (1943–2014), government minister, was born Michael Joseph Walsh in Ballineen, Co. Cork, on 1 May 1943, the third child of five sons and three daughters of Richard Walsh, farmer of Kilmoylerane, Ballinascarthy, Co. Cork, and his wife Margaret (née Dullea). His father was in…

Walsh, John (1835–81), poet and schoolmaster, was born 1 April 1835 at Belville Park, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, son of William Walsh, steward of Mr Poer of Belville Park; nothing is known of his mother. He was educated at Cappoquin national school and worked there as a monitor and…

Walsh, John (1830–98), archbishop of Toronto, was born 23 May 1830 in Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, son of James Walsh, farmer, and Ellen Walsh (née Macdonald). He was educated at the diocesan college, St John's College, Waterford, where he completed classical and philosophical courses…

Walsh, John Edward (1816–69), judge and writer, was born 12 November 1816 in Tolka, Co. Dublin, the only son of the Rev. Robert Walsh (qv) and his wife, Anne, daughter of John Bayley. He was educated at Bective School, Dublin, and…

Walsh, John (‘Johnny’) (1911–98), Gaelic footballer, was born 11 February 1911 in Ballylongford, Co. Kerry, second child among three sons and two daughters of David Walsh, local creamery manager and publican, originally from Clonakilty, Co. Cork, and Mary Walsh (née O'Brien), both…

Walsh, John Joseph (1916–88), industrialist and public servant, was born 31 August 1916 in Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry, third child of Patrick Walsh, schoolteacher, and Mary Walsh (née Halliden). He was educated at St Brendan's, Killarney, Co. Kerry, and graduated…

Walsh, John Stephen (c.1835–1894), revolutionary, was born in Milford, Co. Cork, but when he was a boy his family emigrated to Middlesborough, where he attended school. A tall, powerfully built man with a military appearance, he worked for many years as a steelworker in…

Walsh, Joseph James (1905–92), journalist and newspaper editor, was born 21 December 1905 (although he claimed to have been born exactly ten years later) in Waterford city, youngest among five children of Edward Walsh, commercial cork-maker, editor/proprietor of the Munster…

Walsh, Joseph (‘Joe’) (1931–95), travel agent and tour operator, was born in Bangor, Co. Down, and educated at St Patrick's College, Armagh. On leaving school he worked for the Ulster Transport Authority and later moved to London, where he worked for the travel agency firm Thomas…

Walsh, Louis Joseph (1880–1942), author and district justice, was born in Maghera, Co. Londonderry, son of Louie Walsh, owner of a local hotel, and Elizabeth Walsh (née Donnelly) of Maghera. Educated at St Columb's College, Derry, he went to Dublin to study law at…

Walsh, Maurice (1879–1964), author and civil servant, was born 21 April 1879 at Ballydonoghue, Listowel, Co. Kerry, third child and eldest son among four sons and six daughters of John Walsh, a farmer, and Elizabeth Walsh (née Buckley), of Tullamore, Co. Kerry. He was educated at…

Walsh, Michael (‘Mike’) (1810–59), politician and newspaperman, was born 4 May 1810 in Youghal, Co. Cork, son of Michael Welsh, a protestant cabinetmaker, reputed in some sources to have been a United Irishman involved in the 1798 rising, and Eileen Welsh (née Keefe). He was brought…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Walsh, John. View the original entry.

Walsh, Micheline Kerney- (1919–97), archivist and historian, was born 21 October 1919 in La Celle, St Cloud, Paris, second child and only daughter of Leopold Harding Kerney (qv) of Dublin and Raymonde Kerney (née Élie) of…

Walsh, Nicholas (Nicolás Bhailis) (1538?–1585), Church of Ireland bishop of Ossory, was born in Waterford city in or before 1538; he was the son of Patrick Walsh (qv), bishop of Waterford and Lismore (d. 1578). The identity of his mother is…