Biographies A-Z

Barkley, John Monteith (1910–97), presbyterian minister, scholar and historian, was born in Belfast on 18 October 1910, the only son of Robert James Barkley and his wife Mary Darcus (née Monteith). He had a younger sister. When John was born the family was living with his mother's…

Barlow, James William (1826–1913), historian and writer, was born 21 October 1826 in Co. Dublin, eldest son of the Rev. William Barlow and Catherine Barlow (née Disney). He was marked by his mother’s unhappiness: as a young woman she had been in love with…

Barlow, Jane (1856–1917), poet, novelist, and short story writer, was born 17 October 1856 in Dollymount, Dublin, the second child and eldest daughter of the Rev. James William Barlow (qv), history professor and subsequently vice-…

Barlow, Randolph (Randal) (1572?–1638), Church of Ireland archbishop of Tuam, was probably the Randal Barlow baptised 31 January 1572 at Malpas, Cheshire, the son of John Barlow, rector of Malpas. Educated at Macclesfield grammar school, he matriculated at Jesus College, Cambridge…

Barnacle (Joyce), Nora (1884–1951), was born 21/2 March 1884 in the maternity ward of Galway city workhouse (which then served as general hospital for Galway), second daughter (and child) of Thomas Barnacle, baker, and Annie Barnacle (née Healy), seamstress and dressmaker. After the…

Barnardo, Thomas John (1845–1905), philanthropist, was born 4 July 1845 at 4 Dame Street, Dublin, the fourth son of John Michaelis Barnardo (d. 1874), a wholesale furrier, and his second wife, Abigail Matilda (née O'Brien). His father was born in Havelberg, Prussia, and settled…

Barnard, Thomas (1727–1806), Church of Ireland bishop, was born in Surrey and baptised there on 22 February 1727, the eldest son of Dr William Barnard (1697–1768), bishop of Derry, and his wife, Anne (d. 1782), sister of the Irish primate …

Barnes, Colm (1919–2003), businessman, was born 13 July 1919 in the family home at 258 Falls Road, Belfast, one of eleven children of Diarmuid (Jeremiah) Barnes (d. 1960), draper, and his wife Mary Frances (née McGinely). His father sat on Belfast city council as a nationalist…

Barnes, Michael James (1932–2008), festival director, was born in Peckham, south London, England, on 31 October 1932. His parents were Robert Barnes and Winifred Barnes (née Dee), who married in 1931. In 1945 he won a scholarship to Alleyn's School in Dulwich, an independent school…

Barnes, Peter Joseph (1907–40), republican, was born 6 May 1907 in Banagher, King's County (Offaly), son of Michael Barnes, labourer, and Margaret Barnes (née Loonam), both of Banagher. In 1939, at the age of 32, he gave up his job as a steam-raiser with Offaly county council and…

Barnes, William (1801-86), poet and philologist, was born at Bagber Common in the Blackmore Vale, Dorset, England, and baptised on 20 March 1801, son of John Barnes, tenant farmer, and Grace Barnes (née Scott). After a variety of occupations, including the making of woodcuts, he…

Barnett, John (1794–1880), presbyterian minister, was born near Saintfield, Co. Down, eldest son of John Barnett, tanner in Belfast; his mother may have been Jane Gibson. He was at first apprenticed to a Belfast business house, but his father allowed him to leave to attend Glasgow…

Barnewall, Christopher (a. 1400–1446), lawyer and administrator, was son of Nicholas Barnewall of Crickeston, Co. Meath, and was the head of a prominent gentry family who became embroiled in the factional disputes between the supporters of…

Barnewall, John (1470–1538), 3rd Baron Trimleston , administrator, was son of Christopher Barnewall, 2nd baron, and his first wife, Elizabeth Plunket of Rathmore, Co. Meath. Christopher (pardoned in 1488 for his part in Lambert Simnel's…

Barnewall, Nicholas (1668–1725), 3rd Viscount Barnewall of Kingsland , soldier, and catholic lobbyist, was born 15 April 1668, son of Henry Barnewall, 2nd Viscount Kingsland of Kingsland, and his second wife, Mary, daughter of Richard Nugent…

Barnewall, Patrick (c.1584–c.1660), politician, was eldest son of John Barnewall of Kilbrew and his wife Eleanor, daughter of Christopher Seagrave of Dublin. John died in 1590, and Eleanor remarried successively Edward Aylmer, John Cheevers, and Thomas…

Barnewall, Sir Christopher (d. 1575), politician and administrator, was the son of Sir Patrick Barnewall (qv), master of the rolls, and his wife, Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Luttrell, chief justice of the common pleas.…

Barnewall, Sir John (1634?–1691?) barrister and judge, was one of eleven children of Richard Barnewall (qv) of Crickstown, Co. Meath, and his second wife Julia, daughter of Sir Gerald…

Barnewall, Sir Nicholas (1592–1663), 1st Viscount Barnewall of Kingsland , politician, was son of Sir Patrick Barnewall, of Turvey, Gracedieu, and Fieldstown, Co. Dublin, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Nicholas Bagenal…

Barnewall, Sir Patrick (d. 1552), lawyer and MP, was the eldest son of Roger Barnewall of Fieldstown or Fedleston, parish of Clonmethan, north Co. Dublin, and his wife, Alison, daughter of Christopher Barnewall, 2nd Baron Trimleston. After entering Gray's Inn in 1527 he became a…

Barnewall, Sir Patrick (?1531–1622), Palesman and leader of the ‘Old English’ in the reign of James I, was the eldest son of Sir Christopher Barnewall (qv) and his wife, Dame Marion Sherle (Churley), and grandson of Sir…

Barnewall, Sir Richard (1602–79), politician, was eldest son of Sir Patrick Barnewall of Crickstown, Co. Meath and his wife Cicely, daughter of William Fleming, Lord Slane. Sir Patrick, head of a minor though long-established branch of the Barnewall family, died in 1624, and…

Barnhill, John ('Jack') Eccles Nixon (1905–71), senator and businessman, was born 11 April 1905 at Brickfield, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, the third child and second son in a family of at least five children (two sons and three daughters) of William Wilson Barnhill (1867–1950), a well-to-do…

Barniville, Henry Leo (‘Harry’ or ‘Barney’) (1887–1960), surgeon and senator, was born in Belfast 10 April 1887, fourth son of John Barniville, DL, of Co. Tipperary and Mary Barniville (née Bourke) of Co. Galway. Educated at St Malachy's…

Baron (Barron), Bartholomew (Bonaventure) (1610–96), Franciscan theologian and miscellaneous writer, was born 24 July 1610 at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, the second son of Lawrence Baron (d. 1622), a merchant of Clonmel, and his first wife, Maria (d. 1616), sister of…