Biographies A-Z

Darcy (D'Arcy), Patrick (1725–79), soldier, Jacobite, and scientist, was born 27 September 1725 in Kiltulla, four miles from Athenry, Co. Galway, son of John Darcy and his wife Jane, daughter of Sir Robert Blosse Lynch of Castlecurra. Sent in 1739 at the age of 14 to France, where his…

Darcy, Hyacinth Talbot (1806–74), evangelical clergyman and landlord, was born at Glen Ierne, Clifden, son of John Darcy (see below) of a Connemara gentry family, one of the fourteen ‘Tribes of Galway’. A private tutor, Mr Hawkesworth, prepared Hyacinth for the undergraduate…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Darcy, Hyacinth Talbot. View the original entry.

Darcy, Oliver (d. 1664), catholic bishop of Dromore, was from Wardenstown, Co. Westmeath, and was probably one of the Darcys of Platten, an influential Co. Meath family. He was educated by the Dominicans at either Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, or at Trim, Co. Meath, before studying…

Darcy, Patrick (1598–1668), lawyer, was seventh son of Sir James Darcy, mayor of Galway at the time of his death (1603), and his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Martin, also of Galway. He entered the Middle Temple in 1617 and five years later commenced practice in…

Darcy, Sir John (c.1280–1347), baron and justiciar of Ireland, was the son of Sir Roger Darcy of Nottinghamshire and Isabel, daughter of Sir William d'Aton of Yorkshire. His early career was closely bound up with Aymer de Valence, earl of Pembroke, whose service he entered…

Darcy, Sir William (c.1460?–1540), administrator, undertreasurer of Ireland, was son and heir of John Darcy, esquire, of Platten, Co. Meath, and his wife Elizabeth Plunket. The Darcys of Platten were a junior branch of a leading north of England family, descended from…

Darerca (Mo-Ninne) (d. 519?), foundress of Killevy, Co. Armagh, and saint in the Irish tradition, was, according to the medieval genealogies, daughter of Mochtae son of Lilach. Her genealogy is therefore traced to a discard segment of the Dál nAraide dynasty of east Ulster. Her…

Dargan, Michael James (1918–2005), Aer Lingus chief executive and businessman, was born at Ballivor, Co. Meath, on 14 September 1918, the eldest son among seven children of Peter Dargan, farmer and butcher, and his wife Gretta (née O'Conor), a national school teacher. He was educated at…

Dargan, William (1799–1867), engineer, was born 28 February 1799 in Co. Carlow. His parents were Patrick and Elizabeth Dargan, his father being a well-to-do farmer who was a tenant of Lord Portarlington. Much of William's early life is obscure. Likewise the exact place of birth is…

Darley, Frederick (1764–1841), builder, alderman, and police magistrate, born in Dublin and baptised on 6 July 1764, was one of the many children of Henry Darley (1721?–1798), a wealthy public works contractor, and his first wife, Mary (née Steele; d. 1770). Henry's grandfather,…

Darley, George (1795–1846), poet, critic, and mathematician, was born in December 1795 in Dublin, eldest of the seven children of Arthur Darley (1766–1845), merchant and grocer, and his wife and distant cousin Mary (d. 1833), daughter of John Darley, a customs officer in Newry. Soon…

Darling, Sisson Putland (1737–1817), schoolmaster, was the son of Richard Darling (1685–1766) of North Strand, Dublin, and his wife, Anne (née Davis). Richard's great-grandfather was John Darling (d. 1620), protestant dean of Emly (1608–20). The family pedigree gives no clue to…

Darlington, Joseph (1850–1939), Jesuit and academic, was born 5 November 1850 in Wigan, Lancashire, second son of Ralph Darlington (occupation unknown). He matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford (2 December 1869) and graduated BA (1874)…

Darlugdach (Der Lugdach) (6th cent.?), abbess of Kildare, was a saint in the Irish tradition. Her genealogy is not preserved, but she may well be identical with Darlugdach of Lemdruim (Lorum, Co. Carlow) mentioned in the Book of Leinster tract on Irish saints and places. In that…

Darragh, Austin (1927–2015), doctor and businessman, was born in the family home in Heytesbury Street, Dublin, on 27 April 1927, the sixth of nine children of Alexander Darragh, a mathematics teacher, and his wife Frances (née McDonnell). He grew up in Terenure, Dublin, and spent his…

Darragh, Paul (1953–2005) showjumper, was born 28 April 1953 in Killiney, Co. Dublin, son of …

Dartasso (Dartas), Janico (d. 1426), soldier, was born in Navarre, possibly Artaxo on the frontier with Castile. As early as 1367 he was serving Charles ‘the Bad’ of Navarre in the garrison of Cherbourg. Twelve years later, collaborating with the English forces stationed there, he…

Daunt (Moriarty), William Joseph O'Neill (‘Denis Ignatius’) (1807–94), politician and writer, was born 28 April 1807 at Tullamore, King's County, the eldest of three sons and two daughters of Joseph Daunt (1779–1826), captain of the Louth militia quartered there, and his first…

Dauntsey, Edward (a.1380–1430), bishop of Meath, of English birth, attended Oxford, where he showed an aptitude for the law, receiving a BCL before 1392, a DCnL before 1397, and a DCnL & DCL…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Davern, Owen Don Bosco (‘Don’). View the original entry.

Davern, Noel Michael (1945–2013), politician and farmer, was born on 24 December 1945 in Cashel, Co. Tipperary, the middle child of Michael J. Davern, a shopkeeper, and Margaret ('Greta') Davern (née Ryan). He had an older brother, Owen Don Bosco ('Don') and a younger sister, Noreen. He…

Davern, Owen Don Bosco (‘Don’) (1935–68), politician and publican, was born 4 March 1935 on Main St., Cashel, Co. Tipperary, eldest of two sons and one daughter of Michael J. Davern, a shopkeeper, subsequently TD for Tipperary South, and Margaret (‘Greta’) Davern (née Ryan). His father…

Davey, (James) Ernest (1890–1960), presbyterian scholar, was born 24 June 1890 in the manse of First Ballymena presbyterian congregation, Co. Antrim, eldest son among five sons and two daughters of Charles Davey, the minister there, and Margaret Davey (née Beatty). One of his…

Davey, Ray (Robert Raymond ) (1915–2012), presbyterian minister and founder of the Corrymeela Community, was born on 10 January 1915 in Dunmurry, outside Belfast, the son of Robert Davey (d. 1946), presbyterian minister of Dunmurry, and Charlotte Davey (née Higginson). His parents…