Biographies A-Z

Finucane, Brendan Eamonn (‘Paddy’) (1920–42), airman, was born 16 October 1920 at 13 Rathmines Road, Dublin, eldest among three sons and two daughters of Thomas Andrew Finucane, businessman, and Florence Louise Finucane (née Robinson) of Leicester, England. He was educated in…

Finucane, (Cornelius) Aengus (1932–2009), priest and international aid worker, was born in Limerick city on 26 April 1932, the eldest of four sons of John ('Jack') Finucane and his wife Delia (née Byrnes); he also had three sisters. His father was company secretary in a paper…

Finucane, Patrick (1950–89), solicitor and republican, was born in Belfast, eldest of eight children (seven boys and one girl) of Patrick Finucane, flour-mill worker, and his wife, Kathleen. He was educated at St Mary's Christian Brothers’ grammar school, St Malachy's College,…

Firth, Virginia Arabella ('Gay') (1937–2005), author, journalist and political campaigner, was born in Belfast on 9 January 1937, the eldest of three daughters of Lancelot Turtle, a Belfast businessman and stockbroker, and Helen Ramsey Turtle (1911–46), born in Denver, Colorado,…

Fisher, Edward (1730–p.1781), engraver, was born 18 November 1730 in Dublin, son of Charles Fisher, hatter, of Wood Quay, Dublin, and Mary Lamb. Nothing is known of his early life or training. By 1757 he was working in London. In that year four mezzotint plates by him…

Fisher, Jonathan (fl. 1763–1809), painter, was established as a linen draper in the Liberties area of Dublin where he was practising as an artist by 1763. Though Strickland says he may have received some training in London, no further evidence has come to light to support…

Fisher, Joseph Robert (1855–1939), journalist and unionist, was born in Raffrey, Co. Down, youngest among three sons and one daughter of the Rev. Ringland Fisher, presbyterian minister and his wife Sarah, née English. He was educated at the…

Fisher, Patricia (1921–95), politician and charity worker, was born Patricia Smiles on 5 April 1921, daughter of Lt-col. Sir Walter Dorling Smiles (1883–1953) of Donaghadee, Co. Down, and his wife Margaret Heighway of Manchester, England. Her great-grandfather was the author Samuel…

Fisher, William Robert (‘Bertie’) (1950–2001), rally driver and businessman, was born 25 March 1950 in Ballinamallard, Co. Fermanagh, one of four sons of Tommy Fisher, owner of a structural engineering firm, and Elsie Fisher, both originally from Co. Leitrim. He was educated at the…

Fitt, Gerard ('Gerry') (1926–2005), politician, was born Gerald Martin on 9 April 1926 in the infirmary of Belfast workhouse, son of Rose Martin, unmarried servant, and an unknown father. Shortly after birth, Fitt was fostered out to George Patrick Fitt, cigarette factory worker, and…

Fitton (Fytton, Phitton), Sir Edward (1548?–1606), the younger, of Gawsworth, Cheshire, undertaker in Munster, was son and heir of Sir Edward Fitton (qv) the elder, vice-treasurer of Ireland, and Anne, daughter of Sir Peter…

Fitton (Fytton), Sir Edward (1528–79), administrator, was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth, Cheshire, and his wife, Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Guicciard Harbottle, of Northumberland. At the age of twelve he married Anne, daughter of Peter Warburton of Arley,…

Fitton, Sir Alexander (1635/6–1699), Baron Fytton , lord chancellor, was the eldest surviving son of William Fitton of Gawsworth in Cheshire. His great-grandfather Sir Edward Fitton (qv) was a high-ranking Tudor official in…

Fitton, William Henry (1780–1861), geologist, was born in January 1780 in Dublin, son of Nicholas Fitton, lawyer, and was distantly related to the Fitton family of Gawsworth, Cheshire; his mother was probably Jane (née Greene). He was educated at…

fitz Anthony, Thomas (d. c.1227), administrator, first appears in the historical record when he was sent with gold and silver from Ireland to King John (qv) in February 1207. He held lands within the Marshal lordship of Leinster,…

Fitz Audelin, William (a.1140–p.1189), administrator, was son of Audelin de Aldefeld. A minor Hampshire landholder, he rose to become a member of the household (familia) of Henry II (qv). As early as 1160 he was…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Mac Gilla Mo Cholmóc, Diarmait. View the original entry.

This is a co-subject for the entry on FitzDermot (Mac Gilla Mo Cholmóc), Sir Ralph. View the original entry.

FitzDermot (Mac Gilla Mo Cholmóc), Sir Ralph (c.1225–1291), baron of Rathdown, landowner, son of John fitz John FitzDermot (c.1205–64), and direct descendant of the Mac Gilla Mo Cholmóc, lords of Uí Briúin Chualann, was a prominent figure in the marches of Dublin.…

FitzEustace, Roland (c.1430–1496), Lord Portlester , administrator, was son of Sir Edward FitzEustace of Kilcullen and Harristown, Co. Kildare, and a member of one of the most prominent families of the English lordship. His father served as deputy lieutenant to…

FitzGeoffrey, John (c.1206–1258), justiciar of Ireland, was the son of Geoffrey fitz Peter, 4th earl of Essex, justiciar of England, by his second marriage, to Aveline, daughter of Roger de Clare, 3rd earl of Hereford, and widow of William de Munchesney. He seems to have…

FitzGerald, Alexis James Oliver (1916–85), solicitor and economist, was born 4 September 1916, the fourth child of Alexis FitzGerald and his wife, Elizabeth O'Halloran. He was born, as he would later say himself, ‘under the clock’ in the Waterford Mental Hospital, where his father was…

Fitzgerald, Augustus Frederick (1791–1874), 3rd duke of Leinster , grand master of the freemasons of Ireland, was born 21 August 1791 at Carton, Co. Kildare, eldest child of William Robert Fitzgerald (1748–1804), 2nd duke of Leinster, and his wife, Emilia Olivia, daughter of the…

Fitzgerald, Barbara (Barbara Fitzgerald Somerville) (1911–82), novelist, was born 16 December 1911 in Cork, the daughter of Dr J. A. Gregg (qv), then professor of divinity at Trinity College, Dublin. Spending her childhood…

Fitzgerald, Barry (1888–1961), actor, was born 10 March 1888 in Dublin and christened William Joseph Shields, eldest son of Adolphus William Shields, compositor and well-known Dublin union organiser, and Fanny Shields (née Ungerland). Educated at Merchant Taylors’ School and Skerry's…