Biographies A-Z

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Gallagher, Matt

Gallagher, Matt (1915–74), businessman, was born on 15 February 1915 in Cashel, Curry parish, Co. Sligo, the second son and one of fourteen children of Matthew Gallagher, small farmer of Cashel, and his wife Margaret (née Reilly). He attended Moylough national school and spent his…

Gallagher, Michael Paul

Gallagher, Michael Paul (1939–2015), Jesuit theologian, writer and lecturer, was born 26 August 1939 at 15 Hatch Street, Dublin, the only child of Andrew Gallagher and his wife Christine (née O’Brien), both doctors. He grew up in Collooney, Co. Sligo, and attended Camphill National…

Gallagher, Patrick

Gallagher, Patrick (1951–2006), businessman, was born on 8 May 1951 in Holles Street hospital, Dublin, the second son of Matt Gallagher, businessman, and his wife Helena Patricia (née Sheeran). He was raised from 1957 in palatial surrounds at Hollywood Rath, Mulhuddart, Co. Dublin. The…

Gallagher, Patrick

Gallagher, Patrick (1870–1966), cooperative organiser, was born 25 December 1870 at Cleendra, in the Rosses district of Co. Donegal, one of two sons and seven daughters of Pat Gallagher, small farmer and migrant labourer, and his wife, a Boyle from Falmore, Co. Donegal. The family lived…

Gallagher, Patrick Joseph

Gallagher, Patrick Joseph (1909–94), businessman, was born 28 February 1909 in Cashell, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, one among six sons and three daughters of Matthew Gallagher, farmer, of Tubbercurry, and Margaret Gallagher (née Reilly). He was educated at Tubbercurry national school…

Gallagher, Redmond

Gallagher, Redmond (1914–2006), businessman and motor-racing enthusiast, was born in the family home at Dunwiley House in Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, on 27 February 1914, the youngest child of Henry Gallagher and his wife Eileen (née Cullen). He represented the third generation of a…

Gallagher, (Robert David) Eric

Gallagher, (Robert David) Eric (1913–99), methodist minister and ecumenist, was born on 24 August 1913 in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, the eldest of five children (two sons and three daughters) of Robert Gallagher, a methodist minister from Co. Fermanagh, and his wife Helen (née McIlroy)…

Gallagher, Rory

Gallagher, Rory (1948–95), rock guitarist, eldest son of Daniel and Monica Gallagher, was born 2 March 1948 in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, although his family soon moved south to Cork, where he spent his childhood. He was educated locally but his passion for music overwhelmed any…

Gallaher, David (Dave)

Gallaher, David (Dave) (1873–1917), rugby player, was born on 30 October 1873 in Castle Street, Ramelton, Co. Donegal, son of James Henry Gallagher, a shopkeeper trading at Market Cross there, and (Anna) Maria Hardy Gallagher (née McCloskey), a schoolteacher originally from Belfast.…

Gallaher, Francesca (Fannie) Mary

Gallaher, Francesca (Fannie) Mary (1854–1936), writer, was born 30 May 1854 in Cork to John Blake Gallaher and Sarah Gallaher (née Russell). She was the middle child and only daughter of three. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Dublin, first to 7 Upper Oriel Street and…

Gallaher, Thomas

Gallaher, Thomas (1840–1927), businessman, was born Thomas Gallagher (he changed the spelling of his name to Gallaher during the 1870s) on 27 April 1840 at Templemoyle, Co. Londonderry, one of nine children of wealthy farmer, Thomas Gallagher. The family also owned several…

Gallus (Gall)

Gallus (Gall) (c.550–c.645), kinsman and follower of St Columbanus (qv), accompanied the latter on his mission to the Continent sometime before 590. His genealogy gives the Irish form of his name as Gallech and…

Galvin, Edward

Galvin, Edward (1882–1956), bishop and co-founder of the Columban fathers, was born 23 November 1882 at Clodagh, Newcestown, Co. Cork, the eldest of seven sons and two daughters of John Galvin, a farmer, and his wife, Mary Lorden. He was educated at Newcestown national school and…

Galvin, Patrick

Galvin, Patrick (1927–2011), writer, was born on 15 August 1927 in a tenement building at 13 Margaret Street, Cork, the second child of Patrick Galvin, a docker and boxer, and his wife Bridget (née O'Brien), a charwoman. He had three brothers and three sisters; two brothers remained…

Galway, Mary

Galway, Mary (1864–1928), trade unionist, was born 6 September 1864 in Taglanneg, Moira, Co. Down, daughter of Henry Galway and Elizabeth Galway (née Magennis), linen weavers. She later moved with her family to Belfast, living initially in 85 Leeson St., before settling in 31 Crocus…

Galwey, John

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

Galwey, John

Galwey, John (1706–81), wine merchant, was born 19 June 1706, the elder of two sons of William Galwey (b. 1656) and his wife, Margaret Galwey (née MacCurtin) of Killelough, Co. Cork. The Galweys were an Old English family with branches in several parts of Munster. Several of John…

Gamble, David

This is a co-subject for the entry on Gamble, Josias (or Josiah) Christopher. View the original entry.

Gamble, James

Gamble, James (1803–91), soap manufacturer in the USA, was born 3 April 1803 in the Graan, near Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, eldest among four sons and two daughters of George Gamble and his wife Mary Norris. They were related to prosperous farmers, merchants, and linen bleachers…

Gamble, John

Gamble, John (1770?–1831), physician, traveller, and writer, was born at Strabane, Co. Tyrone, into a local presbyterian family and reared by an uncle (perhaps John Sproull of Strabane), an apothecary. It is likely that he came under the influence of…

Gamble, Josias (or Josiah) Christopher

Gamble, Josias (or Josiah) Christopher (1778–1848), presbyterian minister and chemical manufacturer, was born in August 1778, fourth of five sons of David Gamble, farmer, from near Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, whose wife's maiden name was Rutherford, and who also had a daughter.…

Gandon, James

Gandon, James (1742–1823), architect, was born 20 February 1742 in London and baptised one week later at St George's, Hanover Square, London. His father, Peter Gandon (b. 1713), was a gunsmith of huguenot family, who was declared a bankrupt in 1754. Gandon's mother (née Wynne) was a…

Gandy, James

Gandy, James (1619–89), portrait painter, was born in Exeter, England, and is thought to have been a pupil or assistant of Sir Anthony Van Dyck (d. 1641). He was one of the many artists influenced by the French and Dutch schools, and he moved to Ireland (1662) with his patron the…

Gandy, William

This is a co-subject for the entry on Gandy, James. View the original entry.

Ganly, James Blandford

Ganly, James Blandford (1904–76), cricket, rugby, and tennis international, was born 7 March 1904 in Balscadden, Howth, Co. Dublin, son of James Ganly, auctioneer, and Olive Ganly (née Blandford). Educated at St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, he had his first success at cricket;…