Biographies A-Z

Ua Néill, Áed (975–1004), son of Domnall and king of Ailech, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty. His father, Domnall Ua Néill (qv) (d. 980), was king of Tara and one of the most innovatory leaders of his time. His mother was Dirbail…

Ua Néill, Domnall (d. 980), grandson of Niall Glúndub (qv) and king of Tara, belonged to the Northern Uí Néill dynasty of Cenél nÉogain, the cause of which had been greatly advanced by his immediate forebears. He had at least three…

Ua Néill, Flaithbertach (d. 1036), son of Muirchertach and king of Ailech, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty of the Northern Uí Néill. In later sources he is sometimes referred to as Flaithbertach an Trostáin (of the pilgrim's staff). His father Muirchertach (slain…

Ua Riacáin, Muirchertach (Regan, Morice) (d. p. 1176), secretary and interpreter to Diarmait Mac Murchada (qv) (d. 1171), king of Uí Chennselaig and ‘of the foreigners’. He communicated the substance of…

Ua Ruairc, Áed (d. 1087), son of Art Uallach and overking of Connacht, belonged to the dynasty of Uí Briúin Bréifne. His father Art Uallach was one of four kings of his dynasty to reign as overking of Connacht between 956 and 1102, his reign being from 1030 to 1046, when he was…

Ua Ruairc, Tigernán (d. 1172), son of Donnchad and king of Bréifne, who belonged to the dynasty of Uí Briúin, was one of the strongest and most colourful rulers of his line. Claimed by Gerald (qv) of Wales to…

Ua Ruanada, Felix (c.1160–1238), archbishop of Tuam, was a central figure in the movement to reform the Irish church in the early thirteenth century. The death of Cadla (Catholicus) Ua Dubthaig (qv), archbishop of…

Ua Selbaig, Augustinus (d. 1182), bishop of Waterford, may have belonged to the Ua Selbaig family of Corcu Loígde, but nothing of his ancestry or background is known. The Ua Selbaig family had supplied several abbots and airchinnig (superiors) to Cork – for example,…

Ua Tuathail, Lorcán (O'Toole, Laurence) (c.1128–1180), archbishop of Dublin and saint, belonged to the north Leinster dynasty of Uí Muiredaig, and was son of Muirchertach Ua Tuathail (qv), king of northern Leinster,…

Ua Tuathail, Muirchertach (d. 1164), son of Gilla-Comgaill and king of northern Leinster, belonged to the Uí Muiredaig lineage of the Uí Dúnlainge dynasty. His family line descended from Tuathal (qv) (d. 958), king of Uí Dúnlainge, and he…

Ua Úathgaile, Dublittir (fl. c.1080–1120), author and scholar, was associated with the church of Killeshin, Co. Laois. He belonged to the Uí Bairrche. The medieval Irish genealogies preserve the name of Úathgal son of Sóergal, progenitor of the Uí Úathgaile and likely to…

Ufford (D'Ufford, de Ufford, Offord), Ralph (d. 1346), justiciar of Ireland, was son of Robert Ufford and his wife Cecily, daughter of Robert de Valoines; he was also a grandson of Robert of Ufford (qv). In February 1336,…

Ufford (Offord), Sir Robert of (d. 1298), justiciar of Ireland, came from Ufford in Suffolk. He first appears as a member of the household of the Lord Edward in Wales in 1257. He accompanied Edward to Gascony in July 1261 and again in January 1264. He was sent to Ireland on Edward's…

Uí Choisdeailbh, Eibhlín (Edith Costello) (1870–1962), folksong collector, Irish language enthusiast, and political activist, was born 27 June 1870, probably in the Strand union workhouse, St Pancras, London. She was christened Edith Drury and raised a member of the Church of…

Ultán mac hUa Conchobair (d. 657), bishop at Ard Breccáin (Ardbraccan, Co. Meath) and to the Dál Conchobair branch of the Déisi in Mide, was the son of Rónán, son of Fintan. He is said to have been the uncle of St Brigit…

Underwood, John (d. 1834), horticulturist, believed to be Scottish by birth, was elected an associate of the Linnean Society of London on 19 January 1796, when he was living at an address in Brompton, Middlesex. In September 1798 he was appointed as the first head gardener at the…

Underwood, Thomas Neilson (1830?–1876), founder of the National Brotherhood of St Patrick, was born probably at Strabane, Co. Tyrone, the eldest son of William Robert Underwood, and his wife Margaret (née Neilson). According to a lengthy obituary of Thomas Neilson Underwood in the…

Uniacke, John James FitzGerald (1797–1825), explorer, writer, and early official in New South Wales, was born 4 July 1797 on Charlotte's Quay, Cork, second son and sixth of nine children of Robert Uniacke (1756–1802) of Woodhouse, Stradbally, Co. Waterford, MP for Youghal 1777–…

Upington, Sir Thomas (c.1844–98), lawyer and statesman in South Africa, was born at Lisleigh House, Co. Cork, the only son of Samuel Upington, catholic merchant, and Mary Ellen Upington (née Tarrant). Educated at Cloyne diocesan college, Mallow, Co. Cork, he entered…

Upton, Arthur (1623–1706), presbyterian politician, was born 31 May 1623, the eldest son of Captain Henry Upton of Castle Upton (or Castle Norton), Templepatrick, Co. Antrim, and his wife, Mary, daughter of Sir Hugh Clotworthy; he had three brothers and three sisters. Sir Hugh,…

Urquhart, William Pollard- (1815–71), writer and politician, was born William Pollard in Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath, on 19 June 1815, eldest among eight sons of William Dutton Pollard (1789–1839), JP, DL…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Urwick, William. View the original entry.

Urwick, William (1791–1868), congregational clergyman, was born 8 December 1791 in Shrewsbury, England, seventh child and third son of William Urwick (d. 1799). merchant, and Elinor Urwick (née Eddowes; d. 1853). He was the only son to survive, and had only two sisters. He himself…

Usher, James (c.1720–1772), philosopher and schoolmaster, was born in Co. Dublin, son of a gentleman farmer; nothing else is known of his parents. He was probably a descendant of James (qv) and…

Ussher, Ambrose (c.1582–1629), scholar and protestant clergyman, was born in Dublin, the second surviving son of Arland Ussher (d. 1598) and Margaret, daughter of James Stanihurst (qv). He was brother to…