Biographies A-Z

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Walsh, Oliver (‘Ollie’)

Walsh, Oliver (‘Ollie’) , (1937–96), hurler, was born 13 July 1937 at Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, one of four children of Michael Walsh and Johanna Walsh (née Kennedy) of Mill St., Thomastown. Educated at Thomastown national school and Kilkenny vocational school, Ollie Walsh first…

Walsh, Patrick

Walsh, Patrick (d. 1578), Church of Ireland and Roman catholic bishop of Waterford and Lismore, was a member of a family deeply involved in the merchant life and civic government of Waterford. Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, he received his

Walsh, Paul

Walsh, Paul (Breathnach, Pól) (1885–1941), priest and historian, was born 19 June 1885 in the townland of Ballina, a few miles from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, eldest child among five sons and three daughters of Michael Walsh and Brigid Walsh (née Gallagher), while…

Walsh, Peter

Walsh, Peter (c.1616–1688), Franciscan author, was born at Mooretown, Co. Kildare. His father, whose first name is not known, was a chandler at Naas, Co. Kildare, and a member of a local Old English family; his mother, named as ‘Goodie N.’ in one source, was an English…

Walsh, Richard (‘Droog’)

Walsh, Richard (‘Droog’) (1877–1958), hurler, was born December 1877 at Rathkieran, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, second son among seven children of William Walsh of Rathkieran and Anastasia Walsh (née Quinn) of Ballygorey, Mooncoin, both of farming stock. He was educated at Carrigeen…

Walsh, Richard Hussey

Walsh, Richard Hussey (1825–62), economist, born in King's Co. (Offaly) on 25 July 1825, was the fifth son in the family of eight sons and one daughter of John Hussey Walsh (1791–1863), a justice of the peace, of Kilduff, near Tyrrellspass, King's Co., and Cranagh and Mulhussey, Co…

Walsh, Robert

Walsh, Robert (1772–1852), clergyman and writer, was born in Waterford, son of John Walsh (1720–85), merchant, of Ballymountain House, Waterford. He was a younger brother of the physician Edward Walsh (qv). He entered…

Walsh, Sir John

Walsh, Sir John (c.1613–c.1670), lawyer and politician, was eldest son of David Walsh of Rathronan, Co. Tipperary; nothing is known about his mother. A leading merchant in Waterford city, John also held lands in Tipperary and Kilkenny from…

Walsh, Sir Nicholas

Walsh, Sir Nicholas (d. 1615), government official and judge, may have been a son of James Walsh, who was mayor of Waterford in 1547. He appears to have been a favourite of Thomas Butler (qv), earl of Ormond. Little is known of his…

Walsh, Sr Patricia

Walsh, Sr Patricia (1942–2015), missionary nurse, was born Anna Maria Catherine Walsh on 23 September 1942 in Portlick, Glasson, Co. Westmeath, the eldest of three girls and a boy, to Michael Walsh, a fisherman, and his wife Bridget (née Nolan). Having attended Glasson primary school (…

Walsh, Thomas

Walsh, Thomas (1580–1654), catholic archbishop of Cashel, was born at Waterford, the son of Robert Walsh, merchant, and his wife Anastasia Strong, sister of Thomas Strong, bishop of Ossory. The Walshes were one of the most powerful merchant families in Waterford and were also…

Walsh, Thomas

Walsh, Thomas (1901–56), politician and farmer, was born 8 December 1901 in Garryduff, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, one of two sons and one daughter of James Walsh, farmer, and Catherine Walsh (née Byrne). After early education at Patrician Brothers' College, Mountrath, Queen's Co. (…

Walsh, Thomas

Walsh, Thomas (1914–88), scientist and agricultural administrator, was born in Piercestown, Co. Wexford, fourth son of modest farmers. Walsh was educated at Piercestown national school and Wexford CBS before attending…

Walsh, Thomas Joseph

Walsh, Thomas Joseph (1911–88), physician, founder and artistic director of the Wexford Opera Festival, and writer, was born on 20 November 1911 at 6 Upper George St., Wexford, eldest son of John Joseph Walsh, commercial traveller, and Margaret Walsh (née Hayden) of…

Walsh, William

Walsh, William (c.1513–1577), catholic bishop of Meath, was born in or before 1513 in the diocese of Meath, probably at Dunboyne. He joined the Cistercian order and appears to have lived first at the abbey at Bective, Co. Meath, but he was not there at its dissolution in…

Walsh, William

Walsh, William (1804–58), catholic archbishop in Canada, was born 7 November 1804 at Waterford city, eldest of fourteen children of Joseph Walsh, a catholic farmer. Educated at St John's College, Waterford, he decided to enter the priesthood and studied at the catholic seminary at…

Walsh, William Henry (‘Bill’)

Walsh, William Henry (‘Bill’) (1915–99), general manager of Córas Trachtala Teo and founding chief executive of Kilkenny Design Workshops, was born 15 February 1915 in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, only son among four children of Richard Walsh and Rebecca Walsh (née Thompson). Educated at…

Walsh, William Joseph

Walsh, William Joseph (1841–1921), catholic archbishop of Dublin, was born 30 January 1841 at 11 Essex Quay, Dublin, the only child of Ralph Walsh, watchmaker and jeweller, and Mary Walsh (née Perce). Mary Walsh is reputed to have been a native of Galway, and her husband to have been…

Walsh, William Pakenham

Walsh, William Pakenham (1820–1902), Church of Ireland bishop of Ossory and writer, was born 4 May 1820 at Moorpark, Co. Roscommon, eldest son of Thomas Walsh, gentleman, of St Helena Lodge, Co. Roscommon, and his wife Mary, daughter of Robert Pakenham of Athlone, Co. Westmeath.…

Walter (Butler), Theobald

Walter (Butler), Theobald (a.1150–1206?), magnate and chief butler of Ireland, was eldest son of Hervey Walter and Maud, daughter of Theobald de Valoignes. Little or nothing is known for certain about his family background, but he clearly came from what later centuries…

Walton, Ernest Thomas Sinton

Walton, Ernest Thomas Sinton (1903–95), scientist, educator, and Nobel prize laureate, was born 6 October 1903 in Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, elder of two children of the Rev. John Arthur Walton and Anna Elizabeth Walton (née Sinton). His father, a methodist minister, was born…

Walton, John

Walton, John (c.1415–c.1490), archbishop of Dublin, was an Augustinian canon at Osney, near Oxford, England, by 1433, and was educated at Oxford, where he applied to receive his DD in 1451, the year before he was elected…

Walton, Martin

Walton, Martin (1901–81), musician, musical entrepreneur, and republican, was born 27 February 1901 in Kilkenny city, only child of Patrick Walton, linotype operator, and his wife Mary (née Bolger), a native of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. His grandfather, John Walton, had been an…

Walton, Simon Francis (‘Sim’)

Walton, Simon Francis (‘Sim’) (1880–1966), hurler, was born 4 September 1880 in Reimeen, Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny, one of four children (three girls and a boy) of John Walton, farmer, and Johanna Walton (née Bannon) of Reimeen. His father had been a pioneer of hurling in Kilkenny in the…

Wandesforde, Christopher

Wandesforde, Christopher (1592–1640), lord deputy of Ireland, was born 24 September 1592 near Beverley in Yorkshire, the eldest son of Sir George Wandesforde of Kirklington, Yorkshire, and of Catherine, daughter of Ralph Hensby. He began his education at the free school of Well…