Libraries and Museums

Gailey, Robert Alan (1935–2013), folklife scholar and museum director, was born on 4 October 1935 in Galway. Known by his middle name, Alan was the second child of Andrew J. Gailey (d. 1963), a presbyterian minister in Galway, and Mary Gailey (née Porter). He had two sisters. From…

Gay, Thomas Earnan (1884–1953), librarian and republican, was born in Dublin on 22 January 1884, the eldest of six children (two girls and four boys) of Thomas Patrick Gay, a porter and later a warehouseman, and his wife Catherine (née Coleman). He was educated at the…

Gilbert, Sir John Thomas (1829–98), merchant, historian, archivist, and librarian, was born 23 January 1829 at 23 Jervis St., Dublin, second son and fifth child of John Gilbert (1791–1833), wine and cider importer and Portuguese consul, and Mary Anne Gilbert (née Costello), both…

Grant, Jasper (1762–1812), army officer in Canada and collector of ethnographical material, was second son of Thomas Grant, gentleman, of Kilmurry, Co. Cork, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Campion of Co. Leitrim. His elder brother, Thomas Grant, inherited the family estate;…

Haliday, Charles (1789?–1866), banker, bibliophile, and antiquary, was the second of four sons of William Halliday (1754?–1830), who was a native of Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, and an apothecary in Arran Quay, Dublin. The eldest son was…

Hardiman, James (1782–1855), historian and librarian, was born in February 1782 at Westport, Co. Mayo, only son of Tomás (or Richard) Ó hArgadáin or Hartigan, a small estate owner, originally from Co. Meath, and his wife Marcella or Margery (née Hall). Hardiman, according to his friend…

Harrison, Letitia Dunbar- (Crawford, Aileen) (1906–94), librarian and methodist activist, was born Letitia Elizabeth Eileen Dunbar in Dundrum, Co. Dublin, on 4 February 1906, the youngest of at least four children of Arthur Dunbar, a commercial traveller, and his wife Margaret (née…

Hayes, Richard James (1902–76), librarian, was born 26 June 1902 in Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, son of Richard James Hayes, bank manager, and Katherine Hayes (née Whelan). His early childhood and youth were spent in Claremorris, Co. Mayo. He was a student at Clongowes Wood College,…

Hickey, Ted (Edward Vincent) (1940–2005), arts administrator and traditional music enthusiast, was born 4 March 1940 in Wicklow town. He was educated at the Institute for Science and Technology in Kevin Street, Dublin; the London School of Film Technique; and…

Hitchcock, Richard (1824–56), antiquarian and librarian, was born 6 April 1824 (however, in 1891 his wife reportedly stated he was born in March 1825) at Annagh near Blennerville, Tralee, Co. Kerry, one of three children of Rodney Hitchcock, originally of Spring Vale, Co. Cork.…

Hoey, James (d. 1775), printer, publisher, bookseller and circulating library keeper, had premises in Dublin at Pembroke Court, Castle St. (1725–6), Christ Church Yard (1726–8) and Skinner Row (1729–75). As a catholic he became a quarter-brother of the stationers’ guild (1729). He…

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

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

Howard, Hugh (1675–1737), painter, collector, and connoisseur, was born 7 February 1675 in Dublin, eldest of three sons of Ralph Howard (1638–1710), MD, of Shelton, Co. Wicklow, and his wife Katherine, daughter of Roger Sotheby, MP for Wicklow…

Joly, Jaspar Robert (1819–92), book collector, was born at Hollywood House, Brackagh, Clonbulloge, King's Co. (Offaly), on 26 May 1819, the eldest of three sons of Henry Edward Joly (1784–1852), a clergyman, and his wife Martha, daughter of Robert Revelle of Hartwill, Co. Wicklow…

Kennedy, Patrick (1801–73), writer, folklorist, and bookseller, was born in Kilmyshal, near Bunclody, Co. Wexford, in early 1801. Little is known of his family life other than that his father was Patrick Kennedy and that he appears to have been the fourth child born to his parents.…

Lyster, Thomas William (1855–1922), librarian and author, was born 17 December 1855 in Co. Kilkenny, son of Thomas Lyster of Rathdowney, Co. Laois, and Jane Lyster (née Smith) of Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Of a quaker family, he was educated at Wesley College, Dublin, before…

Marsden, William (1754–1836), orientalist, numismatist, and secretary to the admiralty, was born 16 November 1754, probably in Verval, Co. Wicklow, youngest child among six sons and four daughters of John Marsden (d. 1801), a wealthy merchant in Dublin, who was one of the founders…

Mason, Henry Joseph Monck (1778–1858), miscellaneous bilingual writer, librarian, and evangelical reformer, was born 15 July 1778 at Powerscourt demesne, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, son of Lt-col. Henry Monck Mason and his second wife, Jane, only daughter of…

Millett, Benignus (1922–2006), Franciscan priest and historian, was born 1 April 1922 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, eldest of eight children (five sons and three daughters) of Matthew Millett, a tax consultant and auditor, and his wife Mary (née Keating); he was christened Austin Matthew…

Murphy, John (1772–1847), catholic bishop of Cork and bibliophile, was born 23 May 1772 in Cork city, son of John Murphy, a wealthy merchant in the leather and tanning business, and Joan Murphy (née Brouilly). The Murphys were among the most prominent Cork mercantile families; another…

Niland, Nora (1912–88), Sligo county librarian and founder of the Sligo municipal art collection, was born 21 March 1912 in Galway, eighth child among six sons and three daughters of John Niland, of Ballinastack, Tuam, Co. Galway, railway worker and small farmer, and his wife Elizabeth…

O'Conor, Charles (1764–1828), priest, librarian, and antiquary, was born 15 March 1764 at Belanagare, Co. Roscommon, second of six sons of Denis O'Conor (d. 1804) and Catharine O'Conor (neé Browne), who also had six daughters. The O'Conors were catholic, descendants of a princely…

O'Donoghue, David James (1866–1917), biographer, editor, and librarian, was born 22 July 1866 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England, of Cork-born parents. He studied at local Roman Catholic primary schools, and was self-educated at the British Museum library, where he read widely on…

Patten, John (1774–1864), associate of Robert Emmet (qv) and librarian of the RDS, was born 16 August 1774, youngest among three children of the Rev. J. Patten (d. 1787) of Annerville, presbyterian…