Miscellaneous

Magan, Francis (1774–1843), lawyer and government informer, was born 24 May 1774 in Dublin, descended of an ancient catholic family from Co. Westmeath, the Magans of Umma-more (Emoe). His grandfather, James Magan, established a medical practice in Dublin, where he was succeeded by…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Maguire, Constantine. View the original entry.

Mahon, Charles James Patrick (The O'Gorman Mahon) (1803–1891), politician and adventurer, was born (or so he claimed) 17 March 1803 at Ennis, Co. Clare, eldest son among three sons and one daughter of Patrick Mahon, merchant and JP, and…

Mallon, Mary (‘Typhoid Mary’) (1869–1938), domestic cook and notorious carrier of typhoid fever, was probably born 23 September 1869 in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, daughter of John Mallon and Catherine Mallon (née Igo), and probably attended national school locally. Emigrating to the USA at…

Martin, Richard (1754–1834), politician, animal rights campaigner, and duellist, was born 6 February 1754 at Ballinahinch castle, Dangan, Co. Galway, the eldest son of Robert Martin, a landowner, and his first wife, Bridget Martin (née Barnewall), daughter of the 11th Baron…

Mathew, Mary (1724–77), diarist, was daughter of the landowner Theobald Mathew (d. 1699) of Thurles Castle, Co. Tipperary, and his third wife, Catherine Nevill (d. 1742) of Leicestershire, England. Theobald Mathew had five children from his first marriage, one from his second, and four…

McCole, Brigid (Bridget) Ellen (1942–96), hepatitis C campaigner, was born 21 June 1942 at her family home in Bunawack, Glenties, Co. Donegal, daughter of John Sharkey , labourer, and Ellen Sharkey (née McCole). She was raised and educated locally and lived within Co. Donegal…

McConville, Jean (1935–72), murder victim, was born at Avoniel, east Belfast, in 1935, the daughter of Thomas Murray, shipyard worker, and his wife, May. After a basic education she entered domestic service. In 1952 she married Arthur McConville, a catholic soldier from west Belfast and…

McGinty, Thom (‘The Diceman’) (1952–95), street performer, was born in Strathclyde, Scotland, one of two sons and two daughters of Thomas McGinty and Mary McGinty (maiden name unknown), a native of Co. Dublin. After training in Glasgow in theatre and as an artists’ model, he moved to…

McGuckin (McGucken), James (d. 1817), attorney, politician, and informer, of South Parade, Belfast, was a native probably of Antrim or Down. According to Bernard McAuley (1771–1863), a catholic priest who knew him well, his father was a catholic but he and his sisters belonged…

Morgan, Lady Catherine Louisa (c.1838–1886), divorcée, was born in Moore Park, Co. Cork, youngest daughter among seven children of Stephen Moore (1792–1883), 3rd earl of Mountcashell, and his wife Anna Maria, daughter of Samuel Wyss of Berne, Switzerland. She married (10…

Morrissey, John (1831–78), boxer, gang-leader and US congressman, was born 12 February 1831 at Templemore, Co. Tipperary, the only son among eight children of Timothy Morrissey, factory worker, and Julia (or Mary) Morrissey. In 1834 the family emigrated to Canada and then the United…

Murphy, Edmund (d. p.1682), priest and informer, was a native of Co. Armagh. Nothing is known of his early life. In 1670, when Oliver Plunkett (qv) took up his duties as archbishop of Armagh, Murphy was parish priest of…

Murphy, Edmund Terence (‘Terry’) (1917–95), zookeeper, was born 28 July 1917 in Dublin, son of Edmund Murphy, civil servant, and Lizzie Murphy (née Shaw). Expelled from school for truancy at 15, he worked as a draughtsman for an engineering firm before employment in public relations…

Murphy, Patrick (1834–62), ‘world's tallest man’ and fairground performer, was born 15 June 1834 in Killowen, Co. Down, son of James Murphy (d. c.1850), smallholder, and Peggy Murphy (née Cunningham). There was nothing exceptional about his physique as a child. An…

Nedley, Thomas (1819–99), surgeon and wit, was born in Dublin; nothing is known of his family background. Educated at Castleknock College, he then went to Scotland to study medicine and was made a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh (1851). In August 1856 he…

Newell, Edward John (1771–98), United Irishman and informer, was born at Downpatrick, Co. Down, on 29 June 1771. His family were of Scottish descent. After going briefly to sea he was apprenticed to a painter and glazier. He tried the trade of glass-stainer in Dublin and Limerick…

Newton, Florence (d. 1661?), alleged witch, was tried for witchcraft in Youghal, Co. Cork, in 1661. By order of Richard Myre, mayor of Youghal, she was arrested on 24 March 1661 and committed to Youghal prison. She was accused of bewitching Mary Langdon, a servant at the home of…

Norcott, William (1773?–1820), barrister, satirist, and bon vivant, was eldest son of William Norcott of Charleville, Co. Cork, and Mary Norcott (née Knight). He entered TCD in July 1790, graduating BA…

Ó Caiside, Tomás Bán (c.1700–d. p. 1749), renegade Augustinian, rake, and folklore persona, was the son of Eoghan son of Éamann Odhar, and brought up in Leacht an Driseacháin, Co. Roscommon, about halfway between Castlerea and Tulsk. Ó Muraíle suggests…

O'Connell, Mary (1778–1836), wife of Daniel O'Connell (qv), was born 25 September 1778 in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Her father Thomas O'Connell, prominent physician and member of the Church of Ireland, was a widower with three children…

O'Doherty, Rosa (c.1588–1660), refugee and political activist, was born on the Inishowen Peninsula in northern Co. Donegal, daughter of Sir John O'Doherty (d. 1601) and his first wife, a daughter of Shane O'Neill (qv). Rosa…

O'Donnell, Nuala (c.1575–c.1630), refugee, was born in Tir Conaill, daughter of Hugh O'Donnell (qv) (d. 1600), lord of Tyrconnell and his second wife,…

O'Hanlon, Redmond (c.1641–1681), outlaw, was the son of Laughlin O'Hanlon of Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh, and a descendant of Sir Eochaidh O'Hanlon (qv). Little is known of his early life but he probably had an English…

O'Kelly, Denis (‘Count’) (c.1728–1787), adventurer, professional gambler, racehorse owner and breeder, was born in Tullow, Co. Carlow, second son among two sons and two daughters of Philip O'Kelly; no other family details are known. An early biography of O'Kelly says that he…