Bryan, Deirdre

Barry, Mother Mary Gonzaga (1834–1915), pioneer Loreto sister in Australia, was born Mary on 24 July 1834 in Wexford town, the eldest of seven children of John Barry, bank manager, and Elizabeth Barry (née Cowan). Mamie, as she was known, lived with her maternal grandmother and…

Butler, Mary Magdalen (Matilda Martha) (1795–1856), Dominican sister and founder of Sion Hill Dominican convent, Dublin, was born Matilda Martha Butler in Dublin. She entered the Dominican order and was the first sister to be professed in their new convent in Cabra on 28 December…

Clarke, Mary Frances (1803/6–87), founder of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was born either on 2 March 1803 or 1806 in Dublin, the eldest of four children of Cornelius Clarke, leather dealer, and Catherine Clarke (née Quartermas), daughter of a quaker from England.…

Daly, Anne (1860–1924), superior general of the Sisters of Charity, Australia, was born 28 May 1860 in Tipperary, the ninth child of John Daly, blacksmith, and Mary Daly (née Cleary). Around 1865 the family emigrated to Australia and settled at Braidwood, New South Wales. Anne was…

Delany, Daniel (1747–1814), catholic bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, and founder of the Patrician and Brigidine orders, was born in Paddock, Mountrath, Queen's Co. (Laois), the elder of two sons of Daniel Delany, a prosperous farmer, and Elizabeth Delany (née Fitzpatrick), also from…

Dillon, Cecily (Cecily of St Francis) (c.1603–1653), co-foundress and first abbess of the Irish Poor Clares in Dublin, Bethlehem and Athlone, both in Co. Westmeath, was probably born at Kellefaghny, Co. Westmeath, the daughter of…

Fagan, Sir John (1843–1930), surgeon and inspector of reformatory and industrial schools, was born 16 July 1843 at Lismacaffrey, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath, the eldest son of James Fagan, esq. Educated at St Vincent's College, Castleknock, Co. Dublin (1858–61), and the Catholic…

Gaffney, Henry Michael (1895–1974), Dominican priest and writer, was born 31 May 1895 in Cuffe's Grange, Co. Kilkenny, the son of Michael Gaffney, publican, and Bridget Gaffney (née Kenna). He entered the Dominican order in Tallaght, Co. Dublin, on 14 September 1915 and was…

Gibbons, Geraldine Henrietta (Mary Scholastica) (c.1817–1901), founder and first superior of the Community of the Good Samaritan, was born in Kinsale, Co. Cork, the daughter of Gerald Gibbons, a landowner, and Mary Gibbons (née Sughrue), niece of the bishop of Ferns. She…

Glennon, John Joseph (1862–1946), cardinal archbishop of St Louis, was born 14 June 1862 in Hardwood, Clonard, Co. Meath, the eldest of twelve children of Matthew Glennon, a farmer, and Catherine Glennon (née Rafferty). Educated initially at a local national school in Kinnegad, Co…

Griffith, Patrick Raymond (1798–1862), first catholic bishop of the Cape colony, was born in Limerick on 13 October 1798, to John Griffith and Honor Griffith (née Nealon). After his elementary education in Limerick, he joined the Dominican order. At sixteen years of age, he went…

Higgins, Henry Bournes (1851–1929), politician in Australia, was born 30 June 1851 in Newtownards, Co. Down, second of six sons in a family of nine children of John Higgins, a banker who became a methodist minister, and his wife Ann, daughter of Henry Bournes, landowner, of Crossmolina…

Hughes, Angela (1806–66), Sister of Charity, was born Ellen Hughes in Annaloghan, Co. Tyrone, one of seven children (four sons and three daughters) of Patrick Hughes and Margaret Hughes (née McKenna). In 1819, when aged 13, she emigrated with her family to Chambersburg,…

Keane, John Joseph (1839–1918), university rector and archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa, was born 12 September 1839 in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, the eldest of three sons and two daughters of Hugh Keane, tailor, and Fannie Keane (née Connolly). He attended school locally from the age of…

Kearney, Mother Kevin (1875–1957), pioneer Ugandan missionary sister and foundress of Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, was born 28 April 1875 in Knockenrahan, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, the third and youngest daughter of Michael Kearney, a farmer, and Teresa Kearney (née…

Kelly, Michael (1850–1940), catholic archbishop of Sydney, was born 13 February 1850 in Waterford, the son of James Kelly of Camlin Woods, New Ross, Co. Wexford, and Mary Kelly (née Grant) of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny. He was educated at the …

Lalor, Mother Teresa (Alice) (c.1769–1846), foundress of the Visitation nuns in the USA, was born in Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. While visiting Philadelphia in 1797, she and two widows, Mrs McDermott and Mrs Sharpe co-operated with Rev. Leonard Neale…

Lemass, Peter Aloysius (1933–88), priest, broadcaster, and writer, was born 22 June 1933 in Dublin, the youngest of three sons of Peter H. Lemass, dispensary doctor in Rathmines, and Mary J. Lemass (née Neary), both of Dublin. He was educated at Xavier School, Morehampton Road,…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Lynch, Clementine (Mary Scholastica). View the original entry.

Lynch, Clementine (Mary Scholastica) (1754–99), fifth abbess of the Ypres Benedictine convent, was born 16 June 1754 (place and parentage unknown). She entered the abbey school of the Benedictine nuns in Ypres, Flanders (then in the Austrian Netherlands) on 9 July 1764. She was…

Lynch, John Joseph (1816–88), catholic archbishop of Toronto, was born 6 February 1816 in Annynonum, in the Fermanagh part of Clones parish, son of schoolmaster James Lynch and Ann Lynch (née Connolly). He received his primary education at a school privately run by a…

Mac Grianna (Mhic Ghrianna), Róise (1879–1964), traditional Irish-language singer and storyteller, was born 13 March 1879 in Seascann an Róinn, near Dungloe (Clochán Liath), Co. Donegal, one of five children of Tomas Ó Colla, farmer, and his wife, Maighréad, a noted musician and the…

Maher, Anne (Mary Columba) (1777–1855), Dominican prioress, was born Anne Maher on 25 July 1777 at Dunore, near Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, one of ten children of James Maher, farmer, and Mary Maher (née Silk); she was a first cousin of the mother of Cardinal…

Manning, Timothy (1909–89), cardinal archbishop of Los Angeles, was born 15 October 1909 in Ballingeary, Co. Cork, son of Cornelius Manning, blacksmith, and his wife Margaret (née Cronin), both of Ballingeary. A native Irish-speaker, he was educated at Ballingeary national school…

Martin, Helen (Mary Gabriel) (c.1610–1673), founder and first abbess of the Poor Clare convent in Galway, was born in Galway. Although her exact parentage is unknown, the Martins were one of twelve Old English catholic mercantile and gentry families of Galway city,…