Ferriter, Diarmaid

Brenan, Martin (1901–82), priest and academic, was born 23 August 1901 at Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, one of five children of John Brenan, a labourer, and Kate Brenan (née Butler). After studying at Maynooth College he was ordained a priest of the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin in…

Clery, William Edward (c.1861–1931), writer and trade unionist, was born in Ireland in 1861 or 1862, son of John and Helen Clery. In 1877 he emigrated with his parents to London, penniless, and in 1878 entered the civil service, becoming a second-class inland sorter at the…

Cullen, James Aloysius (1841–1921), Jesuit priest and temperance reformer, was born 23 October 1841 in New Ross, Co. Wexford, the eldest of five sons and three daughters of James Cullen, a businessman, and Mary Cullen (née Bolger). He was educated locally by the Christian Brothers…

D'Alton, John Francis (1882–1963), cardinal and classical scholar, was born on 11 October 1882 in Claremorris, Co. Mayo, son of Joseph D'Alton, a shopkeeper, and Mary D'Alton (née Brennan). He was a nephew of the antiquary and dean of Tuam Monsignor Edward Alfred D'Alton,…

Deeny, James Andrew (1906–94), medical doctor and public health official, was born 7 November 1906 in North Street, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, one of three children of Michael Deeny, doctor, and Jane Margaret Deeny (née Donnelly); his sister Sheelagh and brother Donnell also became…

De Paor, Máire (1925–94), archaeologist, was born 6 May 1925 in Buncrana, Co. Donegal, second child among four children (one son and three daughters) of Eamonn (Ned) McDermott , grocer, and Delia McDermott (née McVeigh), teacher; both parents were veterans of the republican…

De Valera, Ruaidhrí (1916–78), archaeologist, was born 3 November 1916 in Dublin, fourth son among five sons and two daughters of Éamon de Valera (qv) and Sinéad de Valera (qv) (née…

Dignan, John (1880–1953), priest and bishop of Clonfert, was born 13 June 1880 at Ballygar, Co. Galway, son of Thomas Dignan, farmer, and Sarah Dignan (née Kelly). He was educated at Esker College, Loughrea, and St Patrick's College, Maynooth, was ordained a priest (6 September…

Donnellan, Michael (‘Mick’) (1900–64), politician and GAA footballer, was born in Dromore, Co. Galway, the eldest of four children (two boys and two girls) of a local farmer. After being educated at the local national school and St Jarlath's College, Tuam, Co. Galway, he worked…

Downey, Richard Joseph (1881–1953), catholic archbishop of Liverpool, was born in Kilkenny on 5 May 1881, the eldest of three children and the only son of Thomas Downey, a chemist, and his wife, Minnie Downey (née Casey). He was educated at the…

Drumm, Máire (1919–76), republican, was born 22 November 1919 in Killean, Newry, Co. Down, eldest among four children of Thomas McAteer (described as a ‘dealer’) and Margaret McAteer (née Brown). She attended the local national school and subsequently a convent grammar school in…

Duff, Francis Michael (‘Frank’) (1889–1980), founder of the Legion of Mary, was born 7 June 1889 in Dublin, elder son among two sons and five daughters of John Duff, a civil servant with the local government board, and Susan Letitia Duff (née Freehill), a civil servant with the…

Dunne, Seán (1919–69), republican and labour activist, was born in Waterford city, youngest of three children of Michael Dunne, member of the RIC, and Brigid Dunne, and was educated at the CBS…

Dunn, Joseph (1930–96), priest and television documentary-maker, was born 11 May 1930 in Sandymount, Dublin, fourth in a family of three daughters and two sons of Paul Dunn, senior partner in a wholesale fish business, and Sylvia Dunn (née May), a catholic convert and insurance…

Ellmann, Richard (1918–87), literary historian and critic, was born 15 March 1918 in Highland Park, Michigan, USA, son of James Isaac Ellmann and Jeanette Ellmann (née Barsook). Ellmann was educated at Highland Park school and Yale University, where he was awarded a…

Everett, James (1890–1967), Labour politician and trade unionist, was born 14 February 1890 in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, a son of Robert Everett, a small farmer and waiter, and Margaret Everett (née Doyle). He had one brother and a sister and attended the local national school in…

Fahy, Francis Patrick (‘Frank’) (1879–1953), politician and Irish-language activist, was born 23 May 1879 at Glenatallan, Kilconickny, Loughrea, Co. Galway, eldest among five sons and two daughters of John Fahy, teacher, and Maria Fahy (née Jones). After receiving initial education at…

Farrell, Michael James (1899–1962), writer, was born in Carlow, one of at least seven children (four boys and three girls) of James Farrell, an ironmonger, and his wife Mary Agnes (née Brophy). He was educated at Knockbeg College, becoming an enthusiastic student of the classics, and…

Fay, William George (‘Wille’) (1872–1947), actor and producer, was born 12 November 1872 at Rathmines, Dublin, one of four children of William Patrick Fay, a government clerk, and his wife, Martha (née Dowling), from a midlands farming family. After teaching for a time at the Model…

Fisher, Joseph Robert (1855–1939), journalist and unionist, was born in Raffrey, Co. Down, youngest among three sons and one daughter of the Rev. Ringland Fisher, presbyterian minister and his wife Sarah, née English. He was educated at the…

FitzGerald, Desmond (1911–87), architect, was born 5 November 1911 at Saint-Jean-du-Doigt (Finisterre) in Brittany, France, eldest of four sons of Desmond FitzGerald (qv), writer and future minister for external affairs in…

Fitzmaurice, George (1877–1963), playwright, was born 28 January 1877 at Bedford House, near Listowel, Co. Kerry, tenth among twelve children (seven daughters and five sons), half of whom died in infancy and none of whom married, of George Fitzmaurice, clergyman and farmer, and his…

Flanagan, Edward Joseph (1886–1948), catholic priest and founder of Boys Town, was born 13 July 1886 at Ballymoe, Co. Roscommon, son of John Flanagan, herdsman, and Nora Flanagan (née Larkin). One of eleven children, he was first educated at a local school, Drimatample, and…

Flanagan, Oliver Joseph (1920–87), politician and catholic lay activist, was born 22 May 1920 in Mountmellick, Co. Laois, eldest of three sons of Charles Flanagan, stonemason, and Mary Flanagan (née Kelly); of his brothers, Ted became a carpenter and Charles a missionary priest.…

Flanagan, Seán (1922–93), GAA footballer and politician, was born 26 January 1922 in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, second eldest child among four sons and two daughters of Stanislaus Flanagan, national school teacher, and Ann Flanagan (née Spelman). He was educated at St Jarlath's…