Geoghegan, Patrick M.

Costigan, Christopher (1810–35), explorer, was third son of Sylvester Costigan, distiller, of Thomas St., Dublin, and Catherine Costigan (née Fitzsimons or Fitzmont), formerly of Toddstown, Co. Meath. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College (1819–26) and, for a period, at…

Courtenay, Ellen (1802–c.1837), accuser of Daniel O'Connell (qv), was born in Co. Cork, daughter of a native of the county. In 1817, at the age of 15, she moved to Dublin, and the catholic bishop of Cork,…

Cox, Lemuel (1736–1806), engineer and mechanical innovator, was born in Boston, in the colony of Massachusetts. During the American war of independence he remained loyal to the British crown and was imprisoned at Ipswich on 29 December 1775. After his release he became a successful…

Coyle, Anthony (1728–1801), catholic bishop of Raphoe, poet, and antiquarian, was born in Listack, near Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, son of a farmer. Educated at the Irish college in Paris, he was expelled in his fourth year for various mischiefs, including writing a pamphlet…

Crampton, Philip Cecil (1782–1862), solicitor general, MP, and judge, was fourth son of the Rev. Cecil Crampton, rector of Headfort, and his wife Nicola Mary, daughter of the Rev. Jeremy Marsh. He entered TCD in 1797, becoming a scholar…

Crookshank, Alexander (1736–1813), lawyer and politician, was born 30 June 1736 in Dublin, eldest son of William Crookshank, attorney. Educated at Foyle College, he entered Middle Temple (1762) and was called to the Irish bar (1766), beginning a successful career as a barrister.…

Crosbie, John (1753–1815), landowner, MP, and 2nd earl of Glandore , was born 25 May 1753, second son among two sons and three daughters of William Crosbie (d. 1781), 1st earl of Glandore, and his wife Lady Theodosia (d. 1777), daughter of John Bligh, 1st earl of Darnley. Educated…

Crumpe, Samuel (1766–96), medical doctor and essayist, was born 15 September 1766, eldest of six children of Daniel Crumpe, of Barleymount, near Killarney, Co. Kerry, and Grace Crumpe (née Orpen). Deciding on a medical career, he entered the University of Edinburgh in 1785,…

Cullen, Mary Teresa (1866–1940), nun and founder of the magazine Virgo Potens, was born 27 August 1866, fourth child of Hugh Cullen, of Liverpool, and Elizabeth Cullen (née Leonard), of Co. Meath. She was the grand-niece of Cardinal …

Curran, John Philpot (1750–1817), politician and lawyer, was born 24 July 1750 at Newmarket, Co. Cork, eldest among five children of James Curran, farmer and steward to the manorial court at Newmarket, and Sarah Curran (née Philpot). Educated in grammar and the classics by…

Curtis, John (1794–1885), Jesuit provincial, was born 19 June 1794 at Tramore, Co. Waterford, second son among eight children of Stephen Curtis and Fanny Curtis (née Evers). Blind until the age of 3, he claimed that he was cured after a priest prayed over him, although he remained…

Cusack, Christopher (c.1560–1624), priest, was second son among two sons and three daughters of Robert Cusack, second baron of the exchequer, and his second wife, Catherine, daughter of Sir Christopher…

Daly, Denis (1747–91), politician, was born 24 January 1747, the eldest son of James Daly of Carrownakelly and Dunsandle, Co. Galway, and his second wife, Catherine Daly, the fifth daughter of Sir Ralph Gore (qv). Educated by a private…

Daly, Denis Bowes (c.1745–1821), politician, was born in Dalystown, near Loughrea, Co. Galway, the eldest son of Hyacynth Daly and his wife, Rose Daly, of Raford, Co. Galway. Educated by the Rev. Benson in Dublin, he entered TCD…

Daly, Richard (1758–1813), theatrical manager, was born in Co. Galway, second son of Joseph Daly, a prosperous farmer. He entered TCD in 1773, but there is no record of his taking a degree. A reckless and violent character, he was said…

Davies, Christian (alias ‘Mother’ Ross, Kit ‘Kitty’ Cavenaugh) (c.1667–1739), female soldier and adventurer, was apparently born in Dublin, daughter of a brewer and maltster named Cavenaugh . It is difficult to establish the truth about her colourful career; most accounts…

Dawson, Arthur (1698–1775), lawyer, poet, and politician, was born 9 October 1698, the eldest son of Joshua Dawson (c.1660–1725), landowner and later MP for Wicklow borough (1705–14), and his wife, Anne Dawson (née Carr). He was educated by Dr Jones in Dublin, and then…

Dawson, George Robert (1790–1856), politician, was born 24 December 1790 at Rutland Square, Dublin, second but eldest surviving son among six sons and five daughters of Arthur Dawson (1745–1822) of Castledawson, Dublin banker and politician, and his wife Catherine, daughter of…

Denny, Sir Barry (c.1741–1794), 1st baronet, politician, was the second son of four sons and two daughters of the Rev. Barry Denny, of Ballyvelly, provost of Tralee, Co. Kerry, and his wife, Jane Denny (née O'Connor), the daughter, and eventual heir, of the Rev. Maurice O…

Denny, Sir Edward (1796–1889), MP and hymn-writer, was born 2 October 1796 in Dublin, eldest son of Sir Edward Denny, 3rd baronet, of Tralee Castle, Co. Kerry, and Elizabeth Denny, daughter and heir of Robert Day, MP. Educated at Eton, and later Exeter College, Oxford, he…

Derry, Valentine (b. c.1760–d. p.1806), United Irishman, soldier, and teacher. Nothing is known about his early life. His brother was Father Edmund Derry (c.1747–1819), parish priest of Clonduff and later catholic bishop of Dromore (1801–19). Valentine…

Dillon, Sir John Talbot (c.1740–1805), 1st baronet, politician, was born at Lismullen, Co. Meath, son of Arthur Dillon and his wife, Elizabeth Dillon (née Tilson); he was the grandson of Sir John Dillon, MP for Kells (1692–3) and Co. Meath (1695–9 and 1703–8). Little is…

Doggett, Thomas (c.1670–1721), actor and manager, was born at Castle St., Dublin, but little is known about his early life. An unsuccessful actor in Ireland (1684–8), he moved to England as a strolling player. At Drury Lane he played Solon in the first performances of ‘The…

Doherty, John (1783–1850), politician and chief justice of the common pleas, was second son of John Doherty, attorney, of Aungier St., Dublin, and his wife Margaret, daughter of David Verner. Educated at Chester School, he entered TCD…

Dooley, James Thomas (1877–1950), New South Wales premier, was born 26 April 1877 at Carrick Crean, Co. Longford, fourth son of Thomas Dooley, farmer, and Elizabeth Dooley (née O'Connor). The family emigrated to Australia when James was a child, landing in Brisbane on 1 August…