White, Lawrence William

This is a co-subject for the entry on Courtney, Michael Aidan. View the original entry.

Courtney, Michael Aidan (1945–2003), catholic archbishop and Vatican diplomat, was born 5 February 1945 in Nenagh general hospital, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, youngest child among four sons and three daughters of Aloysius Daniel 'Louis' Courtney (see below), medical doctor, of 23 Summerhill…

Craig, Maurice James Waldron (1919–2011), architectural historian, writer and poet, was born 25 October 1919 at 11 University Square, Belfast, elder of two sons of James Andrew Craig, a leading ophthalmic surgeon, and Blanche Craig (née Alice Blanche Sara Waldron), an Englishwoman.…

Cruise, Jack (John Joseph) (1913–79), entertainer, was born 9 August 1913 in the family home at 14 Arranmore Avenue, Phibsborough, Dublin, third child and eldest son among four children of Michael Cruise, a hall porter, native of Essex, England, and Brigid Cruise (née O'Kelly), from…

Cullen, Denis (1886–1971), trade unionist and politician, was probably born 19 August 1886 at Seafield, Donabate, Co. Dublin (the family estate of John Hely Hutchinson (1836–1919)), son of John Cullen, a groom, and Anne Cullen (née Redmond). It is probable that he attended Artane…

Curtis, Lionel George (1872–1955), English public servant, writer, and political polemicist, was born 7 March 1872 in his mother's home at The Outwoods, Derbyshire, youngest among four children of Revd George James Curtis, rector of Coddington, Ledbury, Herefordshire, and Frances…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Davern, Owen Don Bosco (‘Don’). View the original entry.

Davern, Owen Don Bosco (‘Don’) (1935–68), politician and publican, was born 4 March 1935 on Main St., Cashel, Co. Tipperary, eldest of two sons and one daughter of Michael J. Davern, a shopkeeper, subsequently TD for Tipperary South, and Margaret (‘Greta’) Davern (née Ryan). His father…

Deakin, James Aubrey (1874–1952), Irish-language and republican activist, was born 19 June 1874 at Mount Auburn, Richmond Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, one of at least three sons and five daughters of James Deakin, commercial traveller, native of Birmingham, England, and Mary Anne Deakin (…

De Brún, Pádraig (Browne, Patrick) (1889–1960), priest, scholar, and academic administrator, was born 13 October 1889 in Grangemockler, Co. Tipperary, third child and second son among four sons and two daughters of Maurice Browne (1844–1911), a national school teacher from Cappoquin, Co…

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…

Delahunty, Michael (‘Mick’; ‘Mick Del’) (1915–92), musician and bandleader, was born 11 November 1915 at 13 Raheen Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, son of Michael Delahunty, private in the Royal Irish Regt, and Mary Delahunty (née Ahearne). Reared in Clonmel at 7 Glenagad Road, Old…

Delaney, Edward (1930–2009), sculptor, was born 1 August 1930 (registered as Edmund Vincent Delaney) at Farmhill, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, seventh among nine children of Patrick Delaney (d. 1955), a small farmer who also tended beehives and a wood mill on the estate of Lord Oranmore…

Dempsey, Jack (‘The Nonpareil’) (1862–95), world middleweight boxing champion, was born John Edward Kelly on 15 December 1862, near Clane, Co. Kildare, son of Martin Kelly and Alicia Kelly (née Lennon). In 1867, aged four, he emigrated with his family to America, where he attended…

Dhammaloka (Carroll, Laurence) (b. c.1856), Buddhist monk in Burma (Myanmar), was probably born in 1856 in south Co. Dublin, son of a grocer in Booterstown. All that is known of his life prior to his emergence as a public figure in colonial Burma in 1900 derives from his own…

Dillon, Michael (1915–62), physician, writer, Buddhist novice-monk and the first person known to surgically transition from female to male, was born Laura Maud Dillon on 1 May 1915 in Ladbroke Grove, London, England. Dillon was the second child of Robert Arthur Dillon (1865–1925),…

Dolan, Charles Joseph (1881–1963), politician and lawyer, was born 18 August 1881 in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, eldest of four sons of John Dolan, general merchant, and Bridget Dolan (née Fitzpatrick); he had at least one half-brother and one half-sister by his widowed father's…

Dolan, James Nicholas (1884–1955), politician, was born 16 October 1884 in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, third of four sons of John Dolan, general merchant, and Bridget Dolan (née Fitzpatrick); he had at least one half-brother and one half-sister by his widowed father's second…

Dolan, Joseph Francis Robert ('Joe') (1939–2007), pop singer, was born 16 October 1939 in the county hospital, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, youngest of eight surviving children (five boys and three girls; another boy had died in early childhood) of Patrick Dolan (c.1890–1950) and…

Donegan, Patrick Sarsfield (‘Paddy’, ‘P. S.’) (1923–2000), politician, farmer, publican, and businessman, was born 29 October 1923 at Monasterboice, Co. Louth, son of Thomas Francis Donegan, publican and farmer, and Rose Ann Donegan (née Butterly). He was educated at Fieldstown and…

Donnelly, Helen Ruth (‘Nellie’) Gifford (1880–1971), republican activist, was born 9 November 1880 at 26 Cabra Parade, Phibsborough, Dublin, fifth child and second eldest daughter among six daughters and six sons of Frederick Gifford (1835/6–1917), a well-to-do solicitor, and Isabella…

Dowling, Sheila (Sighle) (née Bowen ) (c.1896–1957), republican, socialist, trade unionist, and feminist, was a member of Cumann na mBan. During the war of independence she served as stenographer in dáil courts in north Dublin city, and worked for the republican solicitor…

Drew, Ronnie (Joseph Ronald Augustine) (1934–2008), folk singer, was born 16 September 1934 in 'Beaufort', Glasthule (Sandycove), Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, eldest of three sons and two daughters of Patrick ('Paddy') Drew, carpenter, and Margaret ('Peg') Drew (née Maher), a seamstress…

Dudley, Thomas (‘Bang Bang’) (1906–81), eccentric, was born on 13 February 1906 in the Rotunda hospital, Dublin. Raised in an orphanage in Cabra, he lived for much of his adult life on Mill Lane near The Coombe in the Liberties. Although he worked briefly as a kitchen porter in Rialto…

Duignan, Mary Ann (‘Chicago May’) (1871–1929), criminal and prostitute, was born c.26 December 1871 in Edenmore, Ballinamuck, Co. Longford, eldest among two daughters and three sons of Francis Duignan (1837–1930), farmer, and Anne Duignan (née Gray) (1852–1924); the pet name ‘…