Biographies A-Z

Cainner (Cannera) (6th cent.?), foundress of Cluain Cláraid and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged to the old north Munster population group of Corcu Óchae. Despite a degree of genealogical confusion, it seems reasonable to identify her with Cainner daughter of Fintan. According…

Caintigern (Kentigerna) (d. 734), anchoress of Loch Lomond and saint in the Irish tradition, was daughter of Cellach Cualann (qv), Uí Máil overking of Leinster, but it is not clear which of his successive wives was her mother. She…

Cairell (d. 819), son of Fiachnae and overking of Ulaid, belonged to the Cenél Demmáin lineage of Dál Fiatach. His father, Fiachnae (qv) son of Áed Rón (qv), died as overking of Ulaid in 789. Cairell…

Cairnech (fl. 5th/6th cent.), a saint reputedly of Welsh or Cornish origin and known outside Ireland as Carannog, was probably born in the region of Cardigan (Dyfed) in south-west Wales, but his travels brought him into contact with places in Ireland, Cornwall, and…

Cairnes, David (1645–1722), defender of Derry, was born 15 November 1645. His father was either David Cairnes of Knockmany or John Cairnes of Parsonstown, both of Co. Tyrone; nothing is known of his mother. He had either one elder brother and two sisters, or at least three elder…

Cairnes, John Elliot (1823–75), economist, was born 26 September 1823 in Castlebellingham, Co. Louth, sixth child and eldest surviving son of William Cairnes, a prosperous brewer, and Marianne Cairnes, daughter of the Rev. William Woolsey. After six years in a boarding school in…

Cairnes, Sir Alexander (1665–1732), banker, MP for Monaghan, and keeper of the Phoenix Park, was son of John Cairnes of Parsonstown or Cehill, Co. Tyrone, MP for Augher 1639–40, and his wife Jane, daughter of James Miller, MD, of Lanarkshire,…

Cairnes, William Plunket (1857–1925), businessman and banker, was born 1 April 1857, eldest among four sons and three daughters of Thomas Plunket Cairnes (1830–94), DL, of Stameen, Co. Louth, and Monkstown Park, Co. Dublin, brewer and godson…

Cairns, Hugh McCalmont (1819–85), 1st Earl Cairns , lawyer and politician, was born 27 December 1819 in Belfast, second son of William Cairns, captain of the 47th Foot, of Cultra, Co. Down, and his first wife Rosanna (née Johnston) of Belfast. The family name, originating in…

Cairpre (fl. c.501?), putatively son of Niall and king of Tara, is the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél Cairpri. He may be regarded as a proto-historical figure; quite apart from his role as a dynastic ancestor, his inclusion in the seventh-century tract ‘Baile Chuinn’…

Cairpre (Corpre) Lifechair , son of Cormac and putatively king of Tara, is a pseudo-historical character and an ancestor-figure of the Connachta and Uí Néill. He is represented in genealogical tradition as a son of Cormac (qv) son of Art,…

Caitilín Dubh (fl. 1624–9), poet, lived in Thomond (present-day Co. Clare). She is the earliest woman poet for whom texts in the Irish language survive in quantity. Five of her elegies, in accentual (or stressed) caoineadh metre, are copied into Duanaire Uí Bhriain…

Caldbeck, William Francis (c.1824–1872), architect and civil engineer, was the son of Richard Caldbeck and grandson of John Frederick Caldbeck (d. 1848) of Moyle Park, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin; his mother's name is not known, but she is said to have been Roman catholic, and…

Caldwell, Andrew (1733–1808), barrister, politician, and social figure, was born on 19 December 1733, the first of three sons of Charles Caldwell (1707–76), solicitor to the commissioners of revenue and agent to Lord Bessborough, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Caldwell, Sir James. View the original entry.

Caldwell, Henry (1738–1810), soldier and administrator, was born at Castle Caldwell, near Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, fourth son among six sons and two daughters of Sir John Caldwell, landowner, and his wife Ann, daughter of Dean John Trench of Raphoe, Co. Donegal. He was educated locally…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Caldwell, Sir James. View the original entry.

This is a co-subject for the entry on Caldwell, Sir James. View the original entry.

Caldwell, John ('Johnny') (1938–2009), boxer, was born on 7 May 1938 at 63 Cyprus Street, Belfast, the son of John Caldwell, a joiner, and Bridget Caldwell (née Maguire). During his education at St Comghall's School, Divis Street, his diminutive stature attracted bullying, and at…

Caldwell, Sir James (c.1630–1717), 1st baronet, merchant, Williamite soldier, and landowner in Co. Fermanagh, was second son of John Caldwell, merchant, of Enniskillen, and his second wife, Mary (née Swettenham), from Chester. The family's wealth increased as James Caldwell…

Caldwell, Sir James (c. 1720–1784), 4th baronet, count of Milan, soldier, and author, was probably born at Castle Caldwell, Co. Fermanagh, eldest of six sons and two daughters of John Caldwell, a landowner, and his wife Ann, daughter of John Trench, dean of Raphoe. He was…

Calf, Elizabeth (b. a.1365, d. 1445), queen of Leinster, was a daughter of Robert Calf (or le Veel; fl. 1378), baron of Norragh, and a great-great niece of Walter Calf (qv), bishop of Leighlin. She was married in…

Calf (le Veel), Walter (d. 1332), bishop of Kildare, was almost certainly a son of Sir Walter Calf (d. a.1334), baron of Norragh, Co. Kildare, and a brother of William, who predeceased their father. The younger Walter was a great-great uncle of…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Callaghan, Gerard. View the original entry.

This is a co-subject for the entry on Callaghan, Gerard. View the original entry.