Biographies A-Z

Dunlop, William Joseph (‘Joey’) (1952–2000), racing motorcyclist, was born 25 February 1952 at Unshinagh, near Dunloy, Co. Antrim, second among seven children of William Dunlop, motor mechanic, and his wife May (née Barkley). Joey received his early education at Ballymoney High School,…

Dunne, Bernard (‘Ben’) (1908–83), businessman, was born in Rostrevor, Co. Down, elder son and second among three children of Barney Dunn (d. 1949) of Rostrevor and Margaret Dunn (née Byrne) of Kilkenny. Although Barney Dunn inherited the Woodside Restaurant Temperance Refreshment…

Dunne, Eithne (1919–88), actress, was born 30 October 1919 in Market St., Belfast, daughter of Patrick Dunne, case maker, and Mary Dunne (née McDonnell). She began her theatrical career with the Abbey school of acting and established herself as a versatile performer alongside…

Dunne, James (‘Fairy’) (c.1841–1927), horse-racing trainer, was son of James Dunne, farmer (details of his mother are not known), and was initially apprenticed as a jockey to Peter Davis of Hawthorn Lodge, and subsequently to …

Dunne, James (‘Jimmy’) (1905–49), soccer player, was born 3 September 1905 in Ringsend, Dublin, son of Thomas Dunne, bottle blower of 18 Cambridge Street, Ringsend, and Catherine Dunne (née Shea). He began his soccer career with local Ringsend teams Parkview and Riverside Athletic.…

Dunne, John (‘Tull’) (1911–90), Gaelic footballer, coach, and administrator, was born 26 December 1911 in Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, the son of William Dunne, carpenter, and his wife, Katie, née Donelan. He was educated in the local Christian Brothers’ school before…

Dunne, Michael (‘Mick’) (1929–2002), GAA broadcaster and journalist, was born 27 May 1929 in Clonaslee, Co. Laois, one of two sons of Francis Dunne, insurance agent, and Agnes Dunne (née Foley), schoolteacher. Educated at Clonaslee national school and Knockbeg College, Co. Carlow,…

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…

Dunne, Seán Christopher (1956–95), poet, editor, and journalist, was born 30 May 1956 at Belleville nursing home, Waterford, son of Richie Dunne, factory worker, and Maureen Dunne (née Walshe). His father and a housekeeper, Tessie Ryan, looked after the family after his mother…

Dunning, Gertrude Frances (née Hayes; other married name Talbot Power) (1856–1926), philanthropist, was born on 29 March 1856 in St Patrick’s parish in Cork city, the only child of Thomas Hayes (1820/21–12 Aug. 1905) and his wife Margaret (née Ryan) of Grenville House,…

Dunn, James (1700–73), wine and porter merchant, of Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin, first presbyterian to represent Dublin city in parliament since the 1650s, was eldest son of William Dunn (1672–1715), merchant of Belfast. James Dunn became free of the Dublin guild of merchants (…

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…

Du Noyer, George Victor (1817–69), antiquarian, geologist, and artist, was probably born in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, the eldest son of Louis Victor du Noyer, a teacher of French and music, and his wife, Margaret du Bédat, who ran a school for young ladies. Both parents were of Huguenot…

Dunphie, Charles James (1820–1908), poet, author, and art critic, was born 4 November 1820 at Rathdowney House, Rathdowney, Queen's Co. (Laois), elder son of Michael Dunphy, merchant, and Kate Dunphy (née Woodroffe). He attended TCD…

Dunphy, Sean (1937–2011), showband and cabaret singer, was born John Michael Dunphy on 30 November 1937 in the family home at 17 London Bridge Road, Irishtown, Dublin, son of Patrick Dunphy, a plasterer, and Mary Dunphy (née Farrell). Following his father into a building trade, he…

Dunseith, David Lumsden (1934–2011), policeman and broadcaster, was born on 2 October 1934 in Derry city, the eldest child of Robert Dunseith, a flour miller, and his wife Mary Dunseith (née Lumsden), formerly a factory worker. David grew up in the protestant Waterside area of Derry…

Dun, Sir Patrick (1642–1713), physician and benefactor, was born January 1642 in Aberdeen, Scotland, and baptised there 13 January 1642, third child and second son among at least three sons and four daughters of Charles Dun (d. 1652), dyer and burgess of the city, and his second…

Dunville, John (1866–1929), balloonist, was born 20 October 1866 in Redburn, near Holywood, Co. Down, the son of Robert Grimshaw Dunville, a noted Belfast distiller, and Janie Dunville (née Chassie). He was heavily involved in sport as an enthusiastic cross-country rider and a…

Duquery, Henry (1749×1751–1804), barrister and MP, son of Henry Duquery of Dublin, was educated by the Rev. Thomas Ball in Dublin. He matriculated at TCD 8 July 1766, became a scholar (1769), and graduated…

Durnford, Anthony William (1830–79), colonel of Royal Engineers, was born 24 May 1830 at Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, eldest son of Capt. (later Gen.) Edward William Durnford, RE, and Elizabeth Rebecca Durnford (née…

Dwyer, Bernie (1943–2013), journalist, filmmaker and political activist, was born in Dublin on 14 December 1943 to Mary (née Fagan) and Arthur Hannon , a clerk at Dublin Corporation. She spent her early childhood in Drimnagh, before the family moved to Sutton, Co. Dublin. She left…

Dwyer, Michael (1772–1825), United Irishman, was born in Camara, west Wicklow, the eldest son of John Dwyer, a tenant farmer, and his wife, Mary (née Byrne). He had three brothers and three sisters. In 1784 the Dwyers moved to a small sheep farm at Eadestown in the remote and…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Dwyer, William James. View the original entry.

Dwyer, William James (1887–1951), industrialist and dáil deputy, was born 9 May 1887 in Cork city, second son among three sons and two daughters of Walter Dwyer of Sundays Well, Cork, merchant and later director and managing director of Dwyer & Co., and Clare Dwyer (née…

Dyke, Sir William Hart (1837–1931), MP, Conservative party chief whip, chief secretary for Ireland, and pioneer in lawn tennis and squash, was born 7 August 1837, second son of Sir Perceval Hart Dyke, of Lullingstone Castle, Kent, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Wells of…