Biographies A-Z

Joyce, Margaret Alice (‘Poppie’; Sister Mary Gertrude) (1884–1964), Sister of Mercy and musician, was born 18 January 1884 at 41 Brighton Square West, Rathgar, Dublin, second eldest of ten surviving children (four sons and six daughters) of…

Joyce, Michael (1851–1941), sailor, Shannon pilot and MP, was born 4 September 1851 at Merchant's Quay, Limerick, the son of Richard Joyce, a Shannon pilot, and his wife Bridget (née Tubbs). His grandfather, John Joyce, had also been a Shannon pilot. Educated at the Christian Brothers'…

Joyce, Myles (1837?–1882), victim of a miscarriage of justice, was the second of three sons of Shaun Joyce of Cappanacreha, Co. Galway, a desolate and isolated townland in the parish of Ross in the Joyce Country bordering Co. Mayo. Myles Joyce, a small farmer at Cappanacreha, who…

Joyce, Patrick Weston (1827–1914), educationalist, historian, linguist, translator and collector of folk music, was born in Ballyorgan, Co. Limerick, one of the eight sons of Garrett Joyce, a shoemaker known locally as ‘Garrett the Scholar’ for his knowledge of poetry and religion, and…

Joyce, Pierce Charles (1878–1965), British army officer, was born 23 June 1878 in Galway, the son of Pierce John Joyce, JP and high sheriff of Galway, and Selina Henrietta Joyce (née Mahon), the daughter of Charles Mahon, JP and DL of Co. Mayo; there was also a younger brother who…

Joyce, Robert Dwyer (1830–83), doctor and poet, was born at Glenosheen, Co. Limerick, son of Garrett Joyce, a shoemaker, and his wife Elizabeth Joyce (née O'Dwyer) of Keale, Co. Limerick. Educated locally, he entered the service of the commissioners of national education and trained as…

Joyce, William (d. 1501), archbishop of Tuam, was the natural son of a priest. He succeeded Walter Blake, formerly canon of Tuam and Annaghdown, as archbishop on 16 May 1485. The papal letters of appointment stated that he was to assume the office ‘notwithstanding the defect in…

Joyce, William Brooke (‘Lord Haw-Haw’) (1906–46), fascist and propagandist, was born 24 April 1906 in Brooklyn, New York, the eldest of three sons of Michael Joyce, building contractor, and his wife, Gertrude (née Brooke), whose forebears were protestants from Cavan. Michael…

Joyce, William Henry (1849/50–1928), policeman and magistrate, was born in Urney, Co. Tyrone, youngest of seven children of John Joyce and Eliza Anne Joyce (maiden name unknown), resident at Beechmount, Ballycolman, Strabane, Co. Tyrone. His father was clerk of the crown for Co.…

Joy, Francis (1697–1790), notary, printer, paper manufacturer, and founder of the Belfast News Letter, was born in 1697 at Killead, Co. Antrim, the younger son of Richard Joy, a prosperous presbyterian farmer, and his wife Jane (née Ellis) of Carrickfergus. He settled in…

Joy, Henry (1766–1838), barrister and judge, was born 7 January 1766, the youngest of the four sons of Henry Joy (1720?–89), joint owner with his brother Robert Joy (qv) of the Belfast News Letter, and of his wife Barbara, elder…

Joy, Henry, jnr (1754–1835), newspaper proprietor and local politician, born 17 October 1754 at Belfast, was the eldest of the three sons of Robert Joy (qv), textile manufacturer and his wife, Grizell (née Rainey) of Magherafelt, Co.…

Joynt, Maud Anna Evans (1868–1940), Celtic scholar and linguist, was born 7 March 1868 at Woodberry House, Co. Roscommon, second daughter among six sons and four daughters of Christopher Joynt, then brigade surgeon, Bombay army (deputy surgeon, Indian army, on retirement), and Lily Anna…

Joynt, Richard Lane (1866–1928), orthopaedic surgeon, metallurgist, and X-ray pioneer, was born on 18 May 1866 at the Grange, Raheny, Co. Dublin, the sixth child of William Lane-Joynt (qv), a prominent barrister who served as crown and…

Joynt, William Lane (1824–95), barrister, politician and government official, was born on 26 December 1824 in Limerick city, the first son of William Persse Joynt, a merchant of Limerick city, and his wife Arabella (née Lane), the daughter of a doctor of Limerick city. Through his…

Joy, Robert (1722–85), printer, manufacturer, and philanthropist, was born probably in Belfast, second son of Francis Joy (qv), attorney, paper manufacturer, and printer, and Margaret Joy (née Martin). He was named for his maternal…

Judge, Michael (1921–2015), writer and teacher, was born on 26 July 1921, one of eight children of Michael Judge, a builder, and his wife Elizabeth (née Smith) at the family home at 189 Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra, Dublin. He was educated at the Irish-language school Coláiste Mhuire on…

Jukes, Joseph Beete (1811–69), geologist, was born 10 October 1811 in Summerhill near Birmingham, only son of John Jukes, button manufacturer, and Sophie Jukes. He was educated at Merchant Taylor's School, Wolverhampton, and King Edward VI's School, Birmingham, before…

Jupp, Peter (1940–2006), historian, was born in Hackney, London, on 20 August 1940, son of James Jupp and his wife Lillian (née Gray). His father, a bus driver, was a staunch Conservative while his mother, a school secretary, supported the Labour party; Jupp later recalled that his…

Jury, William (1805–1872), hotelier, was christened on 24 February 1805 in Milverton, Somerset, England, one of at least four children of John Jury and his wife Susannah (née Thomas). In 1827 he married Mary Ann Jagelman, and they would have three sons. Moving to Ireland, he worked at…