Biographies A-Z

Keane, John B. (1928–2002), writer, humorist, and publican, was born 21 July 1928 at Church St., Listowel, Co. Kerry, fourth child among five sons and four daughters of William Keane and Hannah Keane (née Purtill). The initial ‘B.’ stood for Brendan, a name taken on confirmation after…

Keane, John Joseph (1839–1918), university rector and archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa, was born 12 September 1839 in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, the eldest of three sons and two daughters of Hugh Keane, tailor, and Fannie Keane (née Connolly). He attended school locally from the age of…

Keane, Marcus (1815–83), land agent and antiquarian, was born on 7 February 1815, probably at the family seat of Beech Park, near Ennis, Co. Clare, the sixth son of thirteen children (eight boys and five girls) of Robert Keane (1774–1839), a landlord, land agent and JP, and his…

Keane, Mary Nesta (‘Molly’) (1904–96), writer, was born 20 July 1904 at Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, second daughter (among three sons and two daughters) of Walter Clarmont Skrine (c.1860–1930) and …

Keane, Maurice Ignatius ('Moss') (1948–2010), rugby and Gaelic footballer, was born on 27 July 1948 in Currow, near Castleisland, Co. Kerry, the eldest of three sons of Willie Keane and his wife Cassie (née O'Mahony), who were farmers. He was educated in Currow national school before…

Keane, Rita (1923–2009), traditional singer and musician, was born on 31 December 1923 in the townland of Carragh, Caherlistrane, Co. Galway, one of eight children (four daughters and four sons) of Matt Keane and his wife May (née Costello; d. 1978), who were farmers. Rita attended…

Keane, Sir John (1873–1956), 5th baronet, landowner, businessman, and Irish Free State senator, was born 3 June 1873, the son of Sir Richard Keane, 4th baronet, and his wife, Adelaide Keane (née Vance). The Keane baronetcy was conferred in 1801; in the late nineteenth century the…

Keane, Terry (1939–2008), socialite and journalist, was born Ann Teresa O'Donnell in Guildford, Surrey, England, on 9 September 1939, only child of Timothy O'Donnell, medical doctor, and his wife Ann, a bank official, both Irish-born. At the age of one, Terry was sent to Ireland to…

Keane, William (1805–74), catholic bishop and founder of Cobh cathedral, was born 7 April 1805 in Castlemartyr, Co. Cork; no details of his parents are known. At an early age he was sent to the Irish College in Paris to be educated and to study for the priesthood; he was ordained…

Kean, Marie (Ní Catháin, Máire) (1922–93), actress, was born 27 June 1922 in Rush, Co. Dublin, the daughter of John Kean, a ship's captain, and Margaret Kean (née Foley). Her interest in the theatre developed at an early age, when she attended shows given by travelling companies who…

Kean, Michael (1761–1823), miniaturist and owner of the Derby porcelain factory, was born in Dublin and educated at the Dublin Society's drawing school, established in 1746 to give instruction concentrating on figure- or life-drawing, drawing from the antique, and ornament-drawing…

Kearney, Barnabas (Ó Cearnaigh, Brian) (1567–1640), Jesuit priest and writer, was born 29 September 1567 at Cashel, Co. Tipperary, son of Patrick Kearney and Elizabeth Kearney (née Convey). His elder brother was David Kearney (qv), a…

Kearney, Charles (c.1745–1824), priest, was born in Cashel, Co. Tipperary. The name Charles may have been given in honour of Prince Charles Edward Stuart if he was born, as has been stated, in the year of the Young Pretender's rebellion, but nothing more is known of his…

Kearney, David (c.1558–1624), catholic archbishop of Cashel, was born in Cashel, son of Patrick Kearney and his wife Elizabeth (née Coney). He was appointed archbishop in May 1603, filling the vacancy created nineteen years previously by the execution of…

Kearney, Denis (1847–1907), labour activist in America, was born 1 February 1847 at Oakmount, Co. Cork, second son among seven children. Orphaned, he left home (1858) to go to sea, eventually reaching the rank of first officer on an American steamer. Ten years later he visited San…

Kearney, John (1741–1813), provost of Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and bishop of Ossory, was born in Co. Dublin, second son of Michael Kearney, surgeon-barber of Dublin; his mother's name is not known. He entered TCD as a student on 10 October 1757 at the age of fifteen, and was elected…

Kearney, John (Ó Cearnaigh, Seán) (c.1545–c.1587), translator, author of the first book in the Irish language to be printed in Ireland, was a native of Leyney, Co. Sligo. Details of his family background and early education are unknown, but he probably received…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Kearney, John. View the original entry.

Kearney, Mother Kevin (1875–1957), pioneer Ugandan missionary sister and foundress of Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, was born 28 April 1875 in Knockenrahan, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, the third and youngest daughter of Michael Kearney, a farmer, and Teresa Kearney (née…

Kearney, Peadar (1883–1942), revolutionary and song-writer, was born 12 December 1883 in Dorset St., Dublin, eldest of three sons and three daughters of John Kearney, grocer and businessman, and Katie Kearney (née McGuinness). Christened Peter Paul Kearney, he was educated at the…

Kearns, Mogue (d. 1798), catholic priest and insurgent, was born at Kiltealy, Co. Wexford. Ordained into the catholic priesthood (1786), he presumably studied in France, as he was in Paris just before the September massacres (1792), making his escape only after being caught by…

Keatinge, John (d. 1691), judge, was the younger of two sons of Edmund Keating of Narraghmore, Co. Kildare, and his wife Elinor Eustace. His elder brother was Oliver Keating (d. 1683). His maternal uncle was Sir Maurice Eustace (…

Keatinge, Maurice Bagenal St Leger (c.1761–c.1835), soldier, politician, and writer, was the only son of Maurice Keatinge (d. 1777), high sheriff of Co. Kildare (1774) and MP for Harristown (1776–7), and his wife, Catherine, daughter of Walter Bagenal of Dunleckney…

Keating, Geoffrey (Céitinn, Seathrún) (c.1580–1644), historian and catholic priest, was born in south Co. Tipperary, his approximate date of birth being surmised on the basis of his active working life. He may have been the third of seven sons of James fitz Edmund Keating of…

Keating, Justin Pascal (1930–2009), politician, veterinarian and television presenter, was born 7 January 1930 in a nursing home at 37 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, younger of two sons of Seán Keating (qv), artist, and…