Biographies A-Z

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Kent, John

Kent, John (c.1699–1778), Roman catholic priest, was born on the border of Co. Waterford and Co. Tipperary in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore about 1699. Nothing is known of his parents, but as his sister was described in 1759 as having ‘person, language, and…

Kent, John

Kent, John (1805–72), premier of Newfoundland, Canada, was born in Co. Waterford, but apart from the year and place of his birth there are no details about his early life. In 1820 he emigrated to Newfoundland, where he worked as a clerk in the office of his uncle, Patrick Morris.…

Kent, Richard

This is a co-subject for the entry on Kent (Ceannt), Thomas. View the original entry.

Kent, William

This is a co-subject for the entry on Kent, David (Ceannt, Dáithí). View the original entry.

Kenyon, John

Kenyon, John (1812–69), catholic priest and Young Irelander, was born at Thomond Gate, Limerick city, eldest son among three sons and three daughters of Patrick Kenyon, grocery and hardware merchant, and Mary Kenyon (née McMahon). One of five siblings to take religious vows, he…

K'Eogh, John

This is a co-subject for the entry on K'Eogh (Keogh), John. View the original entry.

Keogh, John

Keogh, John (1740–1817), silk merchant and catholic politician, was born probably in Dublin, the son of Cornelius Keogh (1708?–1774) and his wife, Abigail (1711?–1779). He served an apprenticeship, probably with the firm of the Dublin merchant Hugh O'Connor (d. 1783) in the Isle…

K'Eogh (Keogh), John

K'Eogh (Keogh), John (c.1650–c.1725), clergyman and scholar, was born at Cloonclieve (subsequently renamed Rivers), Co. Limerick, into an old Irish family, originally called Mac Eochaidh (Mac Eochodh), which lost its estates during the Cromwellian wars. The…

Keogh, Myles Walter

Keogh, Myles Walter (1840–76), soldier, was born 25 March 1840 at Orchard House, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, son of John Keogh, farmer, and Margaret Keogh (née Blancheville). Educated at the local school in Leighlinbridge, he may also have later attended St Patrick's College, Maynooth,…

Keogh, Doris (neé Cleary)

Keogh, Doris (neé Cleary) (1922–2012), flautist and teacher, was born on 16 April 1922 on Leeson Street, Dublin, the daughter of Victor-Louis Cleary, an insurance agent and sometime professional flute player of Rathgar, Dublin, and his wife Mary Elizabeth (née Hughes), who also had a…

Keogh, William Nicholas

Keogh, William Nicholas (1817–78), MP and judge, was born 17 December 1817 in Mary St., Galway city, eldest son of William Keogh, solicitor and clerk of the crown, and his wife Mary, daughter of Austin French of Rahoon, Co. Galway. After attending Dr Huddard's school on Mountjoy…

Keohane, Joseph Nicholas (‘Joe’)

Keohane, Joseph Nicholas (‘Joe’) (1918–88), Gaelic footballer, army officer, and republican, was born 18 August 1918 in Boherbee, Co. Kerry, son of John Keohane, sergeant in the Munster Fusiliers, and Babs Keohane (née Doocey). Educated at Tralee…

Keohler (Keller), Thomas Goodwin

Keohler (Keller), Thomas Goodwin (1873–1942), writer, company secretary and long-time friend of James Joyce (qv), was born in Belfast on 19 June 1873 to Joshua William Keohler, a methodist who was in the flour business, and…

Keon, Miles

Keon, Miles (1738?–p.1805), catholic gentleman, was born in or before 1738, a son of Gerald or Garret or George Keon (the records differ) and his wife Ellinor (née Dermott or MacDermott). The Keons were numerous in Co. Leitrim. A member of a protestant line, Robert Keon,…

Keon, Miles Gerald

This is a co-subject for the entry on Keon, Miles. View the original entry.

Kerins, Andrew (Brother Walfrid)

Kerins, Andrew (Brother Walfrid) (1840–1915), Marist brother and founder of Glasgow Celtic football club, was born 18 May 1840 at Ballymote, Co. Sligo, son of John Kerins, farmer, and Elizabeth Kerins (née Finn). Nothing is known of his life until he joined the Sligo Marist Brothers in…

Kerins, Charles

Kerins, Charles (1918–44), IRA chief of staff, was born 23 January 1918 at 5 Caherina, Tralee, Co. Kerry, son of Thomas Kerins, slater, and Johanna Kerins (née Griffin). Educated locally, he worked as an office clerk after leaving school and joined the…

Kerley, Sir Peter James

Kerley, Sir Peter James (1900–79), radiologist, was born 27 October 1900 at Park Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth, the fourth son and thirteenth child of Michael Kerley, grocer and egg exporter, and Matilda Kerley (née Henry). His maternal uncle…

Kernan, Edward

Kernan, Edward (1771?–1844), catholic bishop of Clogher, was born probably in 1771, the second or third son in the family of four sons and at least three daughters of Edward Kernan (d. 1796?) and his wife Anne (née McDonnell). The Kernans were prosperous catholics at Enniskillen,…

Kernan, Randal

Kernan, Randal (1774–1844), barrister and catholic politician, was born on 20 March 1774, youngest of the four sons of Edward Kernan (d. 1796?) of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, and his wife Anne (née McDonnell). The eldest son was Edward…

Kerney, Leopold Harding

Kerney, Leopold Harding (1881–1962), diplomat, was born 11 December 1881 in Dublin, youngest among nine children (two of whom died in childhood) of Philip Joseph Kerney, a well known journalist, sub-editor of the Dublin Daily Express and editor of the Weekly Irish Times…

Kernoff, Harry

Kernoff, Harry (1900–74), painter, was born 9 January 1900 in London, son of Isaac Kernoff, furniture-maker, of Russian-Jewish extraction, and Katherine Kernoff (née Bardanelle), a member of an old Spanish-Jewish family. Kernoff was apprenticed to his father as a cabinet-maker and…

Kerr, Cecil George

Kerr, Cecil George (1936–2010), clergyman, was born on 21 November 1936 in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, second of four sons of Hugh Kerr, a farmer at Culkey, near Bellanaleck, and Caroline Kerr (née Cathcart). He was educated in Enniskillen at Portora Royal School. Deciding to become…

Kerr, Robert

Kerr, Robert (1882–1963), athlete, was born on 8 June 1882 in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, the son of George and Rebecca Kerr; he had at least three sisters. He emigrated with his family to Canada in 1896, settling on a small farm near Hamilton, Ontario. He showed an early liking for…

Kerwin, Michael

Kerwin, Michael (1837–1912), soldier and Fenian, was born 15 August 1837 in Co. Wexford. Emigrating with his parents to Philadelphia in 1847, he was educated at a private academy in the city, before taking up apprenticeship as a lithographic printer. Picking up the rudiments of…