Deeny, James Andrew
Deeny, James Andrew (1906–94), medical doctor and public health official, was born 7 November 1906 in North Street, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, one of three children of Michael Deeny, doctor, and Jane Margaret Deeny (née Donnelly); his sister Sheelagh and brother Donnell also became…...
Deevy, Teresa
Deevy, Teresa (1894–1963), playwright, was born 21 January 1894 at her parents' residence in Passage Road, Waterford, youngest of thirteen children of Edward Deevy, a successful draper, originally from Ballycloyne, Co. Kilkenny, and Mary Deevy (née Feehan), also of Co. Kilkenny. Her…...
De Nógla, Éadbhard
De Nógla, Éadbhard (fl. c.1710–c.1792), Irish-language poet and tailor, was probably born in Cork city, son of the Jacobite lawyer Patrick Nagle. His mother's name is unknown. His father was originally from the area between Mallow and Fermoy and was a close friend of…...
Denvir, John
Denvir, John (1834–1916), author, journalist, publisher, and Fenian, was born in Bushmills, Co. Antrim, eldest son of James Denvir, clerk, of Ballywalter, Lecale, Co. Down, and Margaret ‘Peggy’ Denvir (née O'Loughlin) of Ballymagenaghy, Co. Down. Although born in Ireland while his…...
Despard, Charlotte
Despard, Charlotte (1844–1939), suffragist, nationalist, socialist, and writer, was born 15 June 1844 in Ripple Vale, Kent, the third daughter of Captain John Tracey William French RN, a relative of the Frenches of Co. Roscommon, and Margaret French…...
Devenish, John James
Devenish, John James (c. 1669–1739), military officer, was born to William Devenish of Curraghnegoole, near Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, and his wife Eleanor (née O’Conor Roe) of nearby Cloonfree, near Strokestown. His grandfather was George Devenish, a catholic Dublin merchant…...
De Vere, Aubrey Thomas
De Vere, Aubrey Thomas (1814–1902), poet and author, was born 10 January 1814 at Curragh Chase, Co. Limerick, the third son in a family of five sons and three daughters of Aubrey Thomas Hunt, afterwards Sir Aubrey de Vere (qv), 2nd…...
De Vere, Sir Stephen Edward
De Vere, Sir Stephen Edward (1812–1904), polemicist, poet, and country gentleman, was born 26 July 1812 at Curragh Chase, parish of Adare, Co. Limerick, second son of Sir Aubrey de Vere (qv) and Mary de Vere (née Spring-Rice…...
Devlin, Denis
Devlin, Denis (1908–59), diplomat and poet, was born 15 April 1908 in Greenock, Scotland, oldest of nine children of…...
Dillon, Eilís
Dillon, Eilís (1920–94), writer, was born 7 March 1920 in Galway city, third among five children of Thomas Dillon (qv), professor of chemistry at University College Galway (UCG), and his wife Geraldine (1891–1986), daughter of…...
Dillon, Theobald
Dillon, Theobald (d. 1625?), 1st Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen, administrator and landowner, was the third son of Thomas Dillon of Ardnecragh in the barony of Kilkenny West, Co. Westmeath, and his wife Margery, daughter of Sir Christopher Dillon of Kilmore. His family was…...
Dirrane, Bridget (née Gillan)
Dirrane, Bridget (née Gillan) (1894–2003), nurse, centenarian and memoirist, was born 15 November 1894 in Oatquarter in the townland of Kilmurvey on Inishmore, one of the Aran islands, Co. Galway, the youngest of four boys and four girls born to Joseph Gillan, who wove flannel cloth…...
Diver, Bridget
Diver (Divers, Deaver, Deavers, Devens, Devins, Devan), Bridget (‘Irish Biddy’, ‘Michigan Bridget’) (fl. 1861–4), vivandière and ‘daughter’ of the First Michigan Cavalry regiment, was born in Ireland sometime before 1840. It has been suggested that the ‘Michigan Bridget’ legend…...
Dongan (D'Unguent), Thomas
Dongan (D'Unguent), Thomas (1634–1715), 2nd earl of Limerick , soldier and first governor of New York, was third son of Sir John Dongan, baronet, of Castletown Kildrought (Celbridge), Co. Kildare, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir William Talbot, baronet, of Carton, and niece of…...
Donnelly, Charles Patrick
Donnelly, Charles Patrick (1914–37), poet and republican, was born 10 July 1914 at Killybrackey House, Killybrackey, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, eldest son among six sons and two daughters of Joseph Donnelly, cattle-breeder, shopkeeper, and landlord, and Rose Donnelly (née McCaughey),…...
Dowling, Richard
Dowling, Richard (1846–98), writer, was born 3 June 1846 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, only son of David Jeremiah Dowling (d. c.1855), schoolmaster, and Margaret Dowling. His father died when he was 9 years old. He was educated in Clonmel, Waterford, and St Munchin's Jesuit…...
Downing, Ellen Mary Patrick
Downing, Ellen Mary Patrick (1828–69), poet, was born 19 March 1828 in Cork, the daughter of J. B. Downing, resident medical officer at the Cork Fever Hospital, where her mother served as matron. After making her first communion in St Patrick's church, Cork, she added Patrick to…...
Doyle, Maurice Francis
Doyle, Maurice Francis (1931–2009), civil servant and governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, was born 14 December 1931, the only son of Valentine Doyle, builder, and his wife Agnes (née O'Growney), of 212 Collins Avenue, Drumcondra, Dublin. Educated at O'Connell School, North Richmond…...
Drummond, John
Drummond, John (1649–1715), earl and titular duke of Melfort , statesman, diplomat, and art connoisseur, was second son of James, 3rd earl of Perth, and his wife Anne, eldest daughter of the 2nd marquis of Huntly. His elder brother, James, became 4th earl of Perth. Drummond's…...
Duffy, Bernard Joseph
Duffy, Bernard Joseph (1882–1952), barrister, playwright, and novelist, was born 19 June 1882 at Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, son of James Joseph Duffy, general merchant, and Mary Anne (Maryann) née McEntagart. Educated at Viscount Weymouth Grammar School, Carrickmacross, and…...
Dulanty, John Whelan
Dulanty, John Whelan (1883–1955), diplomat, was born at 9 Great Newton Street, Newton, Manchester, on 11 May 1881, the youngest of four children of John Dulanty (born 1844) (at the time spelt ‘Delanty’ and ‘Dulinty’), a builder's labourer from Templemore, Co. Tipperary, and his…...
Dunne, Seán Christopher
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…...
Eccles, Charlotte O'Conor
Eccles, Charlotte O'Conor (1864/5–1911), journalist and novelist, was born in Ballingard House, Co. Roscommon, fourth and oldest surviving daughter of Alexander O'Conor Eccles, justice of the peace and founder of the Roscommon Messenger (1848–1935), a home rule newspaper.…...
Esmonde, Sir Osmond Thomas Grattan
Esmonde, Sir Osmond Thomas Grattan (1896–1936), 12th baronet, diplomat and politician, was born 4 April 1896 at Ballynastragh, Co. Wexford, one of five children of Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde (qv) and his wife…...
Fagan, Sir John
Fagan, Sir John (1843–1930), surgeon and inspector of reformatory and industrial schools, was born 16 July 1843 at Lismacaffrey, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath, the eldest son of James Fagan, esq. Educated at St Vincent's College, Castleknock, Co. Dublin (1858–61), and the Catholic…...