Abell, Abraham
Abell, Abraham (1783–1851), antiquary and public figure at Cork, was born 11 April 1783 in Pope's Quay, Cork, son of Richard Abell, a quaker merchant. Abraham Abell too was a merchant, but he is to be remembered for his prominence in voluntary bodies, both cultural and…...
Abernethy, William
Abernethy, William (1864–1930), professional photographer, was the son of Robert Abernethy, farmer, from Comber, Co. Down. Details of his early life are lacking, even in obituaries published in the Belfast press. He learned his trade in Belfast, in the studio of a successful…...
Acton, Charles
Acton, Charles (1914–99), music critic, was born Ball-Acton (but changed the former surname by deed poll in 1939) on 25 April 1914 in Iron Acton near Bristol, Somerset, England, into a family that can be traced back to the twelfth century, and with an estate (till 1944) at Kilmacurragh…...
Adair, Patrick
Adair, Patrick (c.1624–1694), presbyterian minister and historian, was the third son of John Adair, of Genoch in Galloway. He graduated from the University of St Andrews in 1642 and proceeded in 1644 to study divinity in the University of Glasgow. When licensed he travelled to…...
Adams, Michael
Adams, Michael (1937–2009), publisher and catholic activist, was born in Dublin on 22 June 1937, eldest of three children (two boys and a girl) of Francis Adams, cattle dealer, victualler and JP for Co. Fermanagh, and his wife Mary or Maud (née Atteridge), a protestant and daughter…...
Adams, Ronald James (Ronnie)
Adams, Ronald James (Ronnie) (1916–2004), racing driver and businessman, was one of the last of a generation of successful amateur gentleman drivers, and was well known in his native Ulster. He was born in Belfast on 8 March 1916, only son of James Adams and his Scottish wife Sarah…...
Adderley, Thomas
Adderley, Thomas (1715–91), landowner, MP, and entrepreneur, the only son of two children of Francis Adderley, Cork landowner, and Elizabeth Adderley (née Fowkes), was educated at TCD (BA 1735,…...
Adomnán
Adomnán (c.624–704), son of Rónán, was 9th abbot of Iona (679–704), biographer of Colum Cille, and saint in the Irish tradition. According to the genealogies, he was son of Rónán son of Tinne, one of the Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill, and a kinsman of…...
Áed
Áed (d. 598), son of Ainmere and overking of Uí Néill, belonged to Cenél Conaill, one of the leading dynasties of Uí Néill. His father Ainmere (qv) (d. 569), a first cousin of Colum Cille (…...
Áed Abrat
Áed Abrat (‘of the eyelid’) (d. 577), son of Eochu Tírmchárna and overking of Connacht, features as an ancestor of the Uí Briúin Aí dynasty of Co. Roscommon from which the later Ua Conchobair kings of Connacht claimed descent. His pedigree, however, is dubious, with elements…...
Áed Allán
Áed Allán (d. 743), son of Fergal and king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty. His father, Fergal (qv) son of Máel-dúin, king of Tara, was slain by the Leinstermen in 722. His mother was probably a daughter of Ernán, a Cenél…...
Áedán
Áedán (c.534–606/9), son of Gabrán and king of Dál Riata, belonged to the lineage of Cenél nGabráin and had at least one brother, Éoganán (d. 597). His father, Gabrán son of Domangart, reigned as king of Dál Riata c.538–558. His mother, said to have been Fedelm…...
Áed Bennán
Áed Bennán (‘of the spiked helm’?) (d. 619/21), son of Crimthann and overking of Munster, belonged to the dynasty of Éoganacht Locha Léin (centred in mid Co. Kerry). Áed supposedly had two brothers, Áed Finn and Áed Damán, which suggests genealogical confusion. It is said that he…...
Áed Dub
Áed Dub (‘black [haired]’) (d. 588), son of Suibne Araide and overking of Ulaid, belonged to the Dál nAraide dynasty of the Ulster Cruthin. He emerged as king of Dál nAraide after the battle of Móin Dairi Lothair (563), in which the Uí Néill severely defeated the Cruthin.…...
Áed Findliath
Áed Findliath (‘light-grey’) (d. 879), son of Niall and king of Tara, belonged to the Northern Uí Néill dynasty of Cenél nÉogain. His father, Niall Caille (qv), previously king of Tara, died in 846. His mother, Gormlaith, was a daughter of…...
Áed Menn
Áed Menn (‘stammering’) (d. 738), son of Colcu, king of south Leinster and contender for overkingship of the province, was a member of the Síl Cormaic lineage of Uí Chennselaig. His father Colcu (d. 722) had held the relatively minor kingship of Ard Ladrann, the caput of…...
Áed Oirdnide
Áed Oirdnide (d. 819), son of Niall and king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty. His father, Niall Frossach (qv), was king of Tara until his abdication c.770. His mother Dunlaith was a daughter of…...
Áed Rón
Áed Rón (‘seal[-like]’) (d. 735), son of Bécc Bairrche and overking of Ulaid, was a member of the Cenél Demmáin lineage of Dál Fiatach. His father Bécc Bairrche (qv), was previously king of Ulaid (east Ulster), having abdicated in 707.…...
Áed Sláine
Áed Sláine (d. 604), son of Diarmait and king of Tara, belonged to the Uí Néill dynastic confederation and was ancestor of the Síl nÁedo Sláine (‘the seed of Áed of Slane’) dynasty of Brega. It is probably significant that the leading dynasties of what became the Southern Uí…...
Áed Uaridnach
Áed Uaridnach (d. 612), son of Domnall and king of Tara, belonged to Cenél nÉogain, a dynasty of Uí Néill. Originally accorded the epithet Allán or Ollán, the meaning of which is uncertain, Áed was dubbed Uaridnach (martial or war-like) by Middle Irish…...
Aiken, Francis Thomas (‘Frank’)
Aiken, Francis Thomas (‘Frank’) (1898–1983), farmer, revolutionary, and politician, was born 13 February 1898 in Carrickbracken, Camlough, Co. Armagh, seventh child and youngest son of James Aiken, farmer and builder from Co. Tyrone, and Mary Aiken (née McGeeney), of Corromannon,…...
Aiken, Jim
Aiken, Jim (1932–2007), music promoter and businessman, was one of seven or eight children born to Joseph Aiken and his wife Annie (née Fagan), and was raised on the family farm in Jonesborough, Co. Armagh, close to the border. After completing his secondary education, he studied…...
Aiken, (Mary) Maud
Aiken, (Mary) Maud (1898–1978), musician, was born 13 August 1898 in Dublin, younger of two daughters of John J. Davin , grocer and alderman, and Mary Davin (née O'Gara). In 1914 she entered the Royal Irish Academy of Music and was awarded the Coulson scholarship (1914), the Coulson…...
Ailill Molt
Ailill Molt (‘ram[-like]’) (d. 482), son of Nath Í, king of Connacht and putatively king of Tara, was an early representative of the Uí Fhiachrach dynasty of Connacht. His father, Nath Í son of Fiachra, is claimed by Middle Irish sources to have been king of Tara. His mother is…...
Ainmere
Ainmere (d. 569), son of Sétnae and putatively king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél Conaill dynasty of Uí Néill. His father Sétnae is credited with six sons, but none of the others achieved any distinction. According to the ‘Banshenchas’ (lore of women), Ainmere married Brigit,…...