Farquhar, George
Farquhar, George (1677?–1707), playwright, was born in Derry, son of an anglican clergyman (his parents’ names are unknown), and educated in Derry at the Free Grammar School under Ellis Walker. The details of Farquhar's life remain scanty, in spite of his fame, and modern scholars have…...
Farrell, James Gordon
Farrell, James Gordon (1935–79), novelist, was born 23 January 1935 in Liverpool, England, second of three sons of William Farrell, broker's clerk and accountant, and Josephine Farrell (née Russell), born in Ireland of an English timber dealer. He moved with his family to…...
Fitzgerald, (Fanny Louisa) Geraldine Penrose-
Fitzgerald, (Fanny Louisa) Geraldine Penrose- (1846–1939), novelist and catholic convert, was born 27 January 1846, youngest daughter of Robert Uniacke Penrose-Fitzgerald and his wife Frances Matilda (née Austen); she had at least three brothers and one sister. The Penrose-…...
Fox, William (‘Billy’)
Fox, William (‘Billy’) (1939–74), farmer and politician, was born in January 1939 in Cortubber, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, the only son of William Fox and his wife, Helen. He was educated at the local national school and Victor Weymount grammar school, Carrickmacross, and then worked…...
Franks, (Gertrude) Lucy
Franks, (Gertrude) Lucy (1878–1964), president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, was born 27 February 1878 in Westfield, Queen's Co. (Laois), daughter of Matthew Henry Franks, landowner, JP and DL…...
Gibbon, (William) Monk
Gibbon, (William) Monk (1896–1987), poet and writer, was born 15 December 1896 in Dundrum, Co. Dublin, son of Canon William Gibbon, a rural dean in Taney parish, Dundrum, and Agnes Gibbon (née Pollock), who had four children from a previous marriage. Gibbon was educated at St Columba's…...
Goldsmith, Oliver
Goldsmith, Oliver (1728–74), poet, essayist, dramatist, and novelist, was born 10 November 1728 at Pallas, Co. Longford (though 1729 and 1730 have also been suggested for the year of his birth, and Lissoy, Co. Westmeath, for its location) He was the second of five sons (and three…...
Graves, Alfred Perceval
Graves, Alfred Perceval (1846–1931), writer, folklorist, and schools inspector, was born 22 July 1846 at 12 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, the second son of nine children of Charles Graves (qv), clergyman and mathematician, and Selina…...
Graves, Clotilde Inez Mary (‘Richard Dehan’)
Graves, Clotilde Inez Mary (‘Richard Dehan’) (1863–1932), novelist, dramatist, and journalist, was born 3 June 1863 at Buttevant barracks, Co. Cork, the third daughter of Major W. H. Graves and Antoinette Graves (née Deane). Her father was a cousin of the journalist and critic…...
Greene, Juan Nassau
Greene, Juan Nassau (1918–79), farmer and medical doctor, was born 19 September 1918 in Argentina, third son and fifth child of John Nassau Greene (1890–1973), native of Kilkea, Castledermot, Co. Kildare, and Annie Kathleen Greene (née Jackson) (1888/9–1973), third daughter of…...
Grierson (Crawley), Constantia
Grierson (Crawley), Constantia (c.1705–1732), editor, scholar, and one of Swift's female literary circle, was born Constantia Crawley in Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, into a poor family. Little is known of her early life or education, save from the memoirs of her friend…...
Groves, Edward Kelly
Groves, Edward Kelly (1776/7–c.1854), clergyman, writer, and political activist, was born in Dublin, son of James Groves, attorney, and Grace Groves (née Kelly). Educated initially by private tutor, he entered TCD (January 1790…...
Gwynn, Stephen Lucius
Gwynn, Stephen Lucius (1864–1950), man of letters, politician, and soldier, was born 13 February 1864 at St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, Dublin, eldest child of John Gwynn (qv), warden of St Columba's and later professor of divinity Trinity…...
Halloran (O'Halloran), Laurence Hynes
Halloran (O'Halloran), Laurence Hynes (1765–1831), schoolmaster, clergyman, writer, and forger, was born 29 December 1765 in Co. Meath. Orphaned while still a young child, he was raised by his uncle, Judge William Gregory, before attending Westminster School. In 1785 he opened a…...
Halpin, Nicholas John
Halpin, Nicholas John (1790–1850), clergyman and writer, was born 18 October 1790 at Portarlington, Queen's Co. (Laois), son of William Halpin, gentleman. He entered TCD in 1810 and, in a distinguished career there, showed a talent for…...
Hamilton, Edwin
Hamilton, Edwin (1849–1919), writer and editor, was born 14 April 1849, the only son of the Rev. Hugh Hamilton (1811–84), curate (1840–50) of Balbriggan and vicar (1844–72) of Balscadden, both in Co. Dublin, and his wife, Charlotte Mary, daughter of the Rev. Henry Ormsby. He was…...
Hannay, James Owen (‘George A. Birmingham’)
Hannay, James Owen (‘George A. Birmingham’) (1865–1950), novelist and Church of Ireland clergyman, was born 16 July 1865 in Belfast, son of Robert Hannay, Church of Ireland rector of St Anne's, Belfast, and his wife Emily (née Wynne). Hannay experienced a strongly evangelical upbringing…...
Hardy, Edward John
Hardy, Edward John (1849–1920), Church of Ireland clergyman and author, was born 7 May 1849 in Armagh, one of at least two children of the Rev. James Hardy (c.1814–1874), perpetual curate of Moylary, Co. Louth, and Sarah Hardy (née Harden). Educated at Royal School,…...
Harnett, Dorothy Grace
Harnett, Dorothy Grace (Waring , Dorothy Gainsborough) (1891–1977), fascist and novelist, was born in Woolwich, London, only child of Col. Henry Waring, a Royal Artillery officer from an east Co. Down gentry family, and his wife Florence. Much of her childhood was spent in Malta and…...
Hart, Henry Chichester
Hart, Henry Chichester (1847–1908), naturalist and literary scholar, was born 29 July 1847 in Glenvar, Raheny, Dublin, second son of Andrew Searle Hart (qv) and Frances Hart (née MacDougall). His father's family was of Co.…...
Hector, Annie
Hector, Annie (née French ) (Mrs Alexander ) (1825–1902), novelist, was born in Dublin 23 June 1825, the only daughter of Robert French, a Dublin barrister originally of Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon, a descendant of the Church of Ireland bishop of Down and Connor…...
Hickey, Emily Henrietta
Hickey, Emily Henrietta (1845–1924), poet, writer, and teacher, was born 12 April 1845 at Macmine Castle, near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, second daughter of the Rev. John Steuart Hickey, rector of Gorebridge, Co. Carlow, and his wife, formerly a Miss Newton King. She was a…...
Hickey, William
Hickey, William (1787/8–1875), clergyman and agricultural writer, was born at Murragh, Co. Cork, eldest son of the Rev. Ambrose Hickey, DD, rector. He entered TCD (1804) and then moved to St John'…...
Hone, Joseph Maunsell
Hone, Joseph Maunsell (1882–1959), critic, biographer, and publisher, was born 8 February 1882 at Queen's Park, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, the eldest son of William Hone (1842–1919), a well-known cricketer who played for Ireland and the MCC, and his wife, Sarah, the daughter of James…...
Hopkins, Gerard Manley
Hopkins, Gerard Manley (1844–89), poet and Jesuit, was born 28 July 1844 at 87 The Grove, Stratford, Essex, eldest of nine children (eight of whom survived to adulthood) of Manley Hopkins (1818–1897), marine insurance adjuster, and his wife, Catherine, or Kate (née Smith; 1821–1920).…...