Ceannt, Éamonn
Ceannt, Éamonn (1881–1916), revolutionary and Irish-Irelander, was born Edward Thomas Kent on 21 September 1881 in Ballymoe, Glenamaddy, Co. Galway, sixth among seven children (six boys and a girl) of James Kent (1841–1912), Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) constable originally of Co.…...
Chamberlain (Chamberlane), Robert
Chamberlain (Chamberlane), Robert (d. 1636), Franciscan friar, theologian, and political activist, was probably born at Niselrath (later Rathneestin), in the parish of Tallonstown, Co. Louth. His father was Roger Chamberlain, and five of his brothers fought in the Nine Years War…...
Champfleur (de Champfleur), Walter
Champfleur (de Champfleur), Walter (fl. 1482–98), was abbot of St Mary's Cistercian abbey in Dublin. He served as keeper of the seal on the death of the lord chancellor, William Sherwood (qv), bishop of Meath, on 3 December…...
Charles of St Andrew, Blessed Father
Charles of St Andrew, Blessed Father (1821–93), priest, was born John Andrew Houban 11 December 1821 in the province of Limburg, the Netherlands, fifth child among five sons and four daughters of Peter Joseph Houban, miller, and Jane Elizabeth Houban (née Luyten). At an early age…...
Cheevers, Blessed Edward
Cheevers, Blessed Edward (d. 1581), Irish martyr, was a sailor in Wexford port. In 1581 he was one of a number of sailors who attempted to find passage to the Continent for Viscount Baltinglass (qv), then in rebellion against Queen…...
Christle, Joseph Patrick
Christle, Joseph Patrick (1927–98), republican, college lecturer, and sports administrator, was born 4 November 1927 in Dublin, into the large family (which included at least seven sons, of whom he was the fourth) of James Christle, a small farmer from Co. Offaly who moved to…...
Clancy, John
Clancy, John (1856–1912), catholic bishop of Elphin, was born 23 December 1856 at Ballygraney, Co. Sligo, son of Martin Clancy and Mary Clancy (née O'Connor). Educated at Kilross national school, the Marist Brothers school, Sligo, and the diocesan seminary, Summer Hill College,…...
Clancy, Liam
Clancy, Liam (1935–2009), folk singer, was born William ('Willie') Clancy on 2 September 1935 in William Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, youngest child among four sons and seven daughters of Robert Joseph Clancy, insurance agent, and Johanna Clancy (née McGrath). His father…...
Clare, Wallace George
Clare, Wallace George (1895–1963), priest and genealogist, was born 9 August 1895 in Ipswich, Suffolk, the only son of Frederick Clare, wine buyer, and Agnes Clare (née Keegan). His father died when Wallace was 2 years old, and his mother brought him and his sister up in…...
Clarke, Harry (Henry Patrick)
Clarke, Harry (Henry Patrick) (1889–1931), stained-glass and graphic artist, and illustrator, was born 17 March 1889 in Dublin, third child and younger son among two sons and two daughters of Joshua Clarke (1858–1921), an English-born church decorator, and Brigid Clarke (née…...
Clarke, Mary Frances
Clarke, Mary Frances (1803/6–87), founder of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was born either on 2 March 1803 or 1806 in Dublin, the eldest of four children of Cornelius Clarke, leather dealer, and Catherine Clarke (née Quartermas), daughter of a quaker from England.…...
Clarke, Sr Sarah
Clarke, Sr Sarah (1919–2002), nun and civil rights campaigner, was born 17 November 1919 in Eyrecourt, Co. Galway, daughter of Michael Clarke, farmer, and Brigid Clarke (née Claffey). Her father was injured in a fall from a horse and was confined to a wheelchair before succumbing to TB…...
Cleary, Henry William
Cleary, Henry William (1859–1929), catholic bishop of Auckland, was born 15 January 1859 at Oulart, Co. Wexford; he was baptised William Henry. His catholic father, Robert Cleary, a farmer, came from the neighbouring county of Wicklow and settled in Wexford after marrying Susan…...
Cleary, James Vincent
Cleary, James Vincent (1828–98), catholic archbishop and educator, was born 18 September 1828 in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, the son of Thomas Cleary and his wife Margaret O'Brien. Educated locally, at the age of fifteen he went to Rome to begin studies for the priesthood. Returning…...
Cleary, Michael
Cleary, Michael (1933–93), priest and publicist, was born 23 November 1933 at 34 Lower Sheriff St., Dublin, the only son among five children of Daniel Cleary, publican, originally from Co. Tipperary, and Nellie Cleary (née Lavin), from Co. Roscommon. In his youth the family moved…...
Close, Leo St John
Close, Leo St John (1934–77), paraplegic athlete, was born 20 October 1934, the son of Leo Joseph Close, inspector of schools, and his wife, Kathleen Mary, née O'Connor, who lived at 16 Berea Terrace, Dublin. He was educated at Belvedere College, Dublin, Mount St Joseph Abbey, Roscrea,…...
Clune, Patrick Joseph
Clune, Patrick Joseph (1864–1935), catholic archbishop of Perth, was born 27 January 1864 at Ruan, Co. Clare, fifth of eleven children of James Clune, farmer, and Margaret Clune (née Lynch). Educated at St Flannan?s College, Ennis, he entered All Hallows College, Dublin, where he…...
Coffey, Peter
Coffey, Peter (1876–1943), priest and professor ofphilosophy, was born 27 April 1876 in Rathrone, Enfield, Co. Meath, son of Andrew Coffey, farmer, and Bridget Coffey (née Cosgrove). Educated at the model school, Trim, the diocesan seminary, Navan, and St Patrick's College,…...
Cogan, Anthony
Cogan, Anthony (1824/5–72), catholic priest and diocesan historian, was born at Slane, Co. Meath, the first of the six sons of Thomas Cogan, a baker, and his wife Anne (née Sillary). Anne Cogan, whose family owned land at Nobber and Platten, was a protestant until her marriage.…...
Cogly, Quentin (Quintin)
Cogly, Quentin (Quintin) (d. 1539?), Dominican priest and bishop of Dromore, was a member of the Gaelic Irish family of Ó Coigligh, a branch of the Uí Fiachrach, who in times long past had been settled in the barony of Carra, Co. Mayo, but in the sixteenth century were dispersed…...
Cohalan (Coghlan), Daniel
Cohalan (Coghlan), Daniel (1858–1952), theologian and catholic bishop of Cork, was born at Kilmichael, Co. Cork, on 14 July 1858, and educated at national schools, St Vincent's Seminary, Cork, and St Patrick's College, Maynooth. Ordained priest in 1883, he was a curate at…...
Cohen, Isaac
Cohen, Isaac (1914–2007), chief rabbi of the Republic of Ireland (1959–79), was born 26 July 1914 in Llanelli, Wales, one of three children born to shopkeeper parents of Lithuanian birth. Growing up amongst a community of fifty or so orthodox Jewish families, Cohen retained rich…...
Cohen, Joseph Wolfe
Cohen, Joseph Wolfe (1780–1869), president of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation, was born September 1780 in Poznan, Poland (soon to become a Prussian possession as ‘Posen’). After living in Birmingham, he settled in Dublin c.1819. One of the principal founders of the revived…...
Coigly (Coigley, Quigley, O'Coigley), James
Coigly (Coigley, Quigley, O'Coigley), James (1761–98), United Irishman and catholic priest, was born in August 1761 in Kilmore, Co. Armagh, second son of James Coigly, farmer, and Louisa Coigly (née Donnelly). In the absence of seminary education in penal Ireland, Coigly served an…...
Colgan, John
Colgan, John (1592?–1658), Franciscan friar and hagiographer, was born in Priestown in the parish of Donagh, Inishowen, Co. Donegal. Little is known for certain of his early years or family circumstances. He was a member of a well-established Donegal clerical family, the Mac Colgans of…...