Affraic
Affraic (d. 743) was abbess of Kildare 733–43. Her rare personal name, a borrowing of the Latin Africa, was also borne by a later abbess of Kildare who died in 834 and by an obscure minor saint, daughter of one Cumlachtach, associated with Imlech Tuascirt (LL…...
Attracht (Adrochta, Attracta)
Attracht (Adrochta, Attracta) (7th century?), saint in the Irish tradition and founder and first abbess of Cell Sáile, was according to the genealogies of the saints a daughter of Tigernach (probably to be identifed with Tigernach son of Muiredach, an early representative of the…...
Bonney (Bonny), Anne
Bonney (Bonny), Anne (c.1700–p.1721), pirate, is thought to have been born in Cork about 1700. While her life story has been somewhat mythologised over time, the lead source about her remains the work of a Captain Charles Johnson (presumed to be the pseudonym of Daniel…...
Brigit (Brighid, Bríd, Bride, Bridget)
Brigit (Brighid, Bríd, Bride, Bridget) (possibly c.450–524), reputed foundress and first abbess of Cell Dara (Kildare), is the female patron saint of Ireland, but it is uncertain whether she existed as a person. Most scholars regard her as a ghost personality generated in the…...
Briúinsech Cael (Briuineach)
Briúinsech Cael (Briuineach) (6th cent.?), church foundress and saint in the Irish tradition; her father is named as Crimthann, but her lineage is unrecorded. She is said to have had two sisters, Luchad and Tudella. Briúinsech apparently became a member of the community of…...
Butler, Eleanor Grace
Butler, Eleanor Grace (1914–97), countess of Wicklow, senator, social campaigner, and architect, was born 7 September 1914 at 89 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, one of five children of the architect Rudolf Maximilian Butler (qv), a…...
Cadden, Mary Anne (‘Mamie’) (‘Nurse Cadden’)
Cadden, Mary Anne (‘Mamie’) (‘Nurse Cadden’) (1891–1959), midwife and abortionist, was born 27 October 1891 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, eldest of seven children of Patrick Caden, of a small-farming background from Doonbredia, Lahardane, Co. Mayo, and Mary Caden (née McLoughlin), a…...
Cainner (Cannera)
Cainner (Cannera) (6th cent.?), foundress of Cluain Cláraid and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged to the old north Munster population group of Corcu Óchae. Despite a degree of genealogical confusion, it seems reasonable to identify her with Cainner daughter of Fintan. According…...
Caintigern (Kentigerna)
Caintigern (Kentigerna) (d. 734), anchoress of Loch Lomond and saint in the Irish tradition, was daughter of Cellach Cualann (qv), Uí Máil overking of Leinster, but it is not clear which of his successive wives was her mother. She…...
Ciar
Ciar (d. 681), foundress and first abbess of Cell Chéire, and saint in the Irish tradition, was closely associated with north Munster, especially the territories of Múscraige Tíre (on the shores of Lough Derg) and Arada Tíre (barony of Owney and Arra, Co. Tipperary). Ciar's father…...
Cóelfhind (mod. Ir. Caelainn, Caoilinn)
Cóelfhind (mod. Ir. Caelainn, Caoilinn) (6th cent.), foundress of Termonmore and saint in the Irish tradition, was (according to the genealogies) daughter of Cóel son of Finchad of the Ciarraige Aí of Connacht, and Medb daughter of Garbán, who belonged to the Uí Saithgil line of…...
Damnait (Dympna)
Damnait (Dympna) (6th cent.), foundress of Tech Damnatan at Sliab Betha and a saint in the Irish tradition, is associated with the minor lineage of Uí Laga, located among the Conaille, on the border of Co. Louth and Co. Monaghan. It is unclear whether she should be identified…...
Darbiled (Derbiled, Dervilla)
Darbiled (Derbiled, Dervilla) (fl. 575–600), anchoress and foundress of Inis Cethig on the Erris peninsula in Co. Mayo, and a saint in the Irish tradition, was – according to the metrical version of the genealogies of the saints – linked to the Connacht dynasty of Uí…...
Darerca (Mo-Ninne)
Darerca (Mo-Ninne) (d. 519?), foundress of Killevy, Co. Armagh, and saint in the Irish tradition, was, according to the medieval genealogies, daughter of Mochtae son of Lilach. Her genealogy is therefore traced to a discard segment of the Dál nAraide dynasty of east Ulster. Her…...
Darlugdach (Der Lugdach)
Darlugdach (Der Lugdach) (6th cent.?), abbess of Kildare, was a saint in the Irish tradition. Her genealogy is not preserved, but she may well be identical with Darlugdach of Lemdruim (Lorum, Co. Carlow) mentioned in the Book of Leinster tract on Irish saints and places. In that…...
Duignan, Mary Ann (‘Chicago May’)
Duignan, Mary Ann (‘Chicago May’) (1871–1929), criminal and prostitute, was born c.26 December 1871 in Edenmore, Ballinamuck, Co. Longford, eldest among two daughters and three sons of Francis Duignan (1837–1930), farmer, and Anne Duignan (née Gray) (1852–1924); the pet name ‘…...
Ercnait
Ercnait (5th/ 6th cent.?), foundress of Dún dá Én and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged to the Cruithin lineage of Uí Nialláin, located in the vicinity of Armagh in what would later be the overkingdom of Airgialla. She belongs to the first generation of Irish religious…...
Fainche
Fainche (6th cent.), anchoress, abbess of Ros Airthir (Rossory, Co. Fermanagh), and saint in the Irish tradition, most likely belonged to the dynasty of Cenél Lóegaire. Later medieval genealogies (Book of Lecan and Leabhar Breac) name her father as Crimthann son of Guaire –…...
Gibson, Violet Albina
Gibson, Violet Albina (1876–1956), failed assassin, was born 31 August 1876 in Dalkey, Co. Dublin, to Edward Gibson (qv), a wealthy lawyer and politician, and Frances Maria Adelaide Gibson (née Colles), the daughter of a barrister. Violet was…...
Gobna(i)t
Gobna(i)t , saint, although best known for her connection with the church of Ballyvourney (Bairnech/ Búirnech), west Co. Cork, was patron of many other churches. These included Kilgobnet (Cill Ghobnait/ Ghobnatan) in the parishes of Clondrohid, Kilshannig, and Magourney in Co. Cork…...
Gray, Eileen
Gray, Eileen (1878–1976), furniture designer and architect, was born 9 August 1878 at the family home, Brownswood House near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, youngest child and third daughter of James McLaren Smith , son of Richard Smith of Hazelgreen and his wife Eveleen, only child of…...
Guinness, Mariga
Guinness, Mariga (1932–89), architectural conservationist and socialite, was born Hermione Maria-Gabrielle von Urach on 21 September 1932 in London, the only daughter of Albrecht von Urach (d. 1969), a member of the royal house of Wurtemberg from Schloss-Liechtenstein in southern…...
Hanley, Ellie
Hanley, Ellie (1803–19), the ‘Colleen bawn ’, was born in Ballycahane, near Croom, Co. Limerick, daughter of Michael Hanley, farmer, and his first wife (née Connery). At 6 years old, she was adopted by her mother's brother, John Connery, ropemaker, also of Ballycahane. Connery's…...
Heath, (Sophie) Mary (‘Lady Heath’) (née Peirce-Evans; other married name Eliott-Lynn)
Heath, (Sophie) Mary (‘Lady Heath’) (née Peirce-Evans; other married name Eliott-Lynn) (1896–1939), athlete and aviator, was born Sophie Catherine Theresa Mary Peirce-Evans on 17 November 1896 in Knockaderry, Co. Limerick, the only child of Jackie Peirce-Evans and his wife and former…...
Hobson, Florence Fulton
Hobson, Florence Fulton (1881–1978), architect, was born 11 February 1881 at Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, the daughter of Benjamin Hobson, grocer, and Mary Ann Hobson (née Bulmer), a women's rights campaigner and amateur archaeologist. Her family moved to Belfast shortly after her…...