Abell, Joshua
Abell, Joshua (1793–1846), philanthropist, was born 15 November 1793 in Cork city into a long established and talented quaker family, among eleven children of Richard Abell, a well known merchant, and his wife Elizabeth Beale. He was educated at the quaker boarding school of…...
Abercrombie, Sir (Leslie) Patrick
Abercrombie, Sir (Leslie) Patrick (1879–1957), architect and town planner, was one of the most influential figures in the development of town planning in early twentieth-century Ireland. He was born on 6 June 1879 at Ashton upon Mersey in Cheshire, England, seventh of nine children…...
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…...
Ahearn, Daniel F. (Dan)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ahearne, Timothy J. (‘Tim’). View the original entry....
Ahearne, Timothy J. (‘Tim’)
Ahearne, Timothy J. (‘Tim’) (1885–1968), athlete and Olympic gold medallist, was born 17 August 1885 in Dirreen, Athea, Co. Limerick, son of William Aherne, farmer in Dirreen, and Margaret Aherne (née Shine). A talented sprinter, hurdler and jumper, he represented Britain in the…...
Aher, David
Aher, David (c.1778–1842), cartographer and civil engineer, was probably the son of Patrick Aher, a Cork surveyor; he trained under his father, in the ‘French school of [John] Rocque’ (qv). A leading Irish surveyor-…...
Ahern (Aherne), Thomas (‘Bud’)
Ahern (Aherne), Thomas (‘Bud’) (1919–99), soccer player, was born 26 January 1919 in New Road, Thomondgate, Limerick city, son of Patrick Ahern, sawyer, and Kate Ahern (née Gleeson) of New Road, Thomondgate. He initially made his mark as a hurler. As a member of the Irish army…...
Ahern, Michael (Gah)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ahern, Patrick (‘Balty’). View the original entry....
Ahern, Patrick (‘Balty’)
Ahern, Patrick (‘Balty’) (1900–71), hurler, was born 21 October 1900 at Ballintemple, Co. Cork, eldest of three sons of Patrick Ahern of Ballintemple, ship steward, and Hannah Ahern (née Walsh), also of Ballintemple. He attended primary school locally at Crab Lane. He played hurling…...
Aird, John
Aird, John (c.1760–1832), civil engineer, was born in Scotland; nothing is known of his parents or early life. In 1794 he began working for John Rennie (qv), one of the best-known engineers in Europe at the time, and remained with…...
Alexander, (Conel) Hugh (O'Donel)
Alexander, (Conel) Hugh (O'Donel) (1909–74), chess master and code-breaker, was born 19 April 1909 in Cork, eldest child of Conel William Long Alexander (qv), professor of engineering at…...
Alexander, Conel William (O'Donel) Long
Alexander, Conel William (O'Donel) Long (1879–1920), civil engineer and rugby footballer, was born 6 June 1879 in Imlick, Co. Donegal, youngest son of Joseph Alexander, farmer and JP, and his wife Frances Mary Long. Registered at birth as ‘…...
Alexander, Michael O'Donel Bjarne
This is a co-subject for the entry on Alexander, (Conel) Hugh (O'Donel). View the original entry....
Alexander, Robert (‘Bob’)
Alexander, Robert (‘Bob’) (1910–43), rugby player and cricketer, was born 24 September 1910 in 57 Distillery St., Belfast, youngest child among two sons and three daughters of David Alexander, shipyard engine fitter, originally from Co. Armagh, and Mary Jane Alexander (née Clark),…...
Alexander, Thomas A.
Alexander, Thomas A. (1847–1933), professor of civil engineering, was born 2 May 1847 in Maryhill, Glasgow; his parents' names are not known. Educated at the Normal School in Cowcaddens, Alexander entered Glasgow University in 1867, where he won prizes in mathematics, mechanics,…...
Allberry, Harry
Allberry, Harry (1872–1952), architect, was born 8 December 1872 in Everton, Liverpool, son of Richard Allberry, mercantile clerk, and Elizabeth Allberry (née Downes); he had two younger sisters. His father abandoned the family c.1875. Harry was brought up by his…...
Allen, Richard
Allen, Richard (1803–86), philanthropist and anti-slavery and temperance campaigner, was born 8 January 1803 at Harold's Cross, Dublin, into a quaker family, fourth child and second son among fifteen children of Edward Weston Allen, draper, and Ellen/Eleanor Allen (née Burton),…...
Anderson, Charles Frederick
Anderson, Charles Frederick (1802–1869), architect, was possibly born in Bedford, England. He was educated at Fermoy College, Co. Cork (c.1816–c.1818). From 1820 to 1824 he was apprenticed to the English architect Thomas Harrison (1744–1829), and to the Irish…...
Archdale, Edward
This is a co-subject for the entry on Archdale, Mervyn Edward. View the original entry....
Archer, James
Archer, James (c.1632–c.1680), military engineer and architect, was born in Kilkenny. His early life remains obscure, but he was a royalist, left Ireland at some point, and entered the French service; he later claimed to have served six years as a…...
Arigho, John Edward (‘Jack’)
Arigho, John Edward (‘Jack’) (1907–99), rugby player, was born 10 July 1907 in 21 Victoria St., Dublin, second son of George Arigho and Mary Arigho (née Greene). Arigho's grandfather had emigrated to Ireland from Switzerland in the mid nineteenth century and had founded a printing…...
Arlow, William James ('Bill')
Arlow, William James ('Bill') (1926–2006), anglican cleric and peacemaker, was born in Banbridge, Co. Down, on 23 November 2006, son of William John Arlow, a printer on the local newspaper, and his wife Mary (née Wilson). One of his parents was the child of a protestant father and a…...
Armstrong, Harold Reginald (‘Reg’)
Armstrong, Harold Reginald (‘Reg’) (1928?–1979), motorcycle champion and businessman, was born, probably in September 1928, in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, the only son of Irish parents, Frederick W. Armstrong and Margery Armstrong (née Wilson). The family returned to Ireland to…...
Armstrong, Robert Williams
Armstrong, Robert Williams (1824–84), architect, civil engineer, and co-founder of Belleek Pottery, was born in Co. Longford, son of Francis Armstrong, architect and builder. Despite an early aptitude for pottery, he trained as an architect and civil engineer, exhibiting designs at…...
Arnott, Sir John
Arnott, Sir John , (1814–98), first baronet, businessman, philanthropist, and politician, was born in Auchtermuchty, Fife, Scotland, on 26 July 1814, the third son of John Arnott (d. 1878), JP, manufacturer, of Greenfield, Auchtermuchty, and…...