Marten, Moira
Marten, Moira (d. p. 1548), third wife of Ulick Burke (qv), 1st earl of Clanricard, appears to have been a member of the merchant élite of the city of Galway. She is described as ‘a woman of great…...
Mathew, Mary
Mathew, Mary (1724–77), diarist, was daughter of the landowner Theobald Mathew (d. 1699) of Thurles Castle, Co. Tipperary, and his third wife, Catherine Nevill (d. 1742) of Leicestershire, England. Theobald Mathew had five children from his first marriage, one from his second, and four…...
McCole, Brigid (Bridget) Ellen
McCole, Brigid (Bridget) Ellen (1942–96), hepatitis C campaigner, was born 21 June 1942 at her family home in Bunawack, Glenties, Co. Donegal, daughter of John Sharkey , labourer, and Ellen Sharkey (née McCole). She was raised and educated locally and lived within Co. Donegal…...
McConville, Jean
McConville, Jean (1935–72), murder victim, was born at Avoniel, east Belfast, in 1935, the daughter of Thomas Murray, shipyard worker, and his wife, May. After a basic education she entered domestic service. In 1952 she married Arthur McConville, a catholic soldier from west Belfast and…...
McCormack, Inez Jane Mary (née Murphy)
McCormack, Inez Jane Mary (née Murphy) (1943–2013), human rights activist and trade unionist, was born on 28 September 1943 in Belfast to Francis Cecil Murphy, a printer, and his wife, Margaret Murphy (née Sterritt), a nurse. She had one older brother, Terence (b. 1942). When Inez was…...
McDowell, Kathleen Mary (‘Kay’)
McDowell, Kathleen Mary (‘Kay’) (1897–1975), trade union leader, was born 16 August 1897 at 20 Connaught St., Phibsborough, Dublin, daughter of William McDowell, wine merchant, of that address, and Mary McDowell (née Kirwan). Her father's family, which had roots in the north of…...
McShain, Mary
McShain, Mary (1907–98), landowner and benefactor, was born Mary Horstmann on 27 March 1907 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, fifth among six children of Ignatius J. Horstmann and his wife Pauline. She was educated at St Leonard's Academy, Philadelphia, and Rosemont College, Rosemont…...
Meade, Theodosia
Meade, Theodosia (1743–1817), countess of Clanwilliam , landowner, was the only daughter and heir of Robert Hawkins Magill (d. 1747) of Gill Hall, Gilford, Co. Down, and his wife, Lady Anne Magill (d. 1789), whose name he took on marriage. Robert Magill died when his daughter was an…...
Moloney, Katherine (Kathleen)
Moloney, Katherine (Kathleen) (1896–1969), republican and trade unionist, was born Catherine Agnes Barry on 19 October 1896 in the family home at 8 Fleet Street, Dublin, eldest child among five daughters and two sons of Thomas Barry (d. 1908), prosperous dairyman, and Mary Barry (…...
Molony, Helena
Molony, Helena (1883–1967), actress, republican, trade unionist, and feminist, was born 15 January 1883 at 8 Coles Lane, off Henry St., Dublin, the younger of one daughter and one son of Michael Moloney, grocer, of that address, and Catherine Moloney (née McGrath). Orphaned at an early…...
Morgan, Lady Catherine Louisa
Morgan, Lady Catherine Louisa (c.1838–1886), divorcée, was born in Moore Park, Co. Cork, youngest daughter among seven children of Stephen Moore (1792–1883), 3rd earl of Mountcashell, and his wife Anna Maria, daughter of Samuel Wyss of Berne, Switzerland. She married (10…...
Musa, Jennifer ('Mummy'; Jennifer Jehanzeba Qazi Musa)
Musa, Jennifer ('Mummy'; Jennifer Jehanzeba Qazi Musa) (1917–2008), politician, tribal elder and nurse, was born Bridget Wren on 11 November 1917 in Tarmons, Tarbert, Co. Kerry, one of five daughters and two sons of John Wren, a small-holding farmer, and his wife Johanna (née…...
Newton, Florence
Newton, Florence (d. 1661?), alleged witch, was tried for witchcraft in Youghal, Co. Cork, in 1661. By order of Richard Myre, mayor of Youghal, she was arrested on 24 March 1661 and committed to Youghal prison. She was accused of bewitching Mary Langdon, a servant at the home of…...
O'Brien, Nora Connolly
O'Brien, Nora Connolly (1892–1981), republican and socialist activist, was born on 14 November 1892 at 6 Lothian Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, second among six daughters and one son of James Connolly (qv), of Edinburgh, the socialist…...
O'Carroll (Ní Chearbhaill), Mairghréag
O'Carroll (Ní Chearbhaill), Mairghréag (d. 1451), lady of Uí Failghe (Offaly), was daughter of Tadhg Ailbhe O'Carroll (qv) (d. 1407), lord of Éile (Ely) – her mother was probably Mór, daughter of…...
O'Connell, Mary
O'Connell, Mary (1778–1836), wife of Daniel O'Connell (qv), was born 25 September 1778 in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Her father Thomas O'Connell, prominent physician and member of the Church of Ireland, was a widower with three children…...
O'Connor, Deirdre
O'Connor, Deirdre (1951–99), architect, was born 25 September 1951 at Ranelagh, Dublin, eldest among five children of Brendan O'Connor (d. 1964), engineer, originally from Mostrim, Co. Leitrim, and Sheelagh O'Connor (neé McManus). After the death of her father, when Deirdre was 13,…...
O'Doherty, Rosa
O'Doherty, Rosa (c.1588–1660), refugee and political activist, was born on the Inishowen Peninsula in northern Co. Donegal, daughter of Sir John O'Doherty (d. 1601) and his first wife, a daughter of Shane O'Neill (qv). Rosa…...
O'Donnell, Mary Stuart
O'Donnell, Mary Stuart (d. p.1639), heiress, was born in England c.1607, the daughter of Ruaidhrí O'Donnell (qv), earl of Tyrconnell, and Bridget Fitzgerald, daughter of…...
O'Donnell, Nuala
O'Donnell, Nuala (c.1575–c.1630), refugee, was born in Tir Conaill, daughter of Hugh O'Donnell (qv) (d. 1600), lord of Tyrconnell and his second wife,…...
O'Neill, Henrietta
O'Neill, Henrietta (1757/8–1793), poet, hostess, and patron of the arts, was the only child of Charles Boyle (1728–59), Viscount Dungarvan (son of John Boyle (qv), 5th earl of Cork and Orrery), and his wife, Susannah (1732–83), daughter of…...
Orpen, Adela Elizabeth (née Richards)
Orpen, Adela Elizabeth (née Richards) (1855–1927), writer, was born on a slave plantation in Virginia, USA, on 3 February 1855, the only surviving child of Edward Moore Richards and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth (née Tisdale). Following the death of her mother on 19 February 1860, her…...
Owens, Evelyn
Owens, Evelyn (1931–2010), trade unionist and women's rights advocate, was born on 22 January 1931 at 23 Vernon Gardens, Clontarf, Dublin, the fourth of six children of William Owens, a civil servant of Clontarf, originally from Co. Roscommon, and his wife Ellen (née Monaghan), from…...
Palmer (Ambrose), Eleanor
Palmer (Ambrose), Eleanor (c.1720–1818), celebrated beauty, was born Eleanor Ambrose , daughter and heiress of Michael Ambrose, a wealthy Roman catholic brewer and merchant, and his wife, the daughter of Richard Archbold, a Dublin brewer; nothing is known of her mother.…...
Patterson, Sarah (‘Saidie’)
Patterson, Sarah (‘Saidie’) (1904–85), trade unionist and peace activist, was born 25 November 1904 at 32 Woodvale St., Shankill Road, Belfast, eldest of three children of William Patterson (d. 1912), shipyard blacksmith, and Sarah Patterson (née Moore), both of whom were devout…...