Morgan, Maria
Morgan, Maria (1828–92), journalist, was elder of at least two daughters of James Morgan of Prospect, Carrigrobane, Co. Cork; nothing is known of her mother. In 1865, accompanied by her younger sister, Jane, she went to Rome, where Jane studied art and Maria obtained a commission…...
Moriarty, Joan Denise
Moriarty, Joan Denise (c.1912–1992), Irish traditional musician, step dancer, ballet dancer, teacher, choreographer, and founder of professional ballet in Ireland, was born and brought up in England, her family having left Mallow, Co. Cork, around 1907. Little is known of her…...
Murphy, Delia
Murphy, Delia (1902–71), ballad singer, was born 16 February 1902 at Ardroe, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, second of eight daughters of John (‘Jack’) Patrick Murphy of Mayo and Anna Agnes Murphy (née Fanning) from Tipperary. Her father worked in the gold mines in Klondike, where he met and…...
Murray, Ruby
Murray, Ruby (1935–96), popular singer, was born 29 March 1935 in Belfast, youngest daughter among four children of Daniel Murray, originally from Scotland, and Wilhelmina or Winifred Murray (née Connolly). They lived in Moltke Street in the Donegall Road area of the city. An operation…...
Needham, Alicia Adelaide
Needham, Alicia Adelaide (1863–1945), musician and composer, was born Alicia Adelaide Montgomery in Co. Meath, daughter of John Wilson Montgomery (c.1834–1911); she spent most of her childhood at the family home in Downpatrick, Co. Down. Educated at Victoria College,…...
Ní Annagáin, Máighréad
This is a co-subject for the entry on Clandillon, Seamus (‘Clan’). View the original entry....
Ní Ghráda, Máiréad
Ní Ghráda, Máiréad (1896–1971), playwright, author, and broadcaster, was born 23 December 1896 in Knockadangan, Kilmaley, Co. Clare, younger of two daughters of James O'Grady (1856–1942), farmer and sometime county councillor, and Bridget O'Grady (née Greene; 1854–1934), native of…...
Ní Ghuairim, Máire
Ní Ghuairim, Máire (1896–1964), teacher, author and sean-nós singer, was born 6 July 1896 in Roisín na Manach, Carna, Co. Galway, eldest daughter of farmer Máirtín Gorham and his wife, Catherine Burke. She received her earliest education in the Convent of Mercy school in Roisín na…...
Ní Ghuairim, Sorcha
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ní Ghuairim, Máire. View the original entry....
Ní Mhuiríosa, Máirín
Ní Mhuiríosa, Máirín (1906–82), Irish scholar, poet and journalist, was born 5 September 1906 in Dublin, daughter of mathematics teacher Tomás Ó Muiríosa and his wife Mary Golden. Both her parents were Irish-speakers and the family spent their summer holidays in the Ring Gaeltacht in Co…...
Ní Scolaí, Máire
Ní Scolaí, Máire (1909–85), traditional singer, was born in Dublin on 24 May 1909 to Michael Scully , commercial traveller, of 60 Ignatius Road, and Mary Scully (née Kavanagh). She lived in Dublin for much of her childhood and was educated at Central Model Schools, which held pilot…...
O'Brennan, Kathleen
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Brennan, Elizabeth (‘Lily’). View the original entry....
O'Brien, Eileen Mary (Ní Bhriain, Eibhlín
O'Brien, Eileen Mary (Ní Bhriain, Eibhlín ) (1925–86), journalist, was born 23 January 1925 at 37 Lower Leeson St., Dublin, only child of Liam O'Brien (Ó Briain) (qv) of 15 Lower Sherrard St., Dublin, nationalist and professor of romance…...
O'Callaghan, May
O'Callaghan, May (1881–1973), journalist, translator and communist, was born Julia Mary O'Callaghan in Wexford town on the 14 August 1881, the youngest of four children born to Patrick O'Callaghan, RIC head constable, and Jane O'Callaghan (…...
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'Connor (Glasgow), Terry
O'Connor (Glasgow), Terry (1897–1983), musician and music teacher, was born Mary Teresa O'Connor on 14 October 1897 in Johnstown, Waterford city, the second among at least four daughters of James O'Connor, grocer and vintner, and Brigid O'Connor (née Keirsey). Educated at the…...
O'Delaney, Mary Barry
O'Delaney, Mary Barry (1862–1947), journalist and nationalist, was born Mary Barry Delany , though from the time she came to notice as a journalist she styled her surname O'Delaney (or sometimes O'Delany). In 1883 she left Ireland for Paris, where she lived in the Avenue Kléber…...
O'Donoghue, Nannie Power
Power O’Donoghue (née Lambert), Nannie (1843–1940), journalist, equestrian and writer was born 2 June 1843 and baptised as Ann Stewart Lyster Lambert in St Thomas Church of Ireland, Marlborough Street, Dublin. She was the youngest child of four daughters and one son of Charles Lambert,…...
O'Faolain, Nuala
O'Faolain, Nuala (1940–2008), journalist, writer and feminist, was born 1 March 1940 in Clontarf, Dublin, the second of nine children (six daughters and three sons) of Terry O'Sullivan (qv) (Terry Phelan), journalist and broadcaster, and…...
O'Mahoney, Katharine Aloysia O'Keeffe
O'Mahoney, Katharine Aloysia O'Keeffe (1851–1908), editor, educator, and writer, was born in Co. Kilkenny, daughter of Patrick O'Keeffe (b. 1803) and his wife Rose (b. 1824; maiden name unknown). The O'Keeffes emigrated to Methuen, Massachusetts, USA, c.1851 when she was ten…...
O'Neill, Sarah Ann (née Hanna)
O'Neill, Sarah Ann (née Hanna) (1919–2012), traditional singer, was born on 19 August 1919 in Derrytresk, Co. Tyrone, the eldest of nine children (five sons and four daughters) of Joe Hanna, a small farmer, and his wife Elizabeth (née Hughes). Her mother also had three sons from her…...
Patterson, Annie Wilson
Patterson, Annie Wilson (1868–1934), musician, author, and music teacher, was born 27 October 1868 in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, daughter of Thomas Rankin Patterson, bakery owner, and Martha Macaulay Patterson (née Wilson), a distant relative of Lord Macaulay. She attended Alexandra College,…...
Patterson, Ottilie Anna
Patterson, Ottilie Anna (1932–2011), blues and jazz singer, was born on 31 January 1932 at 26 Carnesure Terrace, Comber, Co. Down, the youngest of four children (two boys and two girls) of Joseph Patterson (d. 1975), a driver and ex-British army soldier, and his wife Juliet (née ēgers…...
Pennefather, Catherine
This is a co-subject for the entry on Pennefather, William. View the original entry....
Pepyat, Mary
This is a co-subject for the entry on Pepyat, Jeremiah. View the original entry....