Rákóczi, Basil
Rákóczi, Basil (1908–79), painter and psychoanalyst, was born 31 May 1908 in Chelsea, London, son of Ivan Rákóczi, Hungarian composer, violinist, and artist, and Charlotte May Dobbey, who went by the name ‘Dolly Wilce’ and was an artist's model from Co. Cork. His parents, who were…...
Redmond, Mary
Redmond, Mary (1863–1930), sculptor, was born in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, daughter of a quarry worker, and moved at a young age with her family to Ardclough, near Straffan, Co. Meath, where her father was employed in the local limestone quarries, the chief source of wealth in the…...
Reid, Nano
Reid, Nano (1900–81), painter, was born Anne Margaret Reid on 1 March 1900 in Drogheda, Co. Louth, eldest among four children of Thomas Reid, publican, and Anne Reid (née Downey). The family lived above their pub on the corner of Peter St. and Fair St., and enjoyed a prosperous…...
Rivers, Elizabeth Joyce
Rivers, Elizabeth Joyce (1903–64), artist, was born 5 August 1903 in the family home, Bonks Hill House in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England, the daughter of Thomas Alfred Rivers, nurseryman, and his wife Mabel (née Hall). Her family had run a renowned nursery plant operation from…...
Rosen, Hans Waldemar
Rosen, Hans Waldemar (1904–94), music teacher and choral conductor, was born 15 July 1904 in Dresden, Germany, the only child of Ferdinand Rosetzka and Hedwig Rosetzka (née Thiele). In 1919 his father changed the family name to Rosen. Primarily of German extraction, he was reared in…...
Rowsome, (Martin) Leo
Rowsome, (Martin) Leo (1903–70), uilleann piper, was born 5 April 1903 at 18 Armstrong St., Harold's Cross, Dublin, third son among seven sons and one daughter of William Rowsome, carpenter (d. 1925), and (Bridget) Ann Rowsome (neé Murphy). William, a protestant from Ballintore,…...
Ryan, John
Ryan, John (1925–92), editor, painter, and broadcaster, was born 19 February 1925 in Camden St., Dublin, the third among eight children of Seamus Ryan, businessman, and Agnes Ryan (née Harding), both of Co. Tipperary. His father was the founder of Monument Creameries in Dublin,…...
Ryan, Kathleen
Ryan, Kathleen (1922–85), actress, was born on 8 September 1922 above her parents' shop on Camden Street, Dublin, the first of eight children of James (Seamus) Ryan (qv) and his wife Agnes Ryan (qv) (née Harding).…...
Ryan, Phyllis Carmel
Ryan, Phyllis Carmel (1920–2011), actress and theatre producer, was born on 28 July 1920 at 79 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin, the younger of two daughters of Thomas J. Ryan, who served in the British army and was subsequently a civil servant, and his wife May (or 'Maisie') (née…...
Sadleir, John
Sadleir, John (1813–56), banker, politician, speculator, and swindler, was born 17 November 1813 at Shronell House in the parish of Shronell near Tipperary town, fifth of seven children born to Clement William Sadleir, a protestant farmer and middleman, whose earliest known…...
Scriven, Joseph Medlicott
Scriven, Joseph Medlicott (1819–86), preacher and hymn writer, was born 10 September 1819 at Ballymoney Lodge, near Banbridge, Co. Down, son of John Scriven, captain in the army and later churchwarden of Seapatrick parish church, and Jane Scriven (née Medlicott), possibly related…...
Sheehy, Edmund
Sheehy, Edmund (1733–66), farmer executed for murder, of Lodge (parish of Ardfinnan, Co. Tipperary), was the son of Ellin Fitzpatrick. He was otherwise known as ‘Buck’ Sheehy, a term indicative of semi-gentleman status, as he had an income of £300 or £400 a year, and was a person…...
Sheridan , Cecil Brinsley
This is a co-subject for the entry on Sheridan, Noel. View the original entry....
Sheridan, Margaret (Burke) (‘Margherita’)
Sheridan, Margaret (Burke) (‘Margherita’) (1889–1958), soprano, was born 15 October 1889 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, one of two daughters and three sons of John Burke Sheridan (1844–1901), the local postmaster, and Mary Ellen Sheridan (née Cooley; 1853–95). Baptised on 24 October by…...
Sheridan, Noel
Sheridan, Noel (1936–2006), artist, actor, and arts administrator, was born 12 December 1936 in Dublin, one of three children (two daughters and a son) of Cecil (Brinsley) Sheridan, entertainer, and his wife Ann ('Nan') (née Doyle). Cecil Sheridan (1910–80) was born 21 December 1910…...
Sherlock, Thomas
This is a co-subject for the entry on Sherlock, Lorcan George. View the original entry....
Smith, Brendan John
Smith, Brendan John (1917–89), founder-director of the Dublin Theatre Festival, was born 7 February 1917 in Ilford, Essex, England, son of John Mead, executive in a London co-operative society, and Greta Smith, a professional cellist. It is not known whether his parents were married; he…...
Smyth, Brendan
Smyth, Brendan (1927–97), catholic priest and paedophile, was born John Gerard Smyth in Nansen Street, off the Falls Road, west Belfast, on 6 June 1927. He was educated at Barracks Street CBS, Belfast. In 1945 he joined the Norbertine…...
Sugrue, Elizabeth (‘Lady Betty’)
Sugrue, Elizabeth (‘Lady Betty’) (1740/50–1807), executioner, is thought to have been born in Co. Kerry into a tenant farming family between 1740 and 1750. The location of her birth and names of her parents are not known, and available details of her life are largely anecdotal or…...
Sullivan, (Thomas) Barry
Sullivan, (Thomas) Barry (1821–91), actor, was born 5 July 1821 in Birmingham, England, second among three children of Peter Sullivan, formerly a soldier in the 101st (‘Duke of York's’) Regiment, and his wife, Mary Barry. Both parents were from Cork and the family lived there for…...
Sweetman, John
Sweetman, John (1751/2–1826), brewer, United Irishman, and art connoisseur, was born probably in Dublin, the younger of two sons of John Sweetman (d. 1784), a brewer of King Street South, and his wife Mary (née Sweetman), daughter and heir of Patrick Sweetman (1702–71). John and…...
Swift, Patrick
Swift, Patrick (1927–83), artist and literary editor, was born 12 August 1927 in Dolphins Barn, Dublin, fifth child in a family of seven sons and one daughter of Michael Swift, lorry driver, and Catherine Swift (née Mahon), of Wicklow origin. He was educated to leaving certificate…...
Tabary, James
Tabary, James (fl. 1650–87), sculptor, was born in France of huguenot origins. He is almost certainly the ‘Jacques Tabouré’ who was admitted to the academy of St Luke, Paris, in August 1655. His two brothers, Louis and John, were also carvers. Sculptors with the surname…...
Troy, Dermot
Troy, Dermot (1927–62), tenor, was born 31 July 1927 in Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, son of Richard and Maureen Troy. Later his family moved to Dublin, where he attended school at Synge St. Leaving school at fourteen, he spent three years in the RAF…...
Tullio, Paolo Luigi Mario
Tullio, Paolo Luigi Mario (1949–2015), restaurant owner, writer and food critic, was born on 20 August 1949 in Falkirk, Scotland, the only child of Dionisio Tullio, a restaurant owner and his wife Irene (née Fusco). Although Tullio’s parents were Italian, his mother was raised between…...