Alton, Bryan Gerard
Alton, Bryan Gerard (1919–91), physician, politician and goldsmith, was born in Dublin on 5 June 1919, the only child of Norman Bindon Alton, bank inspector, and his wife, Mary Frances (née Hayes). The family lived at 119 Morehampton Road until his father died in 1925. Bryan and his…...
Amlaíb (Óláfr) Cuarán
Amlaíb (Óláfr) Cuarán (d. 981), son of Sitriuc Cáech (qv), was Norse king of Dublin. He first came to notice in 940 when he left Dublin to join his cousin Amlaíb (qv) son…...
Amlaíb (Óláfr Godfridsson)
Amlaíb (Óláfr Godfridsson) (d. 941), Norse king of Dublin, was son of Gofraid (king 921–34), the last surviving grandson of Ímar (qv); nothing is known of his mother. He married Aldgyth, daughter of an Anglo-Danish jarl, Ormr. If he had any…...
Andrews, Christopher Stephen (‘Todd’)
Andrews, Christopher Stephen (‘Todd’) (1901–85), revolutionary, public servant, and writer, was born 6 October 1901 at 42 Summerhill, central Dublin, elder of two sons of Christopher Andrews, of Dublin, and Mary (‘Molly’) Andrews (née Moran), daughter of a…...
Annesley, Mabel Marguerite
Annesley, Mabel Marguerite (1881–1959), wood engraver and watercolourist, was born 25 February 1881 at Castlewellan, Co. Down, only daughter among two children of Hugh, 5th earl of Annesley, of Castlewellan, and his first wife, Mabel Wilhelmina Frances (née Markham). She was educated at…...
Archdall, Mervyn
Archdall, Mervyn (1723–91), clergyman and antiquary, was born 22 April 1723 in Dublin, elder son among two sons and three daughters of William Archdall, goldsmith, and his wife Henrietta, a widow who was daughter of Henry Gonne, curate of Finglas. William Archdall was Dublin assay…...
Ardgal
Ardgal (d. 970), son of Matudán and overking of Ulaid 950–70, was of the Dál Fiatach dynasty. He succeeded his father Matudán son of Áed, overking of Ulaid 937–50, who was slain by the Uí Echach. During the reign of Ardgal, the Ulaid faced a threat from the Northern Uí Néill; in…...
Armstrong, Arthur
Armstrong, Arthur (1924–96), painter, was born 12 January 1924 at Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, one of three sons among six children of James Charlton Armstrong, house-painter and decorator, and his wife Margaret (née Howard). Soon after his birth the family moved to Belfast. He…...
Armstrong, Sir Walter
Armstrong, Sir Walter (1850–1918), art historian and gallery director, was born 7 February 1850 in Roxburghshire, Scotland, eldest son of Walter Armstrong of Hawick, and educated at Harrow and Oxford (BA 1873). He taught at art schools in London…...
Arthur, William
Arthur, William (1819–1901), methodist minister and author, was born 3 February 1819, probably in Kells, Co. Antrim, son of James Arthur and Margaret Arthur (née Kennedy), and spent his childhood in Westport, Co. Mayo. Though brought up an episcopalian, he attended (1837–9)…...
Artrí
Artrí (d. 821), son of Cathal and overking of Munster, belonged to the Éoganacht Glendamnach dynasty of north Co. Cork. His father is generally identified as Cathal (qv) son of Finguine, a very important and able king of Munster (721–42),…...
Asgall (Askulf; Hasculf)
Asgall (Askulf; Hasculf) (d. 1171), son of Ragnall and ruler of Dublin, belonged to the Hiberno-Scandinavian line of Torcall (Thorkell), which had emerged to rule Dublin in the person of Thorkell, grandfather of Asgall, following the failure of…...
Ashford, William
Ashford, William (1746–1824), artist, was christened on 20 May 1746 in St Martin's parish church, Birmingham, the son of Richard Ashford of Birmingham. Nothing is recorded of his early life in England but he almost certainly had some form of technical and/or artistic education. He…...
Assicus (T'Assach)
Assicus (T'Assach) (d. c.508), an artisan – i.e. coppersmith – of supposed Gaulish origin, came to Ireland at some stage during the mission of St Patrick (qv) and was later consecrated a bishop by him.…...
Atkinson, Sarah
Atkinson, Sarah (1823–93), philanthropist and author, was born 13 October 1823 in Athlone, Co. Roscommon, eldest of five daughters and one son of John Gaynor , gentleman, and Anna Gaynor. The family moved to Dublin for the sake of the children's education, but no details are known…...
Augaire
Augaire (d. 1024), son of Dúnlaing and overking of Leinster, belonged to the Uí Muiredaig lineage of the Uí Dúnlainge dynasty. During the reign of his father Dúnlaing (qv) (d. 1014), king of Uí Muiredaig and briefly overking of the province…...
Bacon, Francis
Bacon, Francis (1909–92), artist, was born 28 October 1909 at 63 Lower Baggot St., Dublin, second eldest of three sons and two daughters of Anthony Edward (‘Eddy’) Mortimer Bacon, and his wife Christina Winifred (‘Winnie’) Loxley Firth, both of England. His father, a former captain…...
Báetán
Báetán (d. 581), son of Cairell and overking of Ulaid, belonged to the Dál Fiatach dynasty. His father Cairell, allegedly a son of Muiredach Muinderg, is included in the Ulster king-lists. His mother, according to genealogical tradition, was Cummíne daughter of Furudrán. He had a…...
Báetán
Báetán (d. 572), son of Muirchertach and putatively king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty. The genealogies represent him as a son of Muirchertach/Mac Ercae (qv) and as a brother of Domnall and Forggus, who are…...
Báetán
Báetán (d. 586), son of Ninnid and putatively king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél Conaill dynasty. His father, Ninnid son of Duí, was an early representative of the lineage of Cenél Duach. He had at least two brothers: Eochaid, who was slain by the Cianachta, and Feradach,…...
Bagwell, Richard
Bagwell, Richard (1840–1918), barrister, historian, and political activist, was born 9 December 1840, eldest son of John Bagwell, MP, of Marlfield, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, and his wife the Hon. Frances, youngest daughter of Francis Aldborough Prittie,…...
Baillie, William
Baillie, William (1723–1810), printmaker and art dealer, was born 11 June 1723 at Kilbride, Co. Carlow, the second son of the upholsterer Robert Baillie of Celbridge, Co. Kildare, and his wife Susanna (née Antrobus). After his education at Dr…...
Baily, William Hellier
Baily, William Hellier (1819–88), palaeontologist and artist, was born 7 July 1819 in Bristol, England, into a family of carvers and sculptors. He was curatorial assistant of Bristol museum (1837–44); served the Geological Survey of Great Britain as draughtsman (1844), assistant…...
Ball, Francis Elrington
Ball, Francis Elrington (1863–1928), antiquarian and historian, was born 18 July 1863 at Portmarnock, Co. Dublin, third and youngest son of John Thomas Ball (qv), later lord chancellor of Ireland, and Catherine Ball (née Elrington),…...
Banim, John
Banim, John (1798–1842), artist, novelist, playwright, and poet, was born 3 April 1798 in Kilkenny city, the eldest son of Michael Banim (perhaps originally Bannon), farmer and shopkeeper (he sold sporting goods), and Joannah or Judith Banim (née Carroll) from near the Slieve Bloom…...