O'Dea, Denis
O'Dea, Denis (1903–78), actor, was born 26 April 1903 in Dublin, the only child of Michael O'Dea, RIC officer, and Katherine O'Dea (née Neilson), both originally from north Co. Kerry. At the time of Denis's birth they were living at…...
O'Dea, James Augustine (‘Jimmy’)
O'Dea, James Augustine (‘Jimmy’) (1899–1965), actor and comedian, was born 26 April 1899 at 11 Lower Bridge St., Dublin, over his parents’ toyshop in the historic but dilapidated Liberties. Both parents, twice-widowed James O'Dea and his third wife, Martha (née O'Gorman), former…...
O'Donovan, Frederick Michael ('Fred')
O'Donovan, Frederick Michael ('Fred') (1929–2010), theatrical impresario, theatre and radio producer, and public figure, was born 27 May 1929 at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin, the fourth of six sons of John O'Donovan, of 53 Casino Road, Croydon Park, Fairview,…...
Ó Faracháin, Roibeárd (Farren, Robert)
Ó Faracháin, Roibeárd (Farren, Robert) (1909–84), poet, broadcaster, and director of the Abbey Theatre, was born Robert Farren on 24 April 1909 in Lower Grand Canal St., Dublin, son of Henry Farren, stone-cutter, and Catherine Farren (née Gray). His father, who played a prominent role…...
O'Hanlon, Paddy (Patrick Michael)
O'Hanlon, Paddy (Patrick Michael) (1944–2009), political activist, community worker, barrister and author, was born in Drogheda, Co. Louth, on 8 May 1944, second of seven children of Paddy O'Hanlon, butcher and Old IRA veteran, and his wife Margaret (née Grant). Both parents came from…...
O'Herlihy, Dan (Daniel Peter)
O'Herlihy, Dan (Daniel Peter) (1919–2005), actor, was born 1 May 1919 at Odessa Cottage, Wexford town, son of John Robert O'Herlihy, a civil servant from Cork who later worked in the Department of Industry and Commerce, and his wife Ellen (née Hanton), from Wexford; they had at least…...
O'Keeffe (O'Keefe), John
O'Keeffe (O'Keefe), John (1747–1833), actor and dramatist, was born 24 June 1747 at Abbey St., Dublin, into a catholic family. Educated locally by Fr Austin, he showed some talent as a painter and was enrolled at the Dublin Society schools. However, his mind soon turned to the…...
Ó Laoghaire, Colm
Ó Laoghaire, Colm (1919–2007), filmmaker, was born on 8 September 1919 in Dublin, the only son of Jeremiah O'Leary (see below), an Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU) official, and his wife Philomena ('Mimi') O'Leary (née Plunkett). Mimi was a daughter of Count…...
O'Leary, Con
O'Leary, Con (1915–98), pioneer of the co-operative movement, was born 18 May 1915 in Glendine, Inchigeela, west Co. Cork, son of Daniel O'Leary, farmer, and Kate O'Leary (née Barrett). He was educated at the local national school, before being forced to leave school to work on…...
O'Leary, Liam
O'Leary, Liam (1910–92), writer, film director, and archivist, was born William O'Laoghaire on 25 September 1910, the son of Donnachadh O'Laoghaire, a teacher, and his wife, Alice (née Burke), of South Main Street, Youghal. He spent most of his childhood in Wexford, and was…...
Ó Lochlainn, Colm
Ó Lochlainn, Colm (1892–1972), printer, publisher and Gaelic scholar, was born William Gerard O'Loughlin at Drumcondra, Dublin, on 11 October 1892, the second of four surviving children (from six) of John O'Loughlin, publisher, and his wife Delia Bridget (née Carr), whose family were…...
O'Mahony, Donal
O'Mahony, Donal (1936–2010), Capuchin priest and activist for social justice, was born on 2 August 1936 in Blackrock, Cork, son of Jeremiah O'Mahony and his wife Ellen (née Walsh). He was educated at Rochestown College, and then trained as a sports journalist with the Irish…...
O'Malley, Patrick Pearse
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Malley, Mary (Margaret). View the original entry....
O'Malley, Tony (Anthony)
O'Malley, Tony (Anthony) (1913–2003), painter, was born 25 September 1913 in Bridge Street, Callan, Co. Kilkenny, eldest of two sons and two daughters of Patrick O'Malley, a commercial traveller for Singer sewing machines, and his wife Margaret (née Ryan), from the Callan area, who…...
O'Meara, Frank
O'Meara, Frank (1853–88), landscape painter, was born in Carlow on 30 March 1853, the youngest of the seven children of Thomas O'Meara, a medical doctor, and his wife, Sarah (née Isbourne). His grandfather Dr Barry Edward O'Meara…...
Ó Monacháin, Ailbhe
Ó Monacháin, Ailbhe (1889–1967), illustrator and Irish-language activist, was born 26 January 1889 in Belfast and christened Alfred Monahan, youngest of four sons and two daughters of Wexford-born Robert Joseph Monahan, sawyer, and Johanna Monahan (née Nolan). He was educated in Belfast…...
O'Neill, James
O'Neill, James (1845–1920), actor, was born 14 October 1845 in Rosbercon, Co. Kilkenny, sixth of the nine children of Edmond O'Neil (also Neil, Neill, or O'Neill), labourer, and his wife (and cousin) Mary Neill. After struggling in the famine years, Edmond O'Neill emigrated (May…...
O'Sullivan, Donal
O'Sullivan, Donal (1904–77), priest and arts administrator, was born Daniel Joseph Sullivan on 27 July 1904 in Donemark, Bantry, Co. Cork, the only son among two children of John Sullivan, a national school teacher, and Mary Anne Sullivan (née Keohane). After receiving primary and…...
O'Sullivan, Seán
O'Sullivan, Seán (1906–64), artist, was born John O'Sullivan on 20 June 1906 in 44 St Joseph's Terrace, Dublin, son of John O'Sullivan, carpenter, and Mary O'Sullivan (née Taylor). Educated at Synge Street Christian Brothers' School and Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, where he was…...
Pearse, James
Pearse, James (1839–1900), sculptor, was born on 8 December 1839 at 24 Plumtree Street, Bloomsbury, London, the second of three sons of James Pearse, frame-maker, and his first wife Mary Ann (née Thompson). The family was impoverished and moved to Birmingham (c.1847), where…...
Pearse, William (‘Willie’)
Pearse, William (‘Willie’) (1881–1916), revolutionary and sculptor, was born 15 November 1881 at 27 Great Brunswick St. (Pearse St.), Dublin, second son among two sons and two daughters of James Pearse, a monumental sculptor originally from London, and his second wife,…...
Peyton, Patrick Joseph
Peyton, Patrick Joseph (1909–1992), Holy Cross priest and radio and television evangelist (‘the Rosary Priest’), was born 9 January 1909 in Carracastle, near Ballina, Co. Mayo, sixth of the nine children of John Peyton (1868–1934), county road repair worker, and Mary Gillard Peyton (…...
Pollen, John Hungerford
Pollen, John Hungerford (1820–1902), architect, artist, and author, was born 19 November 1820 in London, second son of Richard Pollen, barrister, and his wife Anne, daughter of Samuel Pepys Cockerell. Educated at Durham House (1829–33) and Eton (1833–8), in May 1838 he…...
Power, Albert George
Power, Albert George (1881–1945), sculptor, was born 16 November 1881 at Barrack Street (now Benburb Street), Dublin, second of two sons and one younger daughter of Henry Power, watchmaker, and Mary Power (née Atkins), embroideress. He was educated at the Christian Brothers national…...
Purcell, Noel
Purcell, Noel (1900–85), actor, was born Patrick Joseph Noel Purcell on 23 December 1900 at 11a Lower Mercer Street, Dublin, the elder of the two children of Pierce Purcell, auctioneer, and his second wife, Catherine Purcell (née Hoban), antique dealer. Educated at the Synge…...