Dillon, Theobald
Dillon, Theobald (d. 1691), 7th Viscount Dillon , Jacobite officer, was born at Lough Glynn, Co. Roscommon, eldest son of Capt. Robert Dillon and his wife Rose, one of the Dillon family of Streamstown, Co. Galway. In 1682 he succeeded as 7th Viscount Dillon on the death without…...
Dillon, Thomas
Dillon, Thomas (1615–1673/4), 4th Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen, army officer, was born in March 1615, second son of Sir Christopher Dillon of Ballylagham, Co. Mayo, lord president of Connacht, and Lady Jane, eldest daughter of James Dillon, 1st earl of Roscommon. He was a…...
Diver, Bridget
Diver (Divers, Deaver, Deavers, Devens, Devins, Devan), Bridget (‘Irish Biddy’, ‘Michigan Bridget’) (fl. 1861–4), vivandière and ‘daughter’ of the First Michigan Cavalry regiment, was born in Ireland sometime before 1840. It has been suggested that the ‘Michigan Bridget’ legend…...
Dolan, Joseph
Dolan, Joseph (1872–1930), businessman and local activist, was born in January 1872 in Ardee, Co. Louth, son of Thomas Dolan, publican, merchant and farmer who was a native Irish speaker, and his wife Anne Segrave. The Dolans had built up an extensive business in Ardee since the early…...
Dolan, Joseph Francis Robert ('Joe')
Dolan, Joseph Francis Robert ('Joe') (1939–2007), pop singer, was born 16 October 1939 in the county hospital, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, youngest of eight surviving children (five boys and three girls; another boy had died in early childhood) of Patrick Dolan (c.1890–1950) and…...
Donaghy, Eileen
Donaghy, Eileen (1930–2008), singer, was born on 16 July 1930 in Brackaville, near Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, the second of three children (two girls and a boy) of Hugh Pat McNally, a stonemason, and his wife Brigid (née Corey). She was christened Mary Josephine, but was always known…...
Donahoe, Patrick
Donahoe, Patrick (1811–1901) editor, publisher, and businessman, was born 17 March 1811 in Munnery, Kilmore, Co. Cavan, the son of Terrence Donahoe and his wife Jane (née Christy). His mother died when he was an infant. In 1821 he emigrated, with his father, to Boston,…...
Donaldson, Denis Martin
Donaldson, Denis Martin (1950–2006), republican and informer, was born in Seaforde Street, Belfast; he had at least three brothers and one sister. Educated at St Malachy's grammar school in north Belfast, he grew up in the Short Strand, a small catholic enclave in (overwhelmingly…...
Donegan, Patrick Sarsfield (‘Paddy’, ‘P. S.’)
Donegan, Patrick Sarsfield (‘Paddy’, ‘P. S.’) (1923–2000), politician, farmer, publican, and businessman, was born 29 October 1923 at Monasterboice, Co. Louth, son of Thomas Francis Donegan, publican and farmer, and Rose Ann Donegan (née Butterly). He was educated at Fieldstown and…...
Dongan (D'Unguent), Thomas
Dongan (D'Unguent), Thomas (1634–1715), 2nd earl of Limerick , soldier and first governor of New York, was third son of Sir John Dongan, baronet, of Castletown Kildrought (Celbridge), Co. Kildare, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir William Talbot, baronet, of Carton, and niece of…...
Dongan, William
Dongan, William (1630–98), Viscount Dongan of Clane and 1st earl of Limerick , soldier and Jacobite governor of Munster, was second son of Sir John Dongan, 2nd baronet, of Castletown, Co. Kildare, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir William Talbot, 1st baronet, of Carton. His elder…...
Donnelly, Nicholas
Donnelly, Nicholas (1837–1920), catholic bishop, church musician, and local historian, was born 23 November 1837, in St Paul's parish, Dublin, eldest son of John Donnelly, a merchant. He was educated at Castleknock College and the Irish College, Rome, where he was ordained priest…...
Doolin, William
Doolin, William (1887–1962), surgeon, editor, and medical historian, was born 19 July 1887 at 20 Ely Place, Dublin, eldest child of Walter G. Doolin, architect, and Marion Doolin (née Creedon). His siblings were Daniel and Walter. He was educated at the Catholic University School…...
Doonican, Val
Doonican, Val (1927–2015), singer and musician, was born Michael Valentine Doonican on 3 February 1927 at 10 Passage Road in Waterford, the youngest of eight children (four boys and four girls) of John Doonican, a metal worker, and his wife Agnes (née Kavanagh). To distinguish him from…...
Dowling, Vincent
Dowling, Vincent (1929–2013), theatre actor, director and producer, was born in Kimmage, Dublin, on 7 September 1929 the sixth of four sons and three daughters of William Dowling, a ship's captain, and his wife Mary (née Kelly). His father was violent towards the family and left when…...
Doyle, Jack
Doyle, Jack (1913–78), boxer, actor, singer and playboy, was born Joseph Alphonsus Doyle, 31 August 1913 at 12 Queen Street, Queenstown, Co. Cork, eldest son among four sons and two daughters of Michael Doyle, sailor, of Queenstown, and Anastasia Doyle. His schooling, at St Joseph's…...
Doyle, Maurice Francis
Doyle, Maurice Francis (1931–2009), civil servant and governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, was born 14 December 1931, the only son of Valentine Doyle, builder, and his wife Agnes (née O'Growney), of 212 Collins Avenue, Drumcondra, Dublin. Educated at O'Connell School, North Richmond…...
Doyle, (Paschal) Vincent (P. V.)
Doyle, (Paschal) Vincent (P. V.) (1923–88), hotelier and builder, was born 17 May 1923 in Dundrum, Dublin, one among seven children of Michael J. Doyle, builder and farmer of Frankfurt Villa, Dundrum, and Eileen Doyle (née Lawlor). He was educated at the…...
Doyle, William Joseph Gabriel
Doyle, William Joseph Gabriel (1873–1917), Jesuit priest and military chaplain, was born 3 March 1873 at Melrose, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, youngest child of Hugh Doyle, registrar of the insolvency court, and Christine Doyle (née Byrne). He was educated by the Rosminian Fathers at…...
Drew, Ronnie (Joseph Ronald Augustine)
Drew, Ronnie (Joseph Ronald Augustine) (1934–2008), folk singer, was born 16 September 1934 in 'Beaufort', Glasthule (Sandycove), Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, eldest of three sons and two daughters of Patrick ('Paddy') Drew, carpenter, and Margaret ('Peg') Drew (née Maher), a seamstress…...
Duckett, William
Duckett, William (1768–1841), French agent, was born at Killarney, Co. Kerry, in 1768. Nothing is known of his family other than that he had a brother, Sidney, who in the 1790s lived in Paris and Hamburg. Duckett went to France and may already have been there before 1784, in which…...
Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan
Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan (1816–1903), politician and journalist, was born in Monaghan town on 12 April 1816, the sixth and youngest child of John Duffy (d. 1827), a shopkeeper and former United Irishman, and his wife, Anne (née Gavan). Formative years After the premature deaths of his…...
Duggan, Richard Joseph
Duggan, Richard Joseph (1878–1934), turf accountant, businessman, and founder of the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake, was born 21 March 1878 in Dublin, fourth child among three sons and two daughters of Patrick Duggan, clerk, originally from Waterford, and Mary Duggan (née Burrows).…...
Duggan, Thomas Francis ('Tom')
Duggan, Thomas Francis ('Tom') (1890–1961), priest and military chaplain, was born 7 May 1890 in the Half Way, a small village in the parish of Ballinhassig, Co. Cork, the eldest of four surviving children (three boys and a girl) of Thomas Duggan (d. 1909) and his wife Hannah (née…...
Dunlop, Daniel Nicol
Dunlop, Daniel Nicol (1868–1935), businessman and esotericist, was born 28 December 1868 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, only child of Alexander Dunlop, described variously as an architect or builder, and Catherine Dunlop (née Nicol) (1847–73). His father, a stern authoritarian, was…...