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…...
Dixon, Beatrice Maureen
Dixon, Beatrice Maureen (1916–2005), pioneer of women's participation in public life, was born 17 August 1916 in Dublin, the younger of two daughters of James Bayley Butler (qv), a professor of zoology, and his wife Katherine Butler (…...
Dowdall, Jane (‘Jennie’)
Dowdall, Jane (‘Jennie’) (1899–1974), philanthropist and politician, was born Jane Doggett at 28 Smithfield, Dublin, on 29 September 1899, the daughter of Michael Doggett , eating-house keeper, and Mary Ellen Doggett (née Andrews). After her schooling she worked as a nurse at St…...
Downing, Ellen Mary Patrick
Downing, Ellen Mary Patrick (1828–69), poet, was born 19 March 1828 in Cork, the daughter of J. B. Downing, resident medical officer at the Cork Fever Hospital, where her mother served as matron. After making her first communion in St Patrick's church, Cork, she added Patrick to…...
Drumm, Máire
Drumm, Máire (1919–76), republican, was born 22 November 1919 in Killean, Newry, Co. Down, eldest among four children of Thomas McAteer (described as a ‘dealer’) and Margaret McAteer (née Brown). She attended the local national school and subsequently a convent grammar school in…...
Duffy, Louise Gavan
Duffy, Louise Gavan (1884–1969), educator, nationalist and Irish language enthusiast, was born 17 July 1884 in Cimiez, near Nice, the only daughter among four children of the marriage of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy (qv), journalist and…...
English, Adeline (‘Ada’)
English, Adeline (‘Ada’) (1875–1944), doctor, academic, and nationalist, was born 10 January 1875 in Caherciveen, Co. Kerry, younger daughter of Patrick English, pharmaceutical chemist, and Nora English (née McCardle). She was reared in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, though her father may…...
Farrell, Mairead
Farrell, Mairead (1957–88), republican paramilitary, was born 3 August 1957 in Belfast, youngest of six children and only daughter of Daniel Farrell and his wife, whose surname was Gaffney. Farrell's family were middle-class Catholics who owned a hardware and grocery shop. Her…...
Fennell, Nuala
Fennell, Nuala (1935–2009), feminist and politician, was born Fionnuala Campbell in north Co. Dublin on 25 November 1935, the third eldest child of Patrick Campbell, from the rural east Co. Galway area of Lisheennavannoge (Clancarty), an IRA volunteer and one of the earliest Garda…...
FitzGerald, Joan
FitzGerald, Joan (1923–99), political confidante, was born 24 March 1923 in Liverpool, England, elder of the two children of Charles O'Farrell (d. 1956), a former colonial civil servant, with Galway roots, who had served in west Africa, and his wife Frances (1889–1974), daughter of…...
Forrester, Ellen (Magennis)
Forrester, Ellen (Magennis) (1828–83), nationalist and poet, was probably born in Clones, Co. Monaghan, sixth child of a local schoolmaster; her mother was a presbyterian, who in later life converted to catholicism. At the age of 17 she moved to England, and after a period working…...
Gaj, Margaret (née Dunlop)
Gaj, Margaret (née Dunlop) (1919–2011), restaurateur, radical, and political activist, was born on 28 January 1919 in Edinburgh, Scotland, one of four children (two girls and two boys) of James Aloysius Dunlop and his wife Ellen (née O'Malley). Both parents were catholics of Irish…...
Gibson, Violet Albina
Gibson, Violet Albina (1876–1956), failed assassin, was born 31 August 1876 in Dalkey, Co. Dublin, to Edward Gibson (qv), a wealthy lawyer and politician, and Frances Maria Adelaide Gibson (née Colles), the daughter of a barrister. Violet was…...
Gifford, Grace (Evelyn)
Gifford, Grace (Evelyn) (1888–1955), cartoonist and republican, was born 4 March 1888 at 8 Temple Villas, Palmerston Park, Rathmines, Dublin, one of twelve children of Frederick Gifford, a wealthy solicitor, and Isabella Gifford (née Burton), a niece of the artist Sir…...
Glenn, Alice
Glenn, Alice (1921–2011), politician and moral crusader, was born Alicia Duffy on 17 December 1921 in Usher's Quay, Dublin, the eldest of ten children of (Arthur) Leo Duffy, a car mechanic, and his wife Mary (née Joyce), a dressmaker. Descended from generations of Dublin artisans on…...
Goulding, Valerie
Goulding, Valerie (1918–2003), philanthropist and senator, was born Valerie Hamilton Monckton on 12 September 1918 in Kent, younger of two children (she had an elder brother) of Walter Monckton, barrister (later a confidant of King Edward VIII and afterwards a conservative cabinet…...
Gray, Caroline Agnes (Carrie)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Gray, Edmund William Dwyer. View the original entry....
Hamilton, Elizabeth (‘La Belle Hamilton’)
Hamilton, Elizabeth (‘La Belle Hamilton’) (c.1640–1708), countess of Grammont, courtier , was born at Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, the eldest daughter of Sir George Hamilton (d. 1679), 1st baronet, fourth son of James, 1st earl of Abercorn; her mother was Mary, third daughter…...
Harkin, Nora
Harkin, Nora (1910–2012), republican socialist, was born on 15 September 1910 at her parents' farm in Breenagh, near Glenswilly, in the Co. Donegal Gaeltacht. Her father, Michael McGinley (1852–1940), a Fenian, wrote the ballad 'Glenswilly' as he sailed to New Zealand in 1878. Returning…...
Hayden, Mary Teresa
Hayden, Mary Teresa (1862–1942), historian and women's rights campaigner, was born 19 May 1862 in Merrion Square, Dublin, only daughter of Thomas Hayden (qv), physician and later vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Mary…...
Humphreys, Sighle (Mary Ellen; Sighle Bean Uí Dhonnchadha)
Humphreys, Sighle (Mary Ellen; Sighle Bean Uí Dhonnchadha) (1899–1994), republican activist, was born 26 February 1899 in Limerick city, only daughter of David Humphreys, medical doctor, and his wife, Nell (Mary Ellen; née Rahilly), sister of…...
Leeson, Margaret (‘Peg’)
Leeson, Margaret (‘Peg’) (1727–97), prostitute, brothel-keeper, and memoirist, was born Margaret Plunket at Killough, Co. Westmeath, one of eight surviving children of Matthew Plunket, a wealthy farmer, and his wife, whose maiden name was O'Reilly. Most of what is known about Margaret…...
Lynch, Máirín
Lynch, Máirín (1916–2004), taoiseach's wife and confidante, was born 16 August 1916 in Rathgar, Dublin, daughter of Arthur O'Connor , medical student, and his wife Margaret (née Doyle), who came from a small farming background in Meath and appears to have become estranged from her…...
MacBride, (Edith) Maud Gonne
MacBride, (Edith) Maud Gonne (1866–1953), advanced nationalist, political activist, and subject of most of the love poetry of W. B. Yeats (qv), was born 21 December 1866 at Tongham Manor, near Farnham, Surrey, England, eldest daughter…...
MacDonagh, Muriel Enid Gifford
This is a co-subject for the entry on DONNELLY, Helen Ruth (‘Nellie’) Gifford. View the original entry....