O'Brien, Sophie Raffalovich
O'Brien, Sophie Raffalovich (1860–1960), writer and activist, was born in Odessa on 15 January 1860, daughter of Herman Raffalovich , banker, and his wife, Marie. She had two brothers: André, who became well known as a homosexual aesthete, and Ernest, a banker and tsarist agent…...
O'Callaghan, Kate (Kathleen)
O'Callaghan, Kate (Kathleen) (1885–1961), teacher and politician, was born 11 October 1885 in Crossmahon, Lissarda, Co. Cork, daughter of Cornelius Murphy , farmer. Educated at St Mary's Dominican College, Dublin, she obtained a BA from the…...
O'Casey, Eileen
O'Casey, Eileen (1897–1995), actress, author, and wife of writer Sean O'Casey (qv), was born 27 December 1897 in Dublin, youngest among three children of Edward Reynolds , accountant, from Athlone, Co. Westmeath, and Kathleen Reynolds (…...
O'Connor (Glasgow), Terry
O'Connor (Glasgow), Terry (1897–1983), musician and music teacher, was born Mary Teresa O'Connor on 14 October 1897 in Johnstown, Waterford city, the second among at least four daughters of James O'Connor, grocer and vintner, and Brigid O'Connor (née Keirsey). Educated at the…...
O'Connor, Patricia
O'Connor, Patricia (1905–83), writer and teacher, was born Henrietta Norah O'Connor (known within her family as Norah) at Sheephaven coastguard station, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal on 4 December 1905, third of four children (three daughters and a son) of Patrick O'Connor, coastguard and…...
O'Donoghue, Nannie Power
Power O’Donoghue (née Lambert), Nannie (1843–1940), journalist, equestrian and writer was born 2 June 1843 and baptised as Ann Stewart Lyster Lambert in St Thomas Church of Ireland, Marlborough Street, Dublin. She was the youngest child of four daughters and one son of Charles Lambert,…...
O'Donohue, Maura
O'Donohue, Maura (1933–2015), missionary doctor and public health campaigner, was born on 2 March 1933 at Likeen, her family home in Kilfenora, Co. Clare, the second of four children (two girls and two boys) of Andrew O’Donohue, a farmer, and his wife Kate (née O’Brien). Mary Brigid, as…...
O'Donovan Rossa, Mary Jane (née Irwin)
O'Donovan Rossa, Mary Jane (née Irwin) (1845–1916), poet, was born in 1844/5 (baptised 26 January 1845) in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, the daughter of Maxwell Irwin, a farmer and member of Young Ireland. She was educated in the Sacred Heart Convent, Roscrea and started writing poetry at an…...
O'Driscoll, Margaret Collins-
O'Driscoll, Margaret Collins- (c.1878–1945), teacher and politician, was born in Woodfield, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, eldest of three daughters and five sons of Michael Collins , farmer, and Mary Anne Collins (née O'Brien). Her youngest brother was the revolutionary leader…...
O'Faolain, Eileen
O'Faolain, Eileen (1900–88), author of children's books, and wife of writer Sean O'Faolain (qv), was born 10 June 1900 at 5 Lee Rd, Cork city, one of five children of Joseph Gould , engineman, and Julia Gould (née O'Connell). After the…...
O'Farrell Mary, Sr Genevieve
O'Farrell Mary, Sr Genevieve (1923–2001), headmistress, was born Mary O'Farrell on 22 March 1923 in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, fifth child and only daughter of William O'Farrell, farm manager, and his wife, Catherine. She was educated locally by the Sisters of Mercy and was a bright…...
O'Flaherty, May
O'Flaherty (Flaherty), May (1904–91), bookshop owner, was born Mary Angela Flaherty on 14 May 1904 in Youghal, Co. Cork, one of at least five children of Thomas Flaherty, a Royal Irish Constabulary sergeant, originally from Co. Kerry, and his wife Catherine (née Drummy), from Kilmichael…...
O'Flaherty, Kathleen Mary Josephine
O'Flaherty, Kathleen Mary Josephine (1916–94), French scholar, was born 26 December 1916 in Mayfield, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, the youngest of the four children, two sons and two daughters, of Bernard Joseph O'Flaherty, a prominent and well-to-do solicitor, and his wife, Frances…...
O'Keeffe, Adelaide
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Keeffe (O'Keefe), John. View the original entry....
O'Leary, Ellen
O'Leary, Ellen (1831–89), nationalist and poet, was born 22 October 1831 in Tipperary town, the second child of John O'Leary, a prosperous shopkeeper, and his second wife Margaret Ryan. After the death of her mother in the mid 1830s while she was still a very young child, Ellen…...
O'Mahoney, Katharine Aloysia O'Keeffe
O'Mahoney, Katharine Aloysia O'Keeffe (1851–1908), editor, educator, and writer, was born in Co. Kilkenny, daughter of Patrick O'Keeffe (b. 1803) and his wife Rose (b. 1824; maiden name unknown). The O'Keeffes emigrated to Methuen, Massachusetts, USA, c.1851 when she was ten…...
O'Mahony, Nora (Norah) Tynan
O'Mahony, Nora (Norah) Tynan (1866–1954), poet and novelist, was born 15 February 1866 in Whitehall, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, one of twelve children of Andrew Cullen Tynan , a livestock farmer from Clondalkin, and Elizabeth Tynan (née Reilly). She attended the Dominician convent of…...
O'Meara, Kathleen
O'Meara, Kathleen (1839–88), novelist and biographer, was born in Dublin, the daughter of Den[n]is O'Meara of Tipperary. When she was about five, she moved with her parents to France, where they had connections: a grandfather, Barry…...
O'Neill, Mary
O'Neill, Mary (1879–1967), poet and playwright, was born 3 August 1879 in Barrack St., Loughrea, Co. Galway, daughter of John Devenport , RIC sub-constable, and Bridget Devenport (née Burke). Having received her initial education at the…...
O'Shea, Elizabeth
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Shea, John Augustus. View the original entry....
O'Shea, Marion
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Shea, John Augustus. View the original entry....
Phelan, Anastasia (Mary Gerard)
Phelan, Anastasia (Mary Gerard) (1872–1960), religious superior and educator, was born 18 January 1872 in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, to John Phelan, farmer, and Mary Phelan (née Dallon). Baptised Anastasia, she was educated by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Waterford…...
Philbin, Eva Maria
Philbin, Eva Maria (1914–2005), chemist and university professor, was born 3 January 1914 in Ballina, Co. Mayo, the elder of two daughters of George Ryder , a postman and later a publican, and his wife Kate (née Donegan). Eva attended the Convent of Mercy in Ballina, and then went…...
Pilkington, Laetitia
Pilkington, Laetitia (c.1709–1750), author, was born in Dublin or Co. Cork, eldest child of John van Lewen (1684–1737), physician and obstetrician, and his wife Elizabeth Corry (d. c.1742), niece of Sir John Meade (qv…...
Place, Valerie
Place, Valerie (1969–93), nurse and overseas aid worker, was born 24 March 1969 at 20 St Brendan's Crescent, Walkinstown, Dublin, one of four daughters and three sons of Patrick Place, coachbuilder, of that address, and Margaret Place (née Byrne). Educated at St Paul's secondary school…...