Ainsworth, Thomas Joseph ('Joe')
Ainsworth, Thomas Joseph (Joe; ‘Two Gun Joe’) (1927–2015), garda, was born 17 May 1927 at his parents’ home at Davitt’s Terrace, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, the elder of two sons of Harry (Henry) Ainsworth, a victualler, and his wife Margaret (née Feeney). Ainsworth was…...
Brady, Joe
Brady, Joe (c. 1857–1883), Fenian and assassin, was born in Dublin, second of twenty sons and five daughters of Thomas Brady, a paviour of forty years standing with Dublin corporation. After serving an apprenticeship with Dublin corporation, Joe was employed by the corporation…...
Burke, William
Burke, William (1793?–1829), murderer, was born probably at Urney, near Strabane, Co. Tyrone, son of Neil Burke, labourer. Born into a catholic, Irish-speaking family, he received some education and was servant to a presbyterian minister for a time. When he tired of this he tried the…...
Connolly, Patrick Joseph
Connolly, Patrick Joseph (1927–2016), barrister and attorney general of Ireland, was born 25 May 1927 at 70 Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin. He was the elder of two sons born to Patrick Joseph Connolly, principal of Ballyboughal national school, and his wife Ellen (‘Nellie’; née O’Hara…...
Fortune, Sean
Fortune, Sean (1953–99), catholic priest and paedophile, was born in Gorey, Co. Wexford, on 20 December 1953. He was educated in Gorey at the Loreto Convent and the Christian Brothers' School, and then became a member of the Christian Brothers' juniorate in Dún Laoghaire (1969–73). In…...
Freney, James
Freney, James (c.1719–1788), robber, was born in Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, son of John Freney, bailiff, and Alice Freney (née Phelan). John Freney was taken into the employment of Joseph Robbins at Ballyduff near Thomastown at the age of 10, was apprenticed as a gardener,…...
Gahagan, Usher
Gahagan, Usher (d. 1749), classical scholar and criminal, was perhaps from Co. Westmeath and may have been educated at TCD, though he did not take a degree. He converted to catholicism, much to the consternation of his family, who…...
Gallagher, Patrick
Gallagher, Patrick (1951–2006), businessman, was born on 8 May 1951 in Holles Street hospital, Dublin, the second son of Matt Gallagher, businessman, and his wife Helena Patricia (née Sheeran). He was raised from 1957 in palatial surrounds at Hollywood Rath, Mulhuddart, Co. Dublin. The…...
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…...
Hare, William
This is a co-subject for the entry on Burke, William. View the original entry....
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…...
MacCarthy Mór, Donal
MacCarthy Mór, Donal (d. 1596), 26th MacCarthy Mór and 1st earl of Clancare , Gaelic lord, was second but eldest surviving son of Domhnall MacCarthy Mór (qv), 25th MacCarthy Mór. Nothing is known of his…...
MacCarthy Reagh, Florence (Finian, Finghín)
MacCarthy Reagh, Florence (Finian, Finghín) (c.1562–c.1640), Gaelic chieftain and scholar, was born probably at Kilbrittan castle, eldest son of Sir Donough MacCarthy Reagh (d. 1576). His mother was a Geraldine, being the sister of Maurice of Desmond and the aunt…...
MacDonnell, Alasdair (Alexander) MacColla
MacDonnell, Alasdair (Alexander) MacColla (d. 1647), Gaelic lord, was the third son of Coll MacGillespie and (most probably) Mary, daughter of Ranald MacJames of Smerby: both parents were MacDonnells, but the use of fixed hereditary surnames was not normal practice in Gaelic…...
MacDonnell (Nic Dhomhnaill), Fiona (Fionnghuala) (‘Iníon Dubh’)
MacDonnell (Nic Dhomhnaill), Fiona (Fionnghuala) (‘Iníon Dubh’) (d. 1611?), lady of Tír Conaill (Tyrconnell), was daughter of James MacDonnell (qv), lord of the Western Isles of Scotland, and his wife Lady…...
MacDonnell, Sir James MacSorley
MacDonnell, Sir James MacSorley (d. 1601), Gaelic chieftain, was the third son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell (qv) and Mary O'Neill, daughter of Con O'Neill (qv), 1st earl of…...
MacDonnell, Sir Randal mac Sorley
MacDonnell, Sir Randal mac Sorley (d. 1636), Gaelic lord and 1st earl of Antrim , was fourth son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell (qv) and as such was born into a resilient dynastic offshoot (known as the MacDonnells) of the…...
McAuley, Jeremiah (‘Jerry’)
McAuley, Jeremiah (‘Jerry’) (c.1839–84), reformed criminal and missionary, was born in Ireland, the abandoned son of a counterfeiter. Raised by his grandmother as a Roman Catholic, he did not attend school and at the age of 13 was sent to America to live with his sister…...
O'Byrne, Aodh
O'Byrne, Aodh (c.1520–1579), lord of Crioch Raghnuill, was the eldest son of Seán O'Byrne (qv), lord of Crioch Raghnuill, and his wife, Doireann O'Byrne. After the collapse of the Kildare hegemony in 1535,…...
O’Byrne, Aodh
O’Byrne, Aodh (c.1596–p.1652), soldier, was the second son of Phelim O'Byrne (qv) (d. 1631), lord of Crioch Raghnuill, and Una O'Toole (d. 1628), daughter of Fiach O'Toole (qv…...
O'Byrne, Brian
O'Byrne, Brian (1593–1653), lord of Crioch Raghnuill, was the eldest son of Feilim O'Byrne (qv) (d. 1631), lord of Crioch Raghnuill, and Una O'Toole (d. 1628), daughter of Fiach O'Toole (qv) (d…...
O'Byrne, Feilim
O'Byrne, Feilim (d. 1631), lord of Críoch Raghnuill, was second son of Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne (qv), lord of Críoch Raghnuill and leader of Gaelic Leinster, and Sadhbh, daughter of…...
O'Byrne, Fiach MacHugh
O'Byrne, Fiach MacHugh (c.1544–1597), lord of Crioch Raghnuill and leader of Gaelic Leinster, was eldest son of Aodh O'Byrne (qv) (d. 1579), lord of Crioch Raghnuill, and his first wife Sadhbh, daughter of Feilim O'Byrne of…...
O'Cahan, Sir Donnell Ballach
O'Cahan, Sir Donnell Ballach (d. 1617?), Gaelic chieftain, was the eldest son of Rory O'Cahan, ruler of a territory corresponding approximately to Co. Londonderry. His holdings have been described as a rich and populous land, and the O'Cahan was accounted the most powerful of the…...
O'Connor Don, An Calbhach (Charles)
O'Connor Don, An Calbhach (Charles) (1584–c.1655), head of the O'Connor Don dynasty, was eldest son of Sir Aodh O'Connor Don and his wife Mary, daughter of Brian na Murtha O'Rourke of Breifne. He was a prominent leader of the Irish nobility of Connacht during the first…...