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'Hara, Maureen
O’Hara, Maureen (1920–2015), actor, was born Maureen FitzSimons on 17 August 1920 at the family home at 32 Upper Beechwood Avenue in Ranelagh, Dublin. Her father, Charles Stewart Parnell FitzSimons, managed a high-end clothing company and was part-owner of Dublin’s Shamrock Rovers FC.…...
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, 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…...
O'Malley, Mary (Margaret)
O'Malley, Mary (Margaret) (1918–2006), theatrical director and activist, co-founder of the Lyric Players Theatre in Belfast, was born Mary Margaret Hickey in Mallow, Co. Cork, on 28 July 1918, the posthumous daughter of Daniel Hickey and his wife Annie (née Lysaght). Her father died of…...
O'Malley, Patrick Pearse
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Malley, Mary (Margaret). View the original entry....
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, Maureen Paula
O'Sullivan, Maureen Paula (1911–98), actress, was born 17 May 1911 at Boyle, Co. Roscommon, one of the five children of Major Charles Joseph O'Sullivan of the Connaught Rangers, and his wife, Mary Lovatt (née Fraser). Educated briefly at a convent in Dublin, she also attended the…...
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 (…...
Potter, Maureen
Potter, Maureen (1925–2004), variety artiste, comedian, and actress, was born Maria Philomena Potter (the baptising priest supposedly refused to countenance 'Maureen' as an acceptable Christian name) on 3 January 1925 at 7 St Joseph's Terrace, Philipsburg Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, the…...
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…...
Quigley, Godfrey
Quigley, Godfrey (1923–94), actor, theatre manager and director, was born 5 May 1923 in Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate, the son of Eugene Patrick Quigley, a military official from Co. Sligo, and his American born wife Lillian (née Broderick). His father had been awarded the MC during the…...
Quin, Michael Joseph
Quin, Michael Joseph (1796–1843), journalist and travel writer, was born in Co. Tipperary, the son of Morty Quin, a catholic distiller from Thurles. He entered TCD in 1811, but there is no record of his graduation. Called to the bar at…...
Rogers, John Cecil Kelly-
Rogers, John Cecil Kelly- (1905–81), aviation pioneer, was born 8 February 1905 at Raven Lodge, Sandycove, Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin, second child of Capt. Theodore Rogers, RN (later of the Dublin–Liverpool passenger service), and Violet…...
Ryan, Kathleen
Ryan, Kathleen (1922–85), actress, was born on 8 September 1922 above her parents' shop on Camden Street, Dublin, the first of eight children of James (Seamus) Ryan (qv) and his wife Agnes Ryan (qv) (née Harding).…...
Ryan, Phyllis Carmel
Ryan, Phyllis Carmel (1920–2011), actress and theatre producer, was born on 28 July 1920 at 79 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin, the younger of two daughters of Thomas J. Ryan, who served in the British army and was subsequently a civil servant, and his wife May (or 'Maisie') (née…...
Sadleir, John
Sadleir, John (1813–56), banker, politician, speculator, and swindler, was born 17 November 1813 at Shronell House in the parish of Shronell near Tipperary town, fifth of seven children born to Clement William Sadleir, a protestant farmer and middleman, whose earliest known…...
Sheehy, Edmund
Sheehy, Edmund (1733–66), farmer executed for murder, of Lodge (parish of Ardfinnan, Co. Tipperary), was the son of Ellin Fitzpatrick. He was otherwise known as ‘Buck’ Sheehy, a term indicative of semi-gentleman status, as he had an income of £300 or £400 a year, and was a person…...
Sheridan , Cecil Brinsley
This is a co-subject for the entry on Sheridan, Noel. View the original entry....
Sheridan, Noel
Sheridan, Noel (1936–2006), artist, actor, and arts administrator, was born 12 December 1936 in Dublin, one of three children (two daughters and a son) of Cecil (Brinsley) Sheridan, entertainer, and his wife Ann ('Nan') (née Doyle). Cecil Sheridan (1910–80) was born 21 December 1910…...