Joyce, Michael
Joyce, Michael (1851–1941), sailor, Shannon pilot and MP, was born 4 September 1851 at Merchant's Quay, Limerick, the son of Richard Joyce, a Shannon pilot, and his wife Bridget (née Tubbs). His grandfather, John Joyce, had also been a Shannon pilot. Educated at the Christian Brothers'…...
Joyce, Patrick Weston
Joyce, Patrick Weston (1827–1914), educationalist, historian, linguist, translator and collector of folk music, was born in Ballyorgan, Co. Limerick, one of the eight sons of Garrett Joyce, a shoemaker known locally as ‘Garrett the Scholar’ for his knowledge of poetry and religion, and…...
Joynt, Maud Anna Evans
Joynt, Maud Anna Evans (1868–1940), Celtic scholar and linguist, was born 7 March 1868 at Woodberry House, Co. Roscommon, second daughter among six sons and four daughters of Christopher Joynt, then brigade surgeon, Bombay army (deputy surgeon, Indian army, on retirement), and Lily Anna…...
Kavanagh, Muiris (‘Kruger’)
Kavanagh, Muiris (‘Kruger’) (1894–1971), publican and raconteur, was born 28 March 1894 at Baile na Ratha, Dún Chaoin, Co. Kerry, one of four sons and a daughter of John Kavanagh and his wife Mary (née Hoare), who had a farm and a small shop. While attending the local primary school…...
Keane, Rita
Keane, Rita (1923–2009), traditional singer and musician, was born on 31 December 1923 in the townland of Carragh, Caherlistrane, Co. Galway, one of eight children (four daughters and four sons) of Matt Keane and his wife May (née Costello; d. 1978), who were farmers. Rita attended…...
Kearney, John (Ó Cearnaigh, Seán)
Kearney, John (Ó Cearnaigh, Seán) (c.1545–c.1587), translator, author of the first book in the Irish language to be printed in Ireland, was a native of Leyney, Co. Sligo. Details of his family background and early education are unknown, but he probably received…...
Kellett, Sir Henry
Kellett, Sir Henry (1806–75), vice-admiral (RN) and polar explorer, was born 2 November 1806 at Clonacody, Co. Tipperary, son of John Dalton Kellett; nothing is known of his mother. His cousin was Commander Arthur Kellett, RN. He entered the Royal…...
Kelly, Luke
Kelly, Luke (1940–84), folk singer, was born 17 November 1940 in Lattimore Cottages, Sheriff Street, Dublin, second child (and second son) among four sons and two daughters of Luke Kelly (1904–67), a factory worker with Jacob's biscuit manufacturers, and Julia Kelly (née Fleming). In…...
Kennedy, Patrick
Kennedy, Patrick (1801–73), writer, folklorist, and bookseller, was born in Kilmyshal, near Bunclody, Co. Wexford, in early 1801. Little is known of his family life other than that his father was Patrick Kennedy and that he appears to have been the fourth child born to his parents.…...
King, Murtagh (Ó Cionga, Muircheartach)
King, Murtagh (Ó Cionga, Muircheartach) (c.1562–c.1639), translator of the Old Testament into Irish, was a member of a learned family of scribes and poets in the Irish midlands. The Ó Cionga family were traditionally associated with Fox's Country, in the barony of…...
King, William Donald Aelian ('Bill')
King, William Donald Aelian ('Bill') (1910–2012), submarine captain and yachtsman, was born on 23 June 1910 in Church Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire, the only son of four children of William King, army officer, originally from Co. Galway, and his wife Georgina Marie (née Mackenzie…...
Knott, (Philippa Marie) Eleanor
Knott, (Philippa Marie) Eleanor (1886–1975), Irish-language scholar, was born 18 November 1886, one of two children of John Freeman Knott, physician, of Kingsland, Co. Roscommon, and Philippa Annie Knott (née Balcombe), of Hull. Her family lived at Sallymount Terrace, Ranelagh, Dublin.…...
Lane, Timothy O'Neill
Lane, Timothy O'Neill (1852–1915), lexicographer and Irish scholar, was born at Templeglentan, Co. Limerick, third son of Timothy Lane, farmer, and Mary Lane (née O'Neill), who also had four daughters. As a child he spoke Irish and English, and was a pupil at Templeglentan national…...
Larminie, William
Larminie, William (1849–1900), poet and folktale collector, was born 1 August 1849 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, youngest son of William Larminie, who seems to have been a land agent or bank official, and was protestant, of Huguenot descent, and his wife Bridget (‘Beda’), daughter of Col.…...
Lecky, Squire Thornton Stratford
Lecky, Squire Thornton Stratford (1838–1902), master mariner, cartographer, and writer on navigation, was born in Downpatrick, Co. Down, fifth son of Holland Lecky of Castle Lecky, Magilligan, Co. Londonderry, and Ballyholland House, Co. Down, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of the…...
Lhuyd (Lhwyd, Lloyd), Edward
Lhuyd (Lhwyd, Lloyd), Edward (1660?–1709), Celtic philologist and naturalist, was born c.1660 in Cardiganshire, Wales, or near Oswestry, Shropshire, the illegitimate son of Edward Lloyd of Llanvorda and Bridget Pryse, both from landowning families. Lhuyd entered Jesus College,…...
Little, George Aloysius
Little, George Aloysius (1899–1965), doctor and writer, was born 21 January 1899 at his family's home, 3 Bushy Park Road, Rathgar, Dublin, one of three sons of Francis Joseph Little, solicitor, and Elizabeth Little (née McCarton). His father was related to Philip Francis Little, and…...
Lloyd, John (Lúid, Seon)
Lloyd, John (Lúid, Seon) (1740?–c.1785), writer, was probably a native of Limerick. Information on his place and date of birth and family background is lacking, but the earliest datable manuscript in his hand was written in 1755. Lloyd may have been a quack physician in his…...
Lloyd, Joseph Henry
Lloyd, Joseph Henry (Laoide, Seosamh) (1865–1939), folklorist and Gaelic Leaguer, was born 24 May 1865 at 7 Annaville Lower, Ranelagh, Dublin, eldest son of Joseph Henry Lloyd, language scholar, and Anne Lloyd (née Phair). He was educated privately, probably by his father, and at…...
Loftus, Sean Daniel ('Dublin Bay')
Loftus, Sean Daniel ('Dublin Bay') (1927–2010), environmentalist and political activist, was born in Dublin on 26 November 1927, eldest of seven children (four sons and three daughters) of J. J. Loftus, medical doctor, and his wife Margaret, former captain of the Irish hockey team. The…...
Logan, Michael J. (Ó Lócháin, Micheál)
Logan, Michael J. (Ó Lócháin, Micheál) (1836–99), editor, publisher, and ‘father of the Gaelic language movement’ in America (Ford, 1899), was born 29 September 1836 at Currach Doire (Curraghderry), Baile an Mhuilinn (Milltown), near Tuam, Co. Galway, son of Patrick Logan, a small…...
Lucas, Charles Davis
Lucas, Charles Davis (1834–1914), Royal Navy officer, awarded the first Victoria Cross, was born 19 February 1834 at Drumargole, Co. Armagh, son of Davis Lucas, bank official, of Clontibert and Drumargole, a member of the Lucas-Scudamore family of Castleshane, Co. Monaghan. He…...
Lynch, Patrick (Ó Loingsigh, Pádraig
Lynch, Patrick (Ó Loingsigh, Pádraig ) (1754/7–1818), schoolmaster and scholar was born 17 March in either 1754 or 1757, in Quin, Co. Clare. He attended a hedge school for his early education in Ennistymon, Co. Clare, where his teacher, Donnchadh ‘an Chairn’ Ó Mathghamhna, taught Latin…...
Lynegar, Charles (Ó Luinín, Cormac)
Lynegar, Charles (Ó Luinín, Cormac) ( fl. 1708–1731), scribe, genealogist, and ‘professor’ of Irish at TCD, was known to some of his Irish-speaking acquaintances in Dublin as Cathal, the more usual Gaelic name to be translated…...
MacAdam, Robert Shipboy
MacAdam, Robert Shipboy (1808–95), folklorist and antiquary, was born in High St., Belfast, younger of two surviving sons of James MacAdam (1755–1821), who owned a hardware shop in the same street, and his wife Jane Shipboy (1774–1827), a native of Belfast. MacAdam was educated at…...