Plunkett, Nicholas
Plunkett, Nicholas (c.1629–1718), historian, was born in north Co. Dublin, son of James Plunkett (d. 1739) and his wife Elizabeth Roper. Nothing is known of his early life. He succeeded to the family seat at Dunsoghly, Co. Dublin, in 1641, on the death of his grandfather…...
Porter, Francis (Walter)
Porter, Francis (Walter) (d. 1702), Franciscan priest and ecclesiastical writer, was the eldest of three sons of Simon Porter, a landed gentleman of an Old English family, from Kingstown near Navan in Co. Meath. He attended a school for Irish students in Lille founded by the…...
Power, Patrick
Power, Patrick (1862–1951), priest, historian, toponymist, and archaeologist, was born 8 March 1862 at Callaghane, Ballygunner, Co. Waterford, several kilometres from Waterford city. Educated at Ballygunner national school and the Catholic University School, Waterford city, he studied…...
Purcell, Mary
Purcell, Mary (1906–91), teacher, religious biographer, and archivist, was born 28 May 1906 in Moonveen, Carrigeen, Co. Kilkenny, one of three children of Richard Purcell, of Moonveen, and Anastasia Purcell (née Doyle), both of whom were schoolteachers. After attending the St Louis…...
Quin, Edwin Richard Windham Wyndham-
Quin, Edwin Richard Windham Wyndham- (1812–71), 3rd earl of Dunraven and Mount Earl, antiquarian, and MP, was born 19 May 1812 in London, only son of Windham Henry Quin (1782–1850), 2nd earl of Dunraven and MP for Co. Limerick (1806–20), and his wife Caroline (d. May 1870), daughter and…...
Raftery, Joseph
Raftery, Joseph (1913–92), archaeologist, was born in Dublin, son of John Raftery, governor of Mountjoy prison. Most of his childhood was spent in Portlaoise, Co. Laois, where he attended St Mary's CBS, to which he had won a…...
Reily (Reilly, O'Reilly), Hugh
Reily (Reilly, O'Reilly), Hugh (d. c.1695), Jacobite lord chancellor of Ireland and historian, was born in Co. Cavan, though his parents and date of birth are unknown. He was appointed (22 May 1686) a master in chancery by James…...
Renouf, Peter le Page
Renouf, Peter le Page (1822–97), church historian and Egyptologist, was born 23 August 1822 in St Peter Port, Guernsey, the eldest child of Joseph Renouf, Master of the Town Hospital school in St Peter Port, and his wife Mary (née le Page). His brother Frederick drowned at sea in…...
Robertson, James Burton
Robertson, James Burton (1800–77), historian, was born 15 November 1800 in London, son of Thomas Robertson, landowner in Grenada, West Indies, and his wife, Maria B. Purcell, widow of T. I. Lyndsay. The Robertsons were presbyterians but James was brought up in the catholic faith…...
Robinson, Paschal
Robinson, Paschal (1870–1948), journalist, medieval historian, diplomat and papal nuncio to Ireland, was born 26 April 1870 in 49 Percy Place, Dublin, and christened Charles Edward Neville, second of three sons of Nugent Robinson, treasurer of Dublin corporation, and Jannet Robinson (…...
Ronan, Myles Vincent
Ronan, Myles Vincent (1877–1959), priest, church historian, and controversialist, was born 19 July 1877, third son of Myles Ronan, originally from Co. Wexford, and Margaret Ronan (neé Kenny), at 36 Fishamble St., Dublin. He was first educated by the Christian Brothers at Mary's…...
Rothe, David
Rothe, David (1573–1650), bishop of Ossory and historian, was born in the city of Kilkenny, son of John Rothe (d. 1590) and his wife Lettice, only daughter of John Rothe Fitzpiers of New Ross. It is likely that he received his early education at Kilkenny in…...
Rothe, Robert
Rothe, Robert (1550–1622), lawyer and antiquary, was born 28 April 1550, eldest son of David Rothe of Kilkenny and his wife Anastace, daughter of Patrick Archer, also of Kilkenny. The Rothes were part of a tightly knit group of families that dominated Kilkenny city. His first…...
Rushe, Denis Carolan
Rushe, Denis Carolan (1852–1928), historian, antiquary and public servant, was born in Monaghan town, where his father worked as a doctor in the county infirmary. Both his parents came from the south of the county; other details of them are unknown. He attended St Louis convent, St…...
Russell, Charles William
Russell, Charles William (1812–80), priest and historian, was born 14 May 1812 at Killough, Co. Down, youngest son among five sons and four daughters of Charles Russell (d. 1828), a brewer and merchant descended from the Barons Russell of Killough and Ballystrew, and his second…...
Ryan, Cornelius John
Ryan, Cornelius John (1920–74), journalist and author, was born 5 June 1920 at 33 Heytesbury St., Dublin, son of John Joseph Ryan, checker, and Amelia Ryan (née Clohisey). Educated at Synge St. CBS and the Royal Irish Academy of…...
Shaw, Francis
Shaw, Francis (1907–70), Jesuit priest, Celtic scholar and historical polemicist, was born 26 March 1907 in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, the fourth child among four sons and two daughters of Patrick Walter Shaw (1872–1940), merchant, and his wife Mary 'Minnie' (née Galligan). The Shaws…...
Sheehan, Richard
Sheehan, Richard (1845–1915), priest, antiquary, and bishop of Waterford, was born 16 June 1845, at Bantry, Co. Cork, son of Jeremiah Sheehan, farmer, and his wife, Maria Roycroft. He was educated at Bandon national school and St Vincent's, Cork, where he took classical studies and…...
Sheehy, Jeanne Iseult
Sheehy, Jeanne Iseult (1939–99), art historian, was born 15 September 1939 in Dublin, daughter of Edward Sheehy (d. 1956), a distinguished critic, and Anna Sheehy (née Kelly), an accomplished graphic artist. She had one brother, David, a picture restorer. Educated at Eccles St.…...
Sheridan, Thomas
Sheridan, Thomas (1646–1712), writer, royal official, and Jacobite, was born in St John's, near Trim, Co. Meath, fourth son of Denis Sheridan (qv), a Church of Ireland clergyman from Co. Cavan, and an Englishwoman named Foster. In the rebellion of 1641…...
Slevin, ( John) Gerard
Slevin, ( John) Gerard (1919–97), heraldist and dramatist, was born 1 November 1919 in Cork, son of John Slevin, motor mechanic, of Wellington Rd, Cork, and Bridget Slevin (née Kennelly). His father, who hailed from Co. Laois tenant farmers, worked with the Irish Omnibus…...
Stafford, James Joseph snr
Stafford, James Joseph snr (1860–1947), merchant and ship owner, was born in Wexford town, eldest son among two sons and four daughters of Patrick Stafford of Wexford, merchant, and Elizabeth Stafford (née Cullenmore) of Yoletown, Co. Wexford. He was educated (1867–78) at the…...
Taaffe, Denis
Taaffe, Denis (1759–1813), clergyman, polemicist, and historian, was born in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, and baptised 3 February 1759 in the local parish of Clogher, the fourth of six children of Laurence Taaffe, a farmer, and his wife, Mary (née Gallagher). After being educated at local…...
Thornley, David Andrew Taylor
Thornley, David Andrew Taylor (1935–78), academic, broadcaster, and politician, was born 31 July 1935 in Sutton, Surrey, youngest child among two sons and one daughter of Frederick Edward Thornley (d. 1953) and Maud Helen Thornley (née Browne). His parents, both civil servants,…...
Tierney, Mark
Tierney, Mark (1925–2011), Benedictine monk and historian, was born Gerald Francis Tierney in Dublin on 10 January 1925, fourth child among five sons and one daughter of Gerald Tierney (1885–1938), gynaecologist, and Marie Tierney (née Blanche). His mother was the elder daughter of…...