MacNamara, Desmond Joseph
MacNamara, Desmond Joseph (1918–2008), artist, writer and bohemian, was born 10 May 1918 in a private hospital at 29 Upper Mount Street, Dublin, son of Patrick William MacNamara, secretary of Greenslade and Co., ladies' tailors and costumers of 32 Wicklow Street, Dublin (at which…...
MacQuitty, William Baird
MacQuitty, William Baird (1905–2004), traveller, film producer, photographer and polymath, was born in Belfast on 15 May 1905, elder of two sons of James Baird MacQuitty, managing director of the Belfast Telegraph (a cousin of the principal proprietors), and his wife Henrietta…...
Magennis, James Joseph
Magennis, James Joseph (1919–86), Royal Navy submariner and frogman, was born 27 October 1919 at 4 Majorca St., west Belfast, third child of William Magennis (a packer in a local mill, who also worked as a musician) and Mary Magennis (née Murphy). His early years were ones of…...
Maher, Margaret
Maher, Margaret (c.1845–1924), servant, was born in Killusty, Co. Tipperary, the third of four children, to Michael and Mary Maher. About 1865 she emigrated to America with her older sister Mary, her brother Michael and possibly their youngest sibling, Thomas. Soon…...
Mallon, Mary (‘Typhoid Mary’)
Mallon, Mary (‘Typhoid Mary’) (1869–1938), domestic cook and notorious carrier of typhoid fever, was probably born 23 September 1869 in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, daughter of John Mallon and Catherine Mallon (née Igo), and probably attended national school locally. Emigrating to the USA at…...
Mason, Thomas Holmes
Mason, Thomas Holmes (1877–1958), photographer, naturalist, meteorologist, and businessman, was born 9 September 1877, eldest among three children of Thomas Mason, optical manufacturer, and Sarah Mason (née Barry) of Dublin. Having worked in the family business in Parliament St.,…...
Massy, Annie Letitia
Massy, Annie Letitia (1868–1931), marine biologist and ornithologist, was born on 29 January 1868 in Netley, Hampshire, England, third among two sons and two daughters of Hugh Deane Massy, a British army surgeon of Stagdale, Co. Limerick, and his wife Annie. The Massy family claimed…...
McCarthy, Mortimer
This is a co-subject for the entry on McCarthy, Timothy (‘Tim’). View the original entry....
McCarthy, Timothy (‘Tim’)
McCarthy, Timothy (‘Tim’) (1887–1917), sailor and Polar explorer, was born 15 July 1887 in Kinsale, Co. Cork, a younger son of John McCarthy, farmer and fisherman of Lower Cove, Kinsale, and Mary McCarthy (née Ford) who was originally from Garrylucas, near the Old Head of Kinsale.…...
McClintock, Sir Francis Leopold
McClintock, Sir Francis Leopold (1819–1907), Royal Naval officer and Arctic explorer, was born 8 July 1819 at 1 Seatown Place, Dundalk, Co. Louth, eldest surviving son of Henry McClintock, collector of customs in Dundalk and formerly an officer in the 3rd Dragoon Guards, and his…...
McClure, Sir Robert John Le Mesurier
McClure, Sir Robert John Le Mesurier (1807–73), Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer, was born 28 January 1807, at the Rectory, Main St., Wexford, son of Capt. Robert McClure of the 89th Foot and his wife Jane, daughter of Archdeacon Elgee, rector of Wexford. His father died…...
McGuinness, Charles John
McGuinness, Charles John (1893–1947), sailor and adventurer, was born 6 March 1893 in Derry city, elder of two sons of John McGuinness, sea-captain and harbourmaster, and Margaret McGuinness (née Hernand). In 1908, at the age of 15, McGuinness left home, stowing away in a ship and…...
McHugh, Kevin
McHugh, Kevin (1946–2006), fisherman and businessman, was born in Bullsmouth, Achill Island, Co. Mayo, on 26 May 1946, the fourth of eight children of Michael McHugh, ESB maintenance engineer, and his wife Norah (née Lavelle). Educated…...
McQuade, John (‘Johnny’)
McQuade, John (‘Johnny’) (1911–84), dockworker, politician, and soldier, was born 9 August 1911, son of John McQuade, flax rougher, and Annie McQuade (née Baird), in the Shankill Road area of Belfast, where his family lived in a small terraced house in Carnan St. Educated at the local…...
Mould, Daphne Desiree Charlotte Pochin
Mould, Daphne Desiree Charlotte Pochin (1920–2014), geologist, author, photographer and flight instructor, was born on 15 November 1920 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, the only child of Walter Mould, a teacher, and his wife Marguerite (née Steer). Growing up in the heart of what she called the…...
Murphy, John ('Jack')
Murphy, John ('Jack') (1920–84), trade unionist, republican, and activist for the unemployed, was born near Synge Street in Dublin, third son among four sons and five daughters of Denis Murphy, a carpenter; his mother's forename was probably Mary. His father, a founding member in…...
O Brien, Conor
O Brien, Conor (1880–1952), sailor and author, was born Edward Conor Marshall O'Brien on 3 November 1880 in Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick, the son of Edward William O'Brien, JP, and Julia O'Brien (née Marshall). A grandson of…...
O'Donnell, Charles James O'Cahan
O'Donnell, Charles James O'Cahan (1850–1934), civil servant, politician, and controversialist, was probably born 28 May 1850 at Port Louis, Mauritius, youngest son of Capt. Bernard MacDonald of the Northumberland Fusiliers, from Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, and Mary MacDonald (née…...
O'Malley, Gráinne (Grace) (‘Granuaile’)
O'Malley, Gráinne (Grace) (‘Granuaile’) (c.1530–1603?), noblewoman and sea captain, was the daughter of Eoghan O'Malley (usually known as Dubhdarra O'Malley), lord of Umhall (now the barony of Murrisk, Co. Mayo), and Margaret, daughter of Conchobhar O'Malley. Gráinne (or…...
O'Reilly, John Roberts
O'Reilly, John Roberts (1794–1873), Royal Navy and coastguard officer, was born 9 April 1794 at Baltrasna, Co. Meath, third son of Thomas O'Reilly, gentleman, and his wife Margaret, daughter of the Hon. Justice Robert Sibthorpe of Duncanny, Co. Louth. His brother, Anthony Alexander…...
Orr, James
Orr, James (1770–1816), weaver, radical, and poet, was son of James Orr, who farmed a few acres and was a linen weaver. His mother's name is unknown. They lived in the small village of Ballycarry, in the parish of Broadisland, Co. Antrim. James was an only child, born when his…...
Patten, James
Patten, James (d. p.1780), naval surgeon, was born in Ulster, son of the Rev. William Patten. Appointed as a Royal Navy surgeon, he sailed with Capt. James Cook on board HMS Resolution during Cook's second voyage of…...
Phillips, Molesworth
Phillips, Molesworth (1755–1832), marine officer and adventurer, was born 15 August 1755 in Swords, Co. Dublin, son of John Phillips (d. 1779), surgeon and illegitimate son of Robert Molesworth (qv), 1st Viscount Molesworth of Swords…...
Ponsonby, Charles William Talbot-
Ponsonby, Charles William Talbot- (1843–1927), navalofficer, landowner, and JP, was born 29 May 1843 at Langrish House, Petersfield, Hampshire, the son of Admiral Sir Charles Talbot, KCB…...
Pounder, Cuthbert Coulson
Pounder, Cuthbert Coulson (1891–1982), marine engineer, was born 12 May 1891 in Hartlepool, Co. Durham, youngest son of a family of six. His father was a blacksmith owning his own business. When he was 6 his mother died, and he was brought up by his stepmother, a Lowland Scot. On…...