Henderson, John
Henderson, John (1757–88), eccentric scholar, was born 27 March 1757 in Co. Limerick (sources say at Ballygarran or Ballegarance, which may be the townland of Ballycarrane), the only son of Richard Henderson, Wesleyan lay preacher, and his first or second wife, whose name may have been…...
Herlihy, Nora
Herlihy, Nora (1910–88), founder of the Irish credit union movement, was born 27 February 1910 at Ballydesmond, Co. Cork, the third of twelve children of Denis Herlihy, a teacher, and Nora Herlihy (née Mulcahy). Having taught firstly in Belmullet, Co. Mayo, Nora's father was appointed…...
Hodnett, George Desmond ('Hoddy')
Hodnett, George Desmond ('Hoddy') (1918–90), musician, journalist and bohemian, was born 25 February 1918 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, son of George Pope Hodnett (1890–1982), soldier, and Lauré Hodnett (née Faschnacht), a native of Switzerland; he had at least one sibling, a brother…...
Holmes, Elizabeth
Holmes, Elizabeth (d. 1877), philanthropist, was probably a daughter of Richard Holmes (d. 1820) of Oakfield, Co. Sligo, and Anne Holmes (née Erskine). She had at least two brothers: one was Joseph (fl. 1845–68), a JP,…...
Horan, James
Horan, James (1911–86), priest, community activist, and airport developer, was born 5 May 1911 at Tooreen, Partry, Co. Mayo, eldest of three sons and four daughters of Bartley Horan, farmer and builder, of Partry, and Catherine Horan (née Casey) of Kilkieran, Co. Mayo. After education…...
Jaffé, Sir Otto
Jaffé, Sir Otto (1846–1929), businessman and philanthropist, was born 13 August 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, third son among four sons and five daughters of Daniel Joseph Jaffé (1809–74) and his wife Frederiké. Daniel Joseph Jaffé was a merchant in the Hamburg firm of Jaffé Brothers, who…...
Johnstone, Thomas McGimpsey
Johnstone, Thomas McGimpsey (1876–1961), presbyterian minister, temperance campaigner and author, was born on 11 June 1876 in Newtownards, Co. Down, son of Joseph Hamilton Johnstone, a builder, and his wife Rosena (née McGimpsey). The family was staunchly presbyterian (with covenanter…...
Johnston, William
Johnston, William (1818–94), presbyterian minister and philanthropist, was born 2 January 1818 at his maternal grandfather's home, Crieve House, near Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, the eldest child of the Rev. John Johnston (qv) (d. 1862) of…...
Joy, Robert
Joy, Robert (1722–85), printer, manufacturer, and philanthropist, was born probably in Belfast, second son of Francis Joy (qv), attorney, paper manufacturer, and printer, and Margaret Joy (née Martin). He was named for his maternal…...
Keating, May
Keating, May (1895–1965), socialist, feminist and human rights campaigner, was born Mary Josephine Walsh on 6 October 1895, in Eadestown, Rathmore, Co. Kildare, to John Walsh, who farmed 70 acres there (28.3 hectares), and his wife Martha (née Cullen), a national school teacher. Her…...
Kelly, Deirdre
Kelly, Deirdre (1938–2000), environmental and community campaigner, was born 15 May 1938 at Holles St. maternity hospital, Dublin, eldest daughter among three daughters and a son of Thomas McMahon , bus driver, and Mary (‘Molly’) McMahon (née Kenna), of 5 Sussex Road, adjoining…...
Lawlor, Edward (‘Eddie’) Lazerian
Lawlor, Edward (‘Eddie’) Lazerian (1938–99), property developer and philanthropist, was born 15 February 1938 in Tullow, Co. Carlow, second son among five sons and seven daughters of Edward Lawlor (b. 1906), of Tullow, Co. Carlow, truck driver and later regional supervisor for…...
Lawlor, Patricia (‘Patsy’)
Lawlor, Patricia (‘Patsy’) (1933–97), politician and ICA president, was born Patricia Broughal , in March 1933 in Kill, Co. Kildare, daughter of a local businessman and his wife. Educated locally and at St Mary's secondary school in Naas, she trained as a nurse. She was deeply…...
Lett, Anita Georgina Edith
Lett, Anita Georgina Edith (1872–1940), rural activist, was born in 1872 at Waldeton Court, a large manor house near Brixham, South Devon, the daughter of Henry Studdy , a clergyman who had served as a commander in the Royal Navy, and Amelia Margaret Studdy (née Crapper) of…...
Lipton, Sir Thomas Johnstone
Lipton, Sir Thomas Johnstone (c.1850–1931), grocer, yachtsman, and philanthropist, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, second (and only surviving) son of Thomas Lipton (1805–89) of Shannock Green Mills, and Frances Lipton (née Johnston(e); 1803–89) of Kilridd, both in Co.…...
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…...
MacDonnell, James
MacDonnell, James (1763–1845), physician, benefactor, and savant, was born 14 April 1763 near Cushendall, Co. Antrim, the second of three children (all sons) of Michael Roe MacDonnell, kinsman of the earls of Antrim, and his wife, Elizabeth Jane MacDonnell (née Stewart) of Ballintoy, Co…...
Mac Murchadha Caomhánach, Seán Óg
This is a co-subject for the entry on Kavanagh, Muiris (‘Kruger’). View the original entry....
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…...
MacSwiney, Patrick John
MacSwiney, Patrick John (1885–1940), catholic priest, Gaelic scholar, antiquarian, historian and teacher, was born on 16 March 1885 in 40 Nile Street (latterly Sheares Street), Cork city, the son of Terence McSweeney (b. 1847), a bootmaker, and his wife Hannah (née McCarthy; b. 1848…...
Madden, Samuel Molyneux (‘Premium Madden
Madden, Samuel Molyneux (‘Premium Madden ’) (1686–1765), writer and philanthropist, was born in Dublin on 23 December 1686, the second son of John Madden MD (d. 1703), one of the original members of the Irish College of Physicians, and his first…...
Magee, Martha Maria
Magee, Martha Maria (d. 1846), benefactor, was born in Lurgan, Co. Antrim. She was the granddaughter of a clergyman, the Rev. William Holmes of Antrim. In 1780 she married Lurgan's presbyterian minister, William Magee, with whom she had two sons, but was left in straitened…...
Maguire, Sir Alexander Herbert
Maguire, Sir Alexander Herbert (1876–1947), match manufacturer and philanthropist, was born 18 May 1876 in Liverpool, son of John Thomas Maguire of Liverpool, match manufacturer, and his wife (name unknown). He was educated at Waterloo College, Liverpool, but left at an early age…...
Martin, Richard
Martin, Richard (1754–1834), politician, animal rights campaigner, and duellist, was born 6 February 1754 at Ballinahinch castle, Dangan, Co. Galway, the eldest son of Robert Martin, a landowner, and his first wife, Bridget Martin (née Barnewall), daughter of the 11th Baron…...
Masterson, Harold
Masterson, Harold (1946–2005), humanitarian aid worker, was born in Lisbellaw, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, and educated at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen and at QUB, taking an honours degree in social and economic geography. He…...