Brennan, Robert
Brennan, Robert (1881–1964), republican, journalist, writer, and diplomat, was born in Co. Wexford on 22 July 1881, second child and eldest son among four children of Robert Brennan (d. 1919), cattle dealer, and Bridget Brennan (née Kearney; d. 1938), dressmaker. He was educated…...
Bretherton, Cyril Herbert Emmanuel
Bretherton, Cyril Herbert Emmanuel (1879–1939), journalist, was born 2 June 1879 at Little Crosby, near Liverpool, only son of Charles Edward Bretherton, barrister, of Heath House, Blackheath, south-east London. He was educated at St Augustine's, Ramsgate, and Harbourne, Ashford,…...
Bridgeman, Joanna (Sister Mary Francis)
Bridgeman, Joanna (Sister Mary Francis) (1813–88), Sister of Mercy, educator, and Crimean war nurse, was born in Ballagh, Ruan, Co. Clare, one of four children (two sons and two daughters) of St John Bridgeman and his wife Lucy Reddan. Her mother was a relative of…...
Brosnahan, Seán
Brosnahan, Seán (1911–87), teacher and trade unionist, was born 26 August 1911 in Killaloe, Co. Clare, one of nine children of John Brosnahan, RIC sergeant, and Norah Brosnahan (née Ryan) (d. 1946). One of his brothers was Thomas J.…...
Browne, Valentine Charles Edward
Browne, Valentine Charles Edward (1891–1943), Viscount Castlerosse , 6th earl of Kenmare , journalist and socialite, was born 29 May 1891 in Grosvenor Square, London, eldest son of Valentine Browne, 5th earl of Kenmare, and Elizabeth Browne (née Baring), eldest daughter of Lord…...
Bruodin (MacBrody), Anthony
Bruodin (MacBrody), Anthony (d. 1680), Franciscan author and lecturer, was the son of Miler Bruodin, a landowner, and Margaret O'Mollony; he was a member of a bardic family of Ballyhogan, Co. Clare, who traditionally acted as chroniclers and genealogists to the O'Brien kings of…...
Bulfin, William
Bulfin, William (1863–1910), journalist in Argentina and travel writer, was born at Derrinlough House, near Birr, King's County (Offaly), and baptised 14 November 1863, fourth son in the family of ten sons and one daughter of William Bulfin, a strong farmer, and his wife Ellen (née…...
Bullen, Denis Brenan
Bullen, Denis Brenan (1802–66), surgeon and lecturer, probably born in Cork, was baptised 2 June 1802, second son (and second child) among three sons and five daughters of William Bullen, MD, and his wife Catherine Quindan. He was educated…...
Burke, James Dominic
Burke, James Dominic (1833–1904), Christian Brother and pioneer of technical education, was born in December 1833 in Limerick, eldest among five sons and two daughters of John Burke, cabinet-maker, and Mary Burke (née Ahern). He was educated at the…...
Burke, James Michael
Burke, James Michael (1873–1936), barrister, newspaper editor, and politician, was born 4 November 1873 at 31 Bridge St., Skibbereen, Co. Cork, seventh among twelve children (seven sons and three daughters survived to adulthood) of Patrick Burke, grocer and farmer, and Mary Burke (née…...
Burke, Patrick (Thomas; 'Tom')
Burke, Patrick (Thomas; 'Tom') (1923–2008), Carmelite priest, scientist and co-founder of the Young Scientist exhibition, was born Thomas Burke on 4 November 1923 in Dublin, one of five children (four boys and a girl) of Edmund Burke, and his wife Elizabeth (née Traynor), who later…...
Butler, James Bayley
Butler, James Bayley (1884–1964), biologist and academic, was born 8 April 1884 at Secundrabad, India, only son among four children of Col. James William Butler and Henrietta Butler (née Bayley). His father had been an administrator in the East India Company. On his family's…...
Butler, Katherine
Butler, Katherine (1914–2000), Sister of Charity, teacher, and writer, was born 27 May 1914 in Dublin, first child of James Bayley Butler (qv), professor of biology in UCD, and…...
Butler, William Archer
Butler, William Archer (1812?–1848), clergyman and professor of moral philosophy, was second son of Pierce Archer Butler and Anna Maria Butler (née Gallwey); their seven children were brought up as Roman Catholics by their mother, though the father, who had several times been…...
Byrne, Frankie (Frances)
Byrne, Frankie (Frances) (1921–93), broadcaster and public relations consultant, was born 27 December 1921 in a nursing home at 7 North Frederick Street, Dublin, third child and second daughter among three daughters and two sons of Michael P. (‘Sport’) Byrne, journalist, of 2…...
Byrne, John Francis
Byrne, John Francis (1880–1960), journalist, writer, and university friend of James Joyce (qv), was born 11 February 1880 at 25 East Essex Street, Dublin, youngest child of Mathew Byrne (d. 1883), a shopkeeper, and…...
Byrne (O'Byrne), Patrick James
Byrne (O'Byrne), Patrick James (1759–1819), president of Maynooth College, was born in Eglish, Co. Tyrone, one of at least three children of Art O'Byrne (1710–92), farmer, and Martha O'Byrne (née Kempson). He studied at the Irish College of Nantes, France, where, after gaining a…...
Byrne, Patrick
Byrne, Patrick (1740/41–1814), printer, bookseller, and United Irishman, had a flourishing business in Dublin, at 35 College Green (1779–85) and 108 Grafton Street (1785–99). Byrne's business was probably the largest of its kind in Ireland in the eighteenth century. One indication…...
Byrne, William (Aloysius)
Byrne, William (Aloysius) (1872–1933), poet (‘William Dara ’) and professor of English, was born 30 January 1872 in Rathangan, Co. Kildare. His father, Joseph, who became the principal teacher in the local national school, married Marcella Murray (October 1870) and William was the…...
Cahill, Patrick Joseph (‘Paddy’)
Cahill, Patrick Joseph (‘Paddy’) (1885?–1946), revolutionary and newspaper editor, was born at Caherina, Tralee, Co. Kerry, one of five children of bilingual parents, Timothy (‘Thady’) Cahill of Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry, and Mary Cahill (née Tangney) of Killorglin, Co. Kerry. His…...
Campbell, James Joseph
Campbell, James Joseph (1910–79), educationist, classical scholar, author, and broadcaster, was born 8 March 1910 at 237 New Lodge Road, Belfast, second child of James Campbell, barber, and Bridget Campbell (née McTaggart), whose first child died in infancy, and who later had…...
Campbell, Thomas Joseph
Campbell, Thomas Joseph (1871–1946), journalist, lawyer, and politician, was born 14 December 1871 in Divis St., Belfast, son of Joseph Campbell, stationer, originally of Maghery, Co. Armagh, and Sarah Campbell (née Morrow) of Dromore, Co. Down. Educated at St Mary's…...
Carbery, Ethna
Carbery, Ethna (1866–1902), poet, writer, and journalist, was born Anna Johnston 3 December 1866 into a catholic family in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, the second of three children. She lived nearly all her life in Belfast, where her father, …...
Carey, Mathew
Carey, Mathew (1760–1839), author, bookseller and publisher, was born 28 January 1760 in Dublin, one of five sons to Christopher Carey, a baker who prospered provisioning the British navy, and Mary Carey (née Sheridan). Small and lame from infancy (having been dropped by his nurse),…...
Carey, William Paulet
Carey, William Paulet (1759–1839), journalist, art critic, engraver, and United Irishman, was born in Dublin, third of five sons of Christopher Carey of Redmond's Hill, a catholic baker who had prospered supplying the Royal Navy during the American war. Stung by the disabilities…...