O'Rahilly, Thomas Francis (‘T. F.’)
O'Rahilly, Thomas Francis (‘T. F.’) (1882–1953), scholar, was born 11 November 1882 in Listowel, Co. Kerry, seventh among fifteen surviving children of Thomas Francis Rahilly of Ballylongford, businessman and later court clerk, and Julia Mary Rahilly (née Curry) of Glin, Co.…...
O'Riordan, Michael
O'Riordan, Michael (1857–1919), rector of the Irish College, Rome, was born in Kilmurray, Co. Limerick, son of John O'Riordan, a wealthy local farmer. Educated at the local national school and at the diocesan seminary in Limerick, he proved intellectually gifted and subsequently…...
O'Rorke, Terence
O'Rorke, Terence (1819–1907), priest, professor of theology in the Irish College in Paris, and local historian, was born 20 May 1819 in Collooney, Co. Sligo, one of at least three sons and two daughters of John O'Rorke (1791–1874), and his wife Winifred (née McSharry) (1797–1876…...
Ó Súilleabháin, Amhlaoibh (O'Sullivan, Humphrey)
Ó Súilleabháin, Amhlaoibh (O'Sullivan, Humphrey) (1783–1838), diarist, seanchaí (storyteller), schoolteacher, and draper, was born 1 May 1783 in Glenfesk, near Killarney, Co. Kerry, probably the eldest of several children born to Donncha Ó Súilleabháin (1738–1808),…...
Pearse, Patrick Henry
Pearse, Patrick Henry (1879–1916), writer, educationalist, and revolutionary, was born 10 November 1879 at the family home, 27 Great Brunswick Street (latterly Pearse Street) Dublin, the elder son and second of the four children of James Pearse, stone carver and monumental sculptor,…...
Phelan, Anastasia (Mary Gerard)
Phelan, Anastasia (Mary Gerard) (1872–1960), religious superior and educator, was born 18 January 1872 in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, to John Phelan, farmer, and Mary Phelan (née Dallon). Baptised Anastasia, she was educated by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Waterford…...
Philbin, Eva Maria
Philbin, Eva Maria (1914–2005), chemist and university professor, was born 3 January 1914 in Ballina, Co. Mayo, the elder of two daughters of George Ryder , a postman and later a publican, and his wife Kate (née Donegan). Eva attended the Convent of Mercy in Ballina, and then went…...
Prior, Michael Patrick
Prior, Michael Patrick (1942–2004), catholic theologian and anti-Zionist, was born 15 March 1942 at 5 Summerhill Terrace, Cork city, second child among three sons and one daughter of James Prior, a civic guard of 26 McSweeney's Villas, Shandon Street, Cork, and his wife Ellen (née…...
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…...
Purcell, Pierce Francis
Purcell, Pierce Francis (1881–1968), civil engineer, peat fuel pioneer, and university professor, was born 6 October 1881 at the Quay, Kilkenny city, only son of Thomas Purcell of Albert House, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, and Margaret Purcell (née Phelan). Educated in Dublin at St Vincent…...
Quinn (O'Quinn), James
Quinn (O'Quinn), James (1819–81), educator and first catholic bishop of Queensland, Australia, was born 17 March 1819 in Rathbawn, Co. Kildare, son of Matthew Quinn and Mary Quinn (née Doyle). He was educated at Kelly's School, Dublin. On 24 August 1836 he entered the Irish…...
Rafroidi, Patrick
Rafroidi, Patrick (1930–89), scholar, university professor, and administrator, was born 15 June 1930 in Arpajon, Essonne, France, elder son and second among four children of Gaston Rafroidi, from Arpajon, of middle-class extraction, and his wife Constance (‘Connie’) O'Rahilly, from…...
Randles, Eileen
Randles, Eileen (1937–2015), teacher, education leader and nun, was born 26 April 1937 in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, the youngest of three daughters born to Tom Randles and his wife Nora (‘Dolly’) May (née Healy). The family lived on the premises of the garage Tom ran on Shelbourne Street in…...
Renehan, Laurence F.
Renehan, Laurence F. (1797/8–1857), priest, bibliophile, and president of Maynooth College 1845–57, was born at Longford Pass, in the parish of Gurtnahoe, Co. Tipperary, second son of Laurence Renehan, farmer, and Catherine Renehan (née Borden). Destined for the church from an…...
Rice, Edmund Ignatius
Rice, Edmund Ignatius (1766–1844), religious and educator, was born 1 June 1766 at Westcourt, Callan, Co. Kilkenny, the fourth of seven sons of Robert Rice, a farmer, and his wife, Margaret Tierney. Edmund's education began at a local hedge school; he subsequently transferred to a…...
Roddie, Ian Campbell
Roddie, Ian Campbell (1928–2011), physiologist and academic, was born on 1 December 1928 in Belfast, third of four sons of J. R. Wesley Roddie (d. 1953), a methodist minister, and his wife Mary Hill (née Wilson; d. 1973); the four brothers all entered the medical profession. Rev.…...
Russell, Mary Baptist (Katherine, Kate)
Russell, Mary Baptist (Katherine, Kate) (1829–98), nun, philanthropist, and educator, was born 18 April 1829 at Seafield, Ballybot, Newry, Co. Down, the third daughter and third child among the six children of Arthur Russell, ship's captain turned brewer, and his wife, Margaret (…...
Ryan, Agnes
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ryan, Mary Kate ('Kit', 'Cáit'). View the original entry....
Ryan, Elizabeth (Mary Eucharia)
Ryan, Elizabeth (Mary Eucharia) (1860–1929), Loreto sister and pioneer of women's higher education, was baptised Elizabeth Ryan on 7 October 1860 at Templemain church, Co. Leitrim, daughter of Laurence Ryan and his wife Mary. Her parents, noted educationists, were originally from…...
Ryan, Mary
Ryan, Mary (1873–1961), professor of Romance languages, was born on 14 December 1873 in Cork, daughter of Edward Ryan, chairman of a soap manufacturing company, of Ronayn's Court, Rochestown, Co. Cork, and his wife Matilda. Two brothers, Sir Thomas Ryan (1879–1934) and Sir Andrew Ryan (…...
Ryan, Mary Josephine (Min)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ryan, Mary Kate ('Kit', 'Cáit'). View the original entry....
Ryan, Mary Kate ('Kit', 'Cáit')
Ryan, Mary Kate ('Kit', 'Cáit') (1878–1934), academic and political activist, was born at Tomcoole, Taghmon, Co. Wexford, second of twelve children (four sons and eight daughters) of John Ryan, strong farmer, and his wife Elizabeth (née Sutton). The family was notable for its…...
Ryan, Veronica
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ryan, John Archibald. View the original entry....
Sandford, Irene
Sandford, Irene (1937–2005), singer, was born in east Belfast on 11 January 1937, eldest child of Francis Sandford, who owned a hairdressing salon, and his wife Meta (née Nesbitt). She had two younger sisters and a younger brother. She attended Belmont and Strandtown primary schools…...
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…...