Abbán
Abbán (d. 520?), saint in the Irish tradition, although primarily associated with the churches of Mag Arnaide (‘Moyarney’/Adamstown, near New Ross, Co. Wexford) and Cell Abbáin (Killabban, Co. Laois), is also linked to other parts of the country, most notably Ballyvourney, Muskerry, Co…...
Adair, Rhona (Kathleen)
Adair, Rhona (Kathleen) (1881–1961), amateur international golfer, was born 2 September 1881 at Glenavon, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, one of six children of Hugh Adair, linen manufacturer, and (Mary) Augusta Lee Adair (née Graves). The family, who were presbyterian, were keen golfers: her…...
Adams, Ronald James (Ronnie)
Adams, Ronald James (Ronnie) (1916–2004), racing driver and businessman, was one of the last of a generation of successful amateur gentleman drivers, and was well known in his native Ulster. He was born in Belfast on 8 March 1916, only son of James Adams and his Scottish wife Sarah…...
Adams, William George Stewart
Adams, William George Stewart (1874–1966), economist, academic, and public servant, was born 8 November 1874 at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, youngest child of John Adams, headmaster of St John's Grammar School, Hamilton, and Margaret, daughter of John Stewart, Glasgow cotton…...
Adomnán
Adomnán (c.624–704), son of Rónán, was 9th abbot of Iona (679–704), biographer of Colum Cille, and saint in the Irish tradition. According to the genealogies, he was son of Rónán son of Tinne, one of the Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill, and a kinsman of…...
Adrain, Robert
Adrain, Robert (1775–1843), mathematician, was born 30 September 1775 in Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, eldest among five children of a schoolteacher; his parents' names are not known. He received a good education, though he was self-taught in the higher mathematics. He lost both…...
Áedán (Aidan)
Áedán (Aidan) (d. 651), founder and first bishop of Lindisfarne, was effectively ruler of the church of Northumbria from c.635 till his death. The mission of Paulinus from Canterbury (begun in 625) was superficially successful, culminating in the establishment of an…...
Affraic
Affraic (d. 743) was abbess of Kildare 733–43. Her rare personal name, a borrowing of the Latin Africa, was also borne by a later abbess of Kildare who died in 834 and by an obscure minor saint, daughter of one Cumlachtach, associated with Imlech Tuascirt (LL…...
Ahearn, Daniel F. (Dan)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ahearne, Timothy J. (‘Tim’). View the original entry....
Ahearne, Timothy J. (‘Tim’)
Ahearne, Timothy J. (‘Tim’) (1885–1968), athlete and Olympic gold medallist, was born 17 August 1885 in Dirreen, Athea, Co. Limerick, son of William Aherne, farmer in Dirreen, and Margaret Aherne (née Shine). A talented sprinter, hurdler and jumper, he represented Britain in the…...
Ahern (Aherne), Thomas (‘Bud’)
Ahern (Aherne), Thomas (‘Bud’) (1919–99), soccer player, was born 26 January 1919 in New Road, Thomondgate, Limerick city, son of Patrick Ahern, sawyer, and Kate Ahern (née Gleeson) of New Road, Thomondgate. He initially made his mark as a hurler. As a member of the Irish army…...
Ahern, Michael (Gah)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ahern, Patrick (‘Balty’). View the original entry....
Ahern, Patrick (‘Balty’)
Ahern, Patrick (‘Balty’) (1900–71), hurler, was born 21 October 1900 at Ballintemple, Co. Cork, eldest of three sons of Patrick Ahern of Ballintemple, ship steward, and Hannah Ahern (née Walsh), also of Ballintemple. He attended primary school locally at Crab Lane. He played hurling…...
Ailbe
Ailbe (d. 527?), patron of the church of Imlech Ibair (Emly, on the Limerick/Tipperary border), Munster's most important church till it was superseded by Cashel in the early twelfth century, was Munster's premier saint, whence the saying Mumu uili . . . iar cúl Ailbe, ‘…...
Ailerán (Aileranus Sapiens)
Ailerán (Aileranus Sapiens) (d. 665), fer léigind (lector or chief scholar) of the monastery of Clonard, Co. Meath, died in the great cholera or plague, termed the Buide Conaill (AU 665). His obit is given as 29 December in the Martyrology of Tallaght and in the…...
Alexander, (Conel) Hugh (O'Donel)
Alexander, (Conel) Hugh (O'Donel) (1909–74), chess master and code-breaker, was born 19 April 1909 in Cork, eldest child of Conel William Long Alexander (qv), professor of engineering at…...
Alexander, Conel William (O'Donel) Long
Alexander, Conel William (O'Donel) Long (1879–1920), civil engineer and rugby footballer, was born 6 June 1879 in Imlick, Co. Donegal, youngest son of Joseph Alexander, farmer and JP, and his wife Frances Mary Long. Registered at birth as ‘…...
Alexander, Michael O'Donel Bjarne
This is a co-subject for the entry on Alexander, (Conel) Hugh (O'Donel). View the original entry....
Alexander, Robert (‘Bob’)
Alexander, Robert (‘Bob’) (1910–43), rugby player and cricketer, was born 24 September 1910 in 57 Distillery St., Belfast, youngest child among two sons and three daughters of David Alexander, shipyard engine fitter, originally from Co. Armagh, and Mary Jane Alexander (née Clark),…...
Alexander, Thomas A.
Alexander, Thomas A. (1847–1933), professor of civil engineering, was born 2 May 1847 in Maryhill, Glasgow; his parents' names are not known. Educated at the Normal School in Cowcaddens, Alexander entered Glasgow University in 1867, where he won prizes in mathematics, mechanics,…...
Algar, Joseph
Algar, Joseph (1890–1958), chemist, was born 15 April 1890 at 22 Arnott St, Dublin, eldest of eight children of Herbert Okell Algar, originally from Warwickshire, and Celia Algar (née Kelly) from Dublin. His father, who converted to catholicism on his marriage, was a master tailor…...
Alison, Francis
Alison, Francis (1705–79), presbyterian minister and educator in America, was born in the parish of Leck, Co. Donegal, son of Robert Alison, weaver, who may have been fairly well off, and who seems to have died in 1725; his mother's name is unknown, but her first name was possibly…...
Allman, George James
Allman, George James (1812–98), botanist and zoologist, was born at Cork, son of James Clugston Allman, a cotton manufacturer and, later, a distiller at nearby Bandon, and his wife, Sarah, née Lane; he was educated at the RBAI…...
Allman, George Johnston
Allman, George Johnston (1824–1904), mathematician, was born 28 September 1824 in Dublin, a younger son of William Allman (qv), botanist. After a brilliant undergraduate career at TCD, he…...
Allman, William
Allman, William (1776–1846), physician and botanist, was born 7 February 1776 at Kingston, Jamaica, son of Thomas Allman, described as a ‘gentleman’; from the age of four he was brought up in his mother's native Waterford. He entered TCD…...