Ó Creag, Séamus (Craig, James Patrick)
Ó Creag, Séamus (Craig, James Patrick) (1863–1934), Irish–language teacher, writer, and scholar, was born into the large Irish-speaking family of Pádraig Ó Creag, small farmer of Droim na Soileach in the Glenties, Co. Donegal, and Ann (or Máire) Gildea, from nearby Mín na Tine townland…...
Ó Cuiv, Shan
Ó Cuiv, Shan (1875–1940), journalist and writer, was born in Macroom, Co. Cork, as John Michael O'Keefe, son of John O'Keefe, tanner, and Margaret O'Keefe (née Duggan), both of Macroom. He attended schools in Macroom and Dunmanway but the major event of his formative years was…...
O'Curry (Curry, Ó Comhraí), Eugene (Eoghan)
O'Curry (Curry, Ó Comhraí), Eugene (Eoghan) (1794–1862), Irish scholar, was born 20 November 1794 at Dunaha, about three miles south of Kilkee, Co. Clare, third among four children of Eoghan ‘Mór’ O'Curry (c.1740–1825) and Catherine O'Curry (née Madigan) of Dunaha. His father,…...
Ó Dálaigh, Aonghus Fionn (‘the fair’) (Aenghus O'Daly)
Ó Dálaigh, Aonghus Fionn (‘the fair’) (Aenghus O'Daly) (fl. 1585–1601), bardic poet, was born into a very prominent Munster bardic family, patronised for centuries by the MacCarthys of Desmond. The Annals of the Four Masters record in 1161 the death of Raghnall Ó Dálaigh, ‘ollamh…...
Ó Dálaigh, Máirín
Ó Dálaigh, Máirín (née Nic Dhiarmada ) (c.1909–94), Celticist and lexicographer, was born in Mussoorie, United Provinces of India and Kashmir. Both her parents were Irish and living in India as her father was a teacher with the Munster fusiliers. At the age of two and a half she was…...
O'Daly, John
O'Daly, John (1800–78), writer and publisher, was born 5 February 1800 in Fernane, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, eldest among three sons and three daughters of Eamonn O'Daly and Brigid O'Daly (née Kyley). He was educated at a local hedge school before going to work, in 1826, for the…...
Ó Domhnalláin, Tomás (Donlon, Tom)
Ó Domhnalláin, Tomás (Donlon, Tom) (1913–2005), teacher and linguist, was born 30 March 1913 in Delvin, Co. Westmeath, the youngest of five sons of John Donlon of Ballyhealy, near Delvin, a shepherd and land agent, and his wife Mary (née Kelly), a post office worker and native of Navan…...
Ó Donnchadha, Tadhg (‘Torna’)
Ó Donnchadha, Tadhg (‘Torna’) (1874–1949), professor of Irish, was born 4 September 1874 in Cork, one of three sons and a daughter of Donnchadh Ó Donnchadha, farmer, and Síle (Julia) Ní Donnchadha (née Hegarty). He attended North Monastery school in Cork, and in 1892 went to St Patrick'…...
O'Donnell, Hugh McHugh Dubh (Aodh Ó Domhnaill)
O'Donnell, Hugh McHugh Dubh (Aodh Ó Domhnaill) (c.1537–1618), nobleman and bardic poet, was born in Co. Donegal, the youngest son of Aodh Dubh O'Donnell (qv), lord of Tír Conaill (d. 1537). His mother may…...
O'Donnell, John Patrick
O'Donnell, John Patrick (1920–2004), chemical engineer, was born 3 August 1920 in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, one of three children of John O'Donnell and his wife Kitty. His parents owned a newsagent's shop in the town. John was a pupil at Bruree national school (where…...
O'Donovan (Ó Donnabháin), John (Seán)
O'Donovan (Ó Donnabháin), John (Seán) (1806–61), Irish scholar, was born about 25 July 1806 at Atateemore, in the parish of Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny, a few miles from Waterford city, the seventh of nine children (of whom two died young) of Edmund (Óg) O'Donovan, farmer, and Ellenor…...
O'Donovan, (Peter) Joseph ('Joe')
O'Donovan, (Peter) Joseph ('Joe') (1946–2008), consulting engineer, was born 9 June 1946 in Molloy Terrace, Ballina, Co. Mayo, son of Peter Joseph O'Donovan, a school inspector originally from west Cork, and his wife Hannah (née Bourke), formerly a teacher; he had at least four…...
Ó Droighneáin, Muiris
Ó Droighneáin, Muiris (1901–79), Irish-language scholar, was born 12 November 1901 in Clohonora House, Newtownshandrum, Co. Cork, eldest of three children of farmer James Drinan and his wife, Mary Rea. He received his earliest education in the locality and afterwards attended the…...
Ó Duibhgeannáin, Cú Choigcríche
Ó Duibhgeannáin, Cú Choigcríche (O'Duigenan, Peregrine) (fl. 1630–41), chronicler and scribe, one of the compilers of the Annals of the Four Masters, was son of Tuathal Buidhe Ó Duibhgeannáin, of Castlefore, Co. Leitrim; nothing is known of his mother. In the late medieval…...
Ó Duilearga, Séamus (James Hamilton Delargy)
Ó Duilearga, Séamus (James Hamilton Delargy) (1899–1980), folklorist, was born 26 May 1899 in Cushendall, Co. Antrim, son of James Delargy, publican from a long line of seafarers, and Mary Josephine Delargy (née McQuillan). He had one brother. His father died when he was two, and the…...
O'Flanagan, Theophilus
O'Flanagan, Theophilus (c.1762–1814), classical and Irish scholar, was born in the parish of Tulla, Co. Clare, son of Mathghamhain Ó Flannagáin, scribe and hedge-schoolmaster. He was baptised Tadhg but later on entering TCD…...
Ó Flathartaigh, Mairtín
Ó Flathartaigh, Mairtín (1912–2005), civil servant and Irish-language scholar, was born 11 November 1912 in the townland of An Caorán Mór, near Carraroe, Co. Galway, the youngest of seven children of Colm Ó Flathartaigh (1872–1919), a small farmer from An Caorán Mór, and his wife Bríd…...
O'Flynn, James Christopher
O'Flynn, James Christopher (1881–1962), priest and Irish language activist, was born 12 December 1881 in Mallow Lane, Cork, son of Cornelius O'Flynn who was employed in the butter market and his wife, Catherine Uppington, who was of protestant stock. O'Flynn was from a musical…...
Ó Foghludha, Risteard (Richard Foley)
Ó Foghludha, Risteard (Richard Foley) (1871–1957), teacher, journalist and editor, was born 5 March 1871 in Knockmonlea between Youghal and Killeagh, Co. Cork, son of farmer Richard Ó Foghludha and his wife, Peg Long. He was the eldest of seven girls and five boys and attended the…...
Ó Gealacáin, Peadar
Ó Gealacáin, Peadar (c.1792–1860), scribe and schoolmaster, was born in the parish of Moynalty, Co. Meath, son of Pádraig Ó Gealacáin and his wife, Margaret Williams. The year of his birth is uncertain and may have been 1792 or 1793 and his parents' occupations are unknown.…...
Ó Glaisne, Risteárd
Ó Glaisne, Risteárd (1927–2003), teacher, ecumenist and journalist, was born 2 September 1927 in Bandon, Co. Cork, the third of four children of George William Giles and his wife Sara Jane (née Vickery). He attended Bandon Grammar School and Trinity College Dublin (TCD), graduating…...
Ó Gnímh, Fearflatha
Ó Gnímh, Fearflatha (fl. 1580–1640) bardic poet, seems to have been born around 1580, in Co. Antrim, and may have been the son of Brian Ó Gnímh, who was also a professional poet. Members of the Ó Gnímh family were traditionally hereditary poets (ollamhs) to the O'Neills…...
Ó Gormáin (Mac Gormáin, O'Gorman, Gorman), Muiris (Maurice)
Ó Gormáin (Mac Gormáin, O'Gorman, Gorman), Muiris (Maurice) (c.1700/20–c.1794), scribe, poet, and schoolteacher, was born probably in Co. Monaghan, though a case has been made for a birthplace in Co. Louth. The oldest manuscript known in his hand has been dated to 1734…...
Ó Grianna, Séamus (‘Máire’)
Ó Grianna, Séamus (‘Máire’) (1889–1969), writer, known locally as ‘Jimmy Fheilimidh’ and publishing under the pseudonym ‘Máire’, was born 17 November 1889 in Ranafast, Co. Donegal, eldest son and fourth child among five sons and six daughters of Feidhlimidh Mac Grianna (Feidhlimidh…...
O'Growney, Eugene (Ó Gramhnaigh, Eoghan)
O'Growney, Eugene (Ó Gramhnaigh, Eoghan) (1863–99), priest, Gaelic Leaguer, and Irish-language scholar, was born 24 September 1863 in Ballyfallon, Athboy, Co. Meath, second among six children of Séamas Ó Gramhnaigh, steward, and his wife Máiréad (née Nic Gabhann) from Kilskeer, Co…...