Jocelyn, Percy
Jocelyn, Percy (1764–1843), disgraced bishop, was born 29 November 1764, third of four sons of Robert, 1st earl of Roden (qv), and his wife Anne, née Hamilton. Educated at TCD, he graduated…...
Johnson, Esther
Johnson, Esther (1681–1728), Jonathan Swift's ‘Stella ’, was born 13 March 1681 in Richmond, Surrey, England, daughter of Bridget Johnson, housekeeper to Sir William Temple (qv) of Moor Park in Surrey. It was rumoured, from early in her…...
Johnson, Rosanna (‘Rosie’)
Johnson, Rosanna (‘Rosie’) (1891–1987), street trader, was born 24 March 1891, daughter of William Walsh, labourer, of 6 Turner's Cottages, Dublin, and Julia Walsh (née Reilly). At the age of 12 she was selling violets on the street for a penny a bunch and by the time she was 17 she…...
Johnston (Johnston-Liik ), Edith Mary
Johnston (Johnston-Liik ), Edith Mary (1930–2008), historian and editor, was born 11 July 1930 in Belfast, eldest of three daughters of John Worthington Johnston (1904–52), athlete, presbyterian minister and army chaplain, and his wife Mary Isobel Giraud (née McFadden); a son died at…...
Joly, Jaspar Robert
Joly, Jaspar Robert (1819–92), book collector, was born at Hollywood House, Brackagh, Clonbulloge, King's Co. (Offaly), on 26 May 1819, the eldest of three sons of Henry Edward Joly (1784–1852), a clergyman, and his wife Martha, daughter of Robert Revelle of Hartwill, Co. Wicklow…...
Jones, Jane
This is a co-subject for the entry on Jones, Theophilus. View the original entry....
Jones, Theophilus
Jones, Theophilus (d. 1736), bookseller, printer and newspaper proprietor, was probably descended from Sir Theophilus Jones (qv), son of Lewis Jones (qv) (d. 1646), bishop of Killaloe.…...
Joyce, Myles
Joyce, Myles (1837?–1882), victim of a miscarriage of justice, was the second of three sons of Shaun Joyce of Cappanacreha, Co. Galway, a desolate and isolated townland in the parish of Ross in the Joyce Country bordering Co. Mayo. Myles Joyce, a small farmer at Cappanacreha, who…...
Joyce, Patrick Weston
Joyce, Patrick Weston (1827–1914), educationalist, historian, linguist, translator and collector of folk music, was born in Ballyorgan, Co. Limerick, one of the eight sons of Garrett Joyce, a shoemaker known locally as ‘Garrett the Scholar’ for his knowledge of poetry and religion, and…...
Joy, Francis
Joy, Francis (1697–1790), notary, printer, paper manufacturer, and founder of the Belfast News Letter, was born in 1697 at Killead, Co. Antrim, the younger son of Richard Joy, a prosperous presbyterian farmer, and his wife Jane (née Ellis) of Carrickfergus. He settled in…...
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…...
Kavanagh, Muiris (‘Kruger’)
Kavanagh, Muiris (‘Kruger’) (1894–1971), publican and raconteur, was born 28 March 1894 at Baile na Ratha, Dún Chaoin, Co. Kerry, one of four sons and a daughter of John Kavanagh and his wife Mary (née Hoare), who had a farm and a small shop. While attending the local primary school…...
Kavanagh, Peter Paul
Kavanagh, Peter Paul (1916–2006), writer and critic, was born 19 March 1916 in Mucker, Iniskeen, Co. Monaghan, youngest of ten children of James Kavanagh, shoemaker and small farmer, and his wife Bridget (née Quinn). His godfather was his elder brother, the poet…...
Keane, Rita
Keane, Rita (1923–2009), traditional singer and musician, was born on 31 December 1923 in the townland of Carragh, Caherlistrane, Co. Galway, one of eight children (four daughters and four sons) of Matt Keane and his wife May (née Costello; d. 1978), who were farmers. Rita attended…...
Kelly, Luke
Kelly, Luke (1940–84), folk singer, was born 17 November 1940 in Lattimore Cottages, Sheriff Street, Dublin, second child (and second son) among four sons and two daughters of Luke Kelly (1904–67), a factory worker with Jacob's biscuit manufacturers, and Julia Kelly (née Fleming). In…...
Kelly, Sarah
Kelly, Sarah (1801–56), landowner and murder victim, was born Sarah Birch in Ramsgate, Kent, England, sixth child of John Birch, husbandman and innkeeper, and his wife Elizabeth. At the age of 15 she was seduced by Joshua Paul Meredith, an Anglo-Irish gentleman who took her to…...
Kennedy, Patrick
Kennedy, Patrick (1801–73), writer, folklorist, and bookseller, was born in Kilmyshal, near Bunclody, Co. Wexford, in early 1801. Little is known of his family life other than that his father was Patrick Kennedy and that he appears to have been the fourth child born to his parents.…...
Kenny, Kevin John
Kenny, Kevin John (1881–1954), advertising pioneer, commercial manager and publisher, was born on 22 June 1881 at 12 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin, one of eight children of Michael C. Kenny, a lithographic printer and Fenian, and Catherine Kenny (née Fleming), a book-folder (cloth…...
Kiernan, Catherine Brigid (‘Kitty’)
Kiernan, Catherine Brigid (‘Kitty’) (1893–1945), hotelier, and fiancée of Michael Collins (qv), was born 26 January 1893 in Granard, Co. Longford, fifth child and fourth daughter among six daughters and one son of Peter Kiernan, a…...
King, Cecil Harmsworth
King, Cecil Harmsworth (1901–87), publisher, was born 20 February 1901 at Poynter's Hall, Totteridge, Hertfordshire, England (home of his grandmother, Geraldine Harmsworth (qv)), second son and fifth child among seven children of…...
King, Jeremiah
King, Jeremiah (1868–1927), historian, printer, and publisher, was born 11 February 1868 in Groin, in the parish of Aghadoe, Co. Kerry, elder of two sons of Laurence King, carpenter, of Currow, and Ellen King (née Counihan), farmer, of Madam's Height, Groin. Early in King's life…...
Kyteler (Kettle, Keyetler), Dame Alice
Kyteler (Kettle, Keyetler), Dame Alice (fl. 1324), accused of witchcraft and sorcery, was probably from a Kilkenny family, though nothing is known of her life prior to marriage. The Kytelers were a family of Flemish merchants who came to Ireland some time in the mid to late…...
Lamb, John George Dalkeith ('Keith')
Lamb, John George Dalkeith ('Keith') (1919–2011), horticultural scientist and plantsman, was born on 19 August 1919 in Dublin, the younger son of John Lamb, who had been a doctor in the British army, and his wife Constance (née Johnston). Constance's father, also a doctor, was a…...
Larminie, William
Larminie, William (1849–1900), poet and folktale collector, was born 1 August 1849 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, youngest son of William Larminie, who seems to have been a land agent or bank official, and was protestant, of Huguenot descent, and his wife Bridget (‘Beda’), daughter of Col.…...
Lavery, Hazel
Lavery, Hazel (1880–1935), Lady Lavery, artist, model, actress and socialite, was born 14 March 1880 at 514 North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Edward Jenner Martyn (1846–1897), a self-made man who became vice president of Armour & Co. (a successful meat packing firm)…...