McCorley, Roddy (Roger)
McCorley, Roddy (Roger) (d. 1800), United Irishman, was born in the parish of Duneane, Co. Antrim. His family is said to have been prosperous, but to have been evicted from their farm when the father died, and to have been reduced to begging, and the young man became involved in the…...
Megaw, Basil
Megaw, Basil (1913–2002), archaeologist and folklife scholar, was born in Belfast on 22 June 1913, the third of four sons of Arthur Stanley Megaw, solicitor and writer, and his wife (Helen Isabel) Bertha (née Smith). Arthur Stanley Megaw (1873–1961) was a younger son of Robert Megaw…...
Moran, Michael (‘Zozimus’)
Moran, Michael (‘Zozimus’) (c.1794–1846), balladeer, was born to poor parents in Faddle Alley, off Blackpitts in the Liberties of Dublin. At the age of two weeks an illness left him blind. This effectively limited his choice of career, and his parents sent him to rhyme on…...
Murphy, Michael Joseph
Murphy, Michael Joseph (1913–96), writer and collector of folklore, was born in Eden St., Liverpool, England, on 2 July 1913, son of Michael Murphy, ship's fireman, and Susan Murphy (née Campbell). Both parents were from south Armagh, and in 1922 the family returned to this region.…...
Ní Annagáin, Máighréad
This is a co-subject for the entry on Clandillon, Seamus (‘Clan’). View the original entry....
Ní Bhrolcháin, Muireann
Ní Bhrolcháin, Muireann (1955–2015), academic and activist, was born on 15 May 1955 at Calvary Hospital (Bon Secours) in Galway, the eldest of three daughters of Cilian Ó Brolcháin, professor of physics at University College Galway (UCG, now the University of Galway) from Dublin, and…...
Ní Scolaí, Máire
Ní Scolaí, Máire (1909–85), traditional singer, was born in Dublin on 24 May 1909 to Michael Scully , commercial traveller, of 60 Ignatius Road, and Mary Scully (née Kavanagh). She lived in Dublin for much of her childhood and was educated at Central Model Schools, which held pilot…...
Nutt, Alfred Trübner
Nutt, Alfred Trübner (1856–1910), folklorist, Celtic scholar, and publisher, was born 22 November 1856 in London, the only surviving son of David Nutt (d. 1863), bookseller and publisher, and his wife Ellen, daughter of Robert Carter, naval surgeon, and granddaughter of William…...
O'Brien, Máire (‘Máire Rua’)
O'Brien, Máire (‘Máire Rua’) (1615?–1686), Gaelic aristocrat and figure in Irish folklore, was daughter of Sir Torlach Rua MacMahon, lord of East Corcabaskin or Clonderlaw, and his wife Mary, youngest daughter of Conor O'Brien (qv), 3rd…...
Ó Criomhthain, Tomás
Ó Criomhthain, Tomás (1854/5–1937), author, was born on the Great Blasket Island, Co. Kerry, youngest child among three sons and five daughters of Dónall Mac Criomhthain and Cáit Ní Shé (m. 26 January 1837). He lived all his life on the island, with visits to Dún Chaoin and Daingean Uí…...
Ó Danachair, Caoimhín (Danaher, Kevin)
Ó Danachair, Caoimhín (Danaher, Kevin) (1913–2002), university lecturer and folklorist, was born 30 January 1913 in Athea (Áth an tSléibhe), Co. Limerick, the second eldest of four sons of William Danaher, a primary school principal, and his wife Margaret (née Ryan) of Martinstown,…...
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'Hanlon, John (‘Lageniensis’)
O'Hanlon, John (‘Lageniensis’) (1821–1905), priest, hagiologist, historian, folklorist, and poet, was born 30 April 1821 in Stradbally, Queen's County (Laois), son of Edward Hanlon (d. early 1840s), who probably owned a tanyard in the town, and Honora Hanlon (1793/4–1887). He was…...
Ó hÉanaí, Seosamh (Heaney, Joe; ‘Joe Éinniú’)
Ó hÉanaí, Seosamh (Heaney, Joe; ‘Joe Éinniú’) (1919–84), sean-nós singer and storyteller, was born 1 October 1919 in Ard Thoir, Carna, Co. Galway, one of eight children of Pádraig Ó hÉinniú and his wife Béib Ní Mhaoilchiaráin (Béib Sheáin Mhichíl Shéamuis). He received his earliest…...
Ó hEochaidh, Seán
Ó hEochaidh, Seán (1913–2002), folklore collector, was born 9 February 1913 in Croaghlin, Teelin, Co. Donegal, son of a fisherman. He was educated locally in Teelin national school and afterwards joined his father's fishing crew, working for several years as a fisherman. From an early…...
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),…...
Ó Súilleabháin, Seán
Ó Súilleabháin, Seán (1903–96), folklorist, was born 30 November 1903 in Derrylough in the parish of Tuosist, Co. Kerry, second youngest of six children of teachers Eoghan Ó Súilleabháin and his wife, Helena Ní Shúilleabháin. Of the six children, five became national schoolteachers. Ó…...
Price, Liam
Price, Liam (1891–1967), district justice and antiquary, was born 23 February 1891 and christened William George (‘Willie’), the only surviving son of George Price (d. 1915), QC (queen's counsel), of 84 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, prominent in the legal profession as registrar of the…...
Ranelagh, Elaine Lambert Lewis O'Beirne-
Ranelagh, Elaine Lambert Lewis O'Beirne- (1914–96), writer and folklorist, was born 6 July 1914 in Brooklyn, New York, USA, the only child of Josephine Lambert Lewis and Harry Lewis, who worked in real estate. She studied classics at Vassar College and majored in Greek. Her interest in…...
Ross, Jane
Ross, Jane (1810–79), folksong collector, was born 5 August 1810 in or near Limavady, Co. Londonderry, eldest child among four daughters and two sons of John Ross (1781–1830), captain in the Limavady yeomanry and owner of land, flour mills, and a bleach green, and his second wife…...
Sayers, Peig (‘Peig Mhór’)
Sayers, Peig (‘Peig Mhór’) (1873–1958), storyteller, was born in Vicarstown, Dunquin, Co. Kerry, one of thirteen children of Tomás Sayers, storyteller and small farmer, and his wife Peig (née Ní Bhrosnacháin). She was baptised 29 March 1873 in Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry. Of English…...
Thomas George Farquhar Paterson (Tommy)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Paterson, John Thomas Farquhar. View the original entry....
Tunney, Paddy
Tunney, Paddy (1921–2002), traditional singer, was born 28 January 1921 in Glasgow, Scotland, the third of the eight children, three boys and five girls, of Patrick Tunney, labourer, of Mulleek, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, and Brigid Tunney (1887–1975), folk singer. Brigid was born 14 June…...
Uí Choisdeailbh, Eibhlín (Edith Costello)
Uí Choisdeailbh, Eibhlín (Edith Costello) (1870–1962), folksong collector, Irish language enthusiast, and political activist, was born 27 June 1870, probably in the Strand union workhouse, St Pancras, London. She was christened Edith Drury and raised a member of the Church of…...
Ussher, Percy Arland
Ussher, Percy Arland (1899–1980), essayist and translator, was born 9 September 1899 at Battersea, London, son of Beverly Ussher, inspector of schools, and Emily Ussher (née Jebb). Educated at Abbotsholme School, Derbyshire, he had radical journals posted to him from Ireland, and so…...