Abbot, Charles
Abbot, Charles (1757–1829), tourist in Ireland, chief secretary for Ireland (1801–02), speaker of the British house of commons, creator of a system of arranging parliamentary papers, and later 1st Baron Colchester , was born 14 October 1757 at Abingdon, Berkshire, England, second…...
Áed
Áed (d. 598), son of Ainmere and overking of Uí Néill, belonged to Cenél Conaill, one of the leading dynasties of Uí Néill. His father Ainmere (qv) (d. 569), a first cousin of Colum Cille (…...
Áed Abrat
Áed Abrat (‘of the eyelid’) (d. 577), son of Eochu Tírmchárna and overking of Connacht, features as an ancestor of the Uí Briúin Aí dynasty of Co. Roscommon from which the later Ua Conchobair kings of Connacht claimed descent. His pedigree, however, is dubious, with elements…...
Áed Allán
Áed Allán (d. 743), son of Fergal and king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty. His father, Fergal (qv) son of Máel-dúin, king of Tara, was slain by the Leinstermen in 722. His mother was probably a daughter of Ernán, a Cenél…...
Áedán
Áedán (c.534–606/9), son of Gabrán and king of Dál Riata, belonged to the lineage of Cenél nGabráin and had at least one brother, Éoganán (d. 597). His father, Gabrán son of Domangart, reigned as king of Dál Riata c.538–558. His mother, said to have been Fedelm…...
Áed Bennán
Áed Bennán (‘of the spiked helm’?) (d. 619/21), son of Crimthann and overking of Munster, belonged to the dynasty of Éoganacht Locha Léin (centred in mid Co. Kerry). Áed supposedly had two brothers, Áed Finn and Áed Damán, which suggests genealogical confusion. It is said that he…...
Áed Dub
Áed Dub (‘black [haired]’) (d. 588), son of Suibne Araide and overking of Ulaid, belonged to the Dál nAraide dynasty of the Ulster Cruthin. He emerged as king of Dál nAraide after the battle of Móin Dairi Lothair (563), in which the Uí Néill severely defeated the Cruthin.…...
Áed Findliath
Áed Findliath (‘light-grey’) (d. 879), son of Niall and king of Tara, belonged to the Northern Uí Néill dynasty of Cenél nÉogain. His father, Niall Caille (qv), previously king of Tara, died in 846. His mother, Gormlaith, was a daughter of…...
Áed Menn
Áed Menn (‘stammering’) (d. 738), son of Colcu, king of south Leinster and contender for overkingship of the province, was a member of the Síl Cormaic lineage of Uí Chennselaig. His father Colcu (d. 722) had held the relatively minor kingship of Ard Ladrann, the caput of…...
Áed Oirdnide
Áed Oirdnide (d. 819), son of Niall and king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty. His father, Niall Frossach (qv), was king of Tara until his abdication c.770. His mother Dunlaith was a daughter of…...
Áed Rón
Áed Rón (‘seal[-like]’) (d. 735), son of Bécc Bairrche and overking of Ulaid, was a member of the Cenél Demmáin lineage of Dál Fiatach. His father Bécc Bairrche (qv), was previously king of Ulaid (east Ulster), having abdicated in 707.…...
Áed Sláine
Áed Sláine (d. 604), son of Diarmait and king of Tara, belonged to the Uí Néill dynastic confederation and was ancestor of the Síl nÁedo Sláine (‘the seed of Áed of Slane’) dynasty of Brega. It is probably significant that the leading dynasties of what became the Southern Uí…...
Áed Uaridnach
Áed Uaridnach (d. 612), son of Domnall and king of Tara, belonged to Cenél nÉogain, a dynasty of Uí Néill. Originally accorded the epithet Allán or Ollán, the meaning of which is uncertain, Áed was dubbed Uaridnach (martial or war-like) by Middle Irish…...
Aher, David
Aher, David (c.1778–1842), cartographer and civil engineer, was probably the son of Patrick Aher, a Cork surveyor; he trained under his father, in the ‘French school of [John] Rocque’ (qv). A leading Irish surveyor-…...
Ailill Molt
Ailill Molt (‘ram[-like]’) (d. 482), son of Nath Í, king of Connacht and putatively king of Tara, was an early representative of the Uí Fhiachrach dynasty of Connacht. His father, Nath Í son of Fiachra, is claimed by Middle Irish sources to have been king of Tara. His mother is…...
Ainmere
Ainmere (d. 569), son of Sétnae and putatively king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél Conaill dynasty of Uí Néill. His father Sétnae is credited with six sons, but none of the others achieved any distinction. According to the ‘Banshenchas’ (lore of women), Ainmere married Brigit,…...
Albann (Halfdan)
Albann (Halfdan) (d. 877), Scandinavian leader associated with Dublin, was, according to tradition, son of the viking leader Ragnarr Lodbrok, and was one of three documented Scandinavian leaders active in Britain and Ireland c.850–80, the others being…...
Aldfrith
Aldfrith (d. 705), king of Northumbria, son of Oswiu of Northumbria and an Irish princess of the Cenél nÉogain, was brought up in Ireland, where he spent many years in study. When his half-brother Ecgfrith died suddenly (685), he was brought to the throne of Northumbria with the…...
Amlaíb (Óláfr) Cuarán
Amlaíb (Óláfr) Cuarán (d. 981), son of Sitriuc Cáech (qv), was Norse king of Dublin. He first came to notice in 940 when he left Dublin to join his cousin Amlaíb (qv) son…...
Amlaíb (Óláfr Godfridsson)
Amlaíb (Óláfr Godfridsson) (d. 941), Norse king of Dublin, was son of Gofraid (king 921–34), the last surviving grandson of Ímar (qv); nothing is known of his mother. He married Aldgyth, daughter of an Anglo-Danish jarl, Ormr. If he had any…...
Anderson, Lily
Anderson, Lily (1922–82), social campaigner and communist, joined the Communist Party in 1942 and served for many years on its subcommittees for social services, education, and women. She was best known as a campaigner for better nursery facilities in Belfast during the 1960s. Her…...
Anthony, Richard Sydney
Anthony, Richard Sydney (1875–1962), trade unionist and politician, was born 20 October 1875 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, son of John Anthony, printer, and Mary Anthony (née Clancy or Clooney). Little is known about his early life or education except that the family moved to Cork when…...
Ardgal
Ardgal (d. 970), son of Matudán and overking of Ulaid 950–70, was of the Dál Fiatach dynasty. He succeeded his father Matudán son of Áed, overking of Ulaid 937–50, who was slain by the Uí Echach. During the reign of Ardgal, the Ulaid faced a threat from the Northern Uí Néill; in…...
Arkless, Brede (née Boyle)
Arkless, Brede (née Boyle) (1939–2006), rock climber and mountain guide, was born 10 August 1939 in Moston, Manchester, England, the daughter of James Boyle, a fitter, and his wife Mary (née Harrison). Born prematurely while her Dublin-resident parents were visiting family in Manchester…...
Armstrong, Sir Alexander
Armstrong, Sir Alexander (1818–99), naval surgeon and explorer, was born in Co. Donegal, son of Alexander Armstrong of Croghan Lodge, Co. Fermanagh. His family was originally from Cumberland and one of his ancestors was Maj.-gen. John Armstrong (d. 1742), a military engineer and…...