Musa, Jennifer ('Mummy'; Jennifer Jehanzeba Qazi Musa)
Musa, Jennifer ('Mummy'; Jennifer Jehanzeba Qazi Musa) (1917–2008), politician, tribal elder and nurse, was born Bridget Wren on 11 November 1917 in Tarmons, Tarbert, Co. Kerry, one of five daughters and two sons of John Wren, a small-holding farmer, and his wife Johanna (née…...
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 Ghráda, Máiréad
Ní Ghráda, Máiréad (1896–1971), playwright, author, and broadcaster, was born 23 December 1896 in Knockadangan, Kilmaley, Co. Clare, younger of two daughters of James O'Grady (1856–1942), farmer and sometime county councillor, and Bridget O'Grady (née Greene; 1854–1934), native of…...
Ní Mhuiríosa, Máirín
Ní Mhuiríosa, Máirín (1906–82), Irish scholar, poet and journalist, was born 5 September 1906 in Dublin, daughter of mathematics teacher Tomás Ó Muiríosa and his wife Mary Golden. Both her parents were Irish-speakers and the family spent their summer holidays in the Ring Gaeltacht in Co…...
O'Brennan, Kathleen
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Brennan, Elizabeth (‘Lily’). View the original entry....
O'Brien, Eileen Mary (Ní Bhriain, Eibhlín
O'Brien, Eileen Mary (Ní Bhriain, Eibhlín ) (1925–86), journalist, was born 23 January 1925 at 37 Lower Leeson St., Dublin, only child of Liam O'Brien (Ó Briain) (qv) of 15 Lower Sherrard St., Dublin, nationalist and professor of romance…...
O'Callaghan, May
O'Callaghan, May (1881–1973), journalist, translator and communist, was born Julia Mary O'Callaghan in Wexford town on the 14 August 1881, the youngest of four children born to Patrick O'Callaghan, RIC head constable, and Jane O'Callaghan (…...
O'Carroll (Ní Chearbhaill), Mairghréag
O'Carroll (Ní Chearbhaill), Mairghréag (d. 1451), lady of Uí Failghe (Offaly), was daughter of Tadhg Ailbhe O'Carroll (qv) (d. 1407), lord of Éile (Ely) – her mother was probably Mór, daughter of…...
O'Delaney, Mary Barry
O'Delaney, Mary Barry (1862–1947), journalist and nationalist, was born Mary Barry Delany , though from the time she came to notice as a journalist she styled her surname O'Delaney (or sometimes O'Delany). In 1883 she left Ireland for Paris, where she lived in the Avenue Kléber…...
O'Donnell, Mary Stuart
O'Donnell, Mary Stuart (d. p.1639), heiress, was born in England c.1607, the daughter of Ruaidhrí O'Donnell (qv), earl of Tyrconnell, and Bridget Fitzgerald, daughter of…...
O'Donoghue, Nannie Power
Power O’Donoghue (née Lambert), Nannie (1843–1940), journalist, equestrian and writer was born 2 June 1843 and baptised as Ann Stewart Lyster Lambert in St Thomas Church of Ireland, Marlborough Street, Dublin. She was the youngest child of four daughters and one son of Charles Lambert,…...
O'Faolain, Nuala
O'Faolain, Nuala (1940–2008), journalist, writer and feminist, was born 1 March 1940 in Clontarf, Dublin, the second of nine children (six daughters and three sons) of Terry O'Sullivan (qv) (Terry Phelan), journalist and broadcaster, and…...
O'Mahoney, Katharine Aloysia O'Keeffe
O'Mahoney, Katharine Aloysia O'Keeffe (1851–1908), editor, educator, and writer, was born in Co. Kilkenny, daughter of Patrick O'Keeffe (b. 1803) and his wife Rose (b. 1824; maiden name unknown). The O'Keeffes emigrated to Methuen, Massachusetts, USA, c.1851 when she was ten…...
O'Meara, Kathleen
O'Meara, Kathleen (1839–88), novelist and biographer, was born in Dublin, the daughter of Den[n]is O'Meara of Tipperary. When she was about five, she moved with her parents to France, where they had connections: a grandfather, Barry…...
Orpen, Adela Elizabeth (née Richards)
Orpen, Adela Elizabeth (née Richards) (1855–1927), writer, was born on a slave plantation in Virginia, USA, on 3 February 1855, the only surviving child of Edward Moore Richards and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth (née Tisdale). Following the death of her mother on 19 February 1860, her…...
O'Sullivan, Mary Josephine Donovan-
O'Sullivan, Mary Josephine Donovan- (1887–1966), historian, was born in Fairhill, Galway, only daughter among ten children of William and Bridget Donovan from Cork. Her father had served in the Royal Navy. Educated at Dominican convent, Taylor's Hill, Galway, she won prizes in…...
Phelan, Margaret Mary (‘Daisy’)
Phelan, Margaret Mary (‘Daisy’) (1902–2000), local historian, was born 22 December 1902 at 8 William St., Kilkenny, second child of the marriage of Richard Duggan , businessman (proprietor of the Monster House), and his second wife, Henrietta Fitzgibbon of Castlerea, Co. Mayo,…...
Plunkett, Elizabeth Mary Margaret (‘Daisy’) (née Burke)
Plunkett, Elizabeth Mary Margaret (‘Daisy’) (née Burke) (1862–1944), countess of Fingall , socialite and cooperationist, was born at Danesfield, near Moycullen, Co. Galway, eldest among three daughters and one son of George Burke, farmer and magistrate; her two youngest siblings…...
Purcell, Mary
Purcell, Mary (1906–91), teacher, religious biographer, and archivist, was born 28 May 1906 in Moonveen, Carrigeen, Co. Kilkenny, one of three children of Richard Purcell, of Moonveen, and Anastasia Purcell (née Doyle), both of whom were schoolteachers. After attending the St Louis…...
Raftery, Mary Frances Thérèse
Raftery, Mary Frances Thérèse (1957–2012), campaigning journalist and documentary maker, was born on 21 December 1957 in Dublin to Adrian Raftery, an Irish diplomat, and Ita Raftery (née Elmes). She had one sister and two brothers. The family lived in France for much of her early life,…...
Ranke, Clarissa (‘Clara’) Helena von
Ranke, Clarissa (‘Clara’) Helena von (1808–71), poet, was born in Dublin, elder daughter of John Crosbie Graves (1776–1835), chief police magistrate of Dublin, and his wife Helena, daughter of the Rev. Charles Perceval, rector of Bruhenny, Co. Cork. Her brother…...
Rawdon, Elizabeth
Rawdon, Elizabeth (1731–1808), countess of Moira , literary patroness, and amateur antiquarian, was born 23 March 1731, eldest surviving daughter of Theophilus Hastings , 9th earl of Huntingdon, and his wife Selina, daughter of Washington Shirley, 2nd Earl Ferrers. Selina, countess…...
Redlich, (Mary) Patricia
Redlich, (Mary) Patricia (1940–2011), journalist and psychologist, was born on 1 December 1940 at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin, one of four daughters and a son born to Ben Cribbon, a clerk, and his wife Mary (née Crean). Growing up in the northside Dublin…...
Rich, Mary
Rich, Mary (1624/5–1678), countess of Warwick , noblewoman, was the seventh daughter and thirteenth child of Richard Boyle (qv), 1st earl of Cork, and his second wife, Catherine (d. 1630), daughter of Sir…...
Robb, Nesca Adeline
Robb, Nesca Adeline (1905–76), author, was born 27 May 1905 in Belfast, daughter of Charles Robb, managing director of J. Robb & Co., and his wife Agnes, daughter of Dr Wilberforce Arnold. She was educated at Richmond Lodge (of which she later wrote a record) and went up to…...