Martindale, Hilda
Martindale, Hilda (1875–1952), civil servant and social reformer, was born 12 March 1875 at Leytonstone, London, the daughter of William Martindale (who died some months before she was born) and his wife, Louisa, née Spicer (1839–1914). Mrs Martindale moved her family – Hilda, her…...
McAuley (McGauley), Catherine Elizabeth
McAuley (McGauley), Catherine Elizabeth (1778–1841), educator, social worker, and religious foundress, was born 29 September 1778 at Stormanstown House, Drumcondra, Dublin, one of three children (two girls and a boy) of James McGauley and his wife Elinor (née Conway). McGauley, by…...
McCaffrey, Mary Ellen
McCaffrey, Mary Ellen (Sister Mary Xavier ) (1854–1923), Sister of Mercy and social worker, was born in Monaghan, daughter of Arthur McCaffrey and Catherine McCaffrey, who also had another daughter and two sons. She emigrated to the USA, where she entered St Catherine's convent of…...
McShain, Mary
McShain, Mary (1907–98), landowner and benefactor, was born Mary Horstmann on 27 March 1907 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, fifth among six children of Ignatius J. Horstmann and his wife Pauline. She was educated at St Leonard's Academy, Philadelphia, and Rosemont College, Rosemont…...
Meade, Theodosia
Meade, Theodosia (1743–1817), countess of Clanwilliam , landowner, was the only daughter and heir of Robert Hawkins Magill (d. 1747) of Gill Hall, Gilford, Co. Down, and his wife, Lady Anne Magill (d. 1789), whose name he took on marriage. Robert Magill died when his daughter was an…...
Murdoch, (Jean) Iris
Murdoch, (Jean) Iris (1919–99), novelist and philosopher, was born 15 July 1919 at 59 Blessington St., Dublin, only child of Wills John Hughes Murdoch (1890–1958) (only son of Wills John Murdoch of Hillhall, Co. Down), second lieutenant, 1st King Edward's Horse (1915–19), and a second-…...
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…...
O'Brien, Charlotte Grace
O'Brien, Charlotte Grace (1845–1909), social reformer and writer, was born 23 November 1845 at Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick, younger daughter of the Young Ireland leader, William Smith O’Brien (qv), and his wife Lucy Caroline, daughter of…...
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'Connor, Mary
O'Connor, Mary (Sister Mary Agnes ) (1815–59), Sister of Mercy, foundress, and social worker, was born 6 January 1815 in Kilkenny city, youngest among ten children of Patrick O'Connor and Mary O'Connor. Like other charitable women of her time she visited the sick poor and made…...
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…...
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…...
Place, Valerie
Place, Valerie (1969–93), nurse and overseas aid worker, was born 24 March 1969 at 20 St Brendan's Crescent, Walkinstown, Dublin, one of four daughters and three sons of Patrick Place, coachbuilder, of that address, and Margaret Place (née Byrne). Educated at St Paul's secondary school…...
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…...
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…...
Russell, Angela Gertrude (née Coyne)
Russell, Angela Gertrude (née Coyne) (1893–1991), physician and social reformer, was born 15 November 1893 in Tralee, Co. Kerry, the fourth daughter and seventh child among nine children of James Aloysius Coyne, an inspector of national schools, and Kathleen Mary Coyne (née Pitt).…...
Simms, Mercy Felicia
Simms, Mercy Felicia (1915–98), social crusader, was born 3 March 1915 in a nursing home at 89 Lower Baggot St., Dublin, only child of Brian James Gwynn (1883–1972) of 48 Hollybrook Road, Clontarf, civil servant employed as assistant secretary in the labour exchange, and his wife…...
Stewart, Edith Helen Vane - Tempest
Stewart, Edith Helen Vane - Tempest (1879–1959), marchioness of Londonderry , public servant, and hostess, was born 3 December 1879 at Blankney, elder daughter and second among three children of Henry Chaplin , tory MP and cabinet minister, and Lady Florence Chaplin (née Leveson-Gower…...
Sullivan, Lucinda
Sullivan, Lucinda (1831–1881), philanthropist, writer and promoter of children's welfare, was born in 1831, probably in Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, to Captain William Edward Brady , formerly a lieutenant in the 2nd West India Regiment, and subsequently chief constable of police in…...
Talbot, Frances
Talbot, Frances (c.1649–1731), duchess of Tyrconnell , was the eldest daughter and co-heir of Richard Jennings (Jenyns) (d. 1668) of Holywell House, Sandridge, Hertfordshire, England, MP for St Albans, and his wife Frances Thornhurst. Her sister was Sarah Churchill,…...
Talbot, Rose Maud
Talbot, Rose Maud (1915–2009), chatelaine, farmer and philanthropist, was born 14 September 1915 at Hartham Park, Wiltshire, England, the younger of two children of Milo George Talbot (1854–1931), a soldier, and his wife Eva (née Joicey) (d. 1951), a native of Northumberland. Her…...
Valence, Agnes de
Valence, Agnes de (c.1250–1309), magnate, was the daughter of William de Valence, lord of Wexford (sometimes styled earl of Pembroke), and Joan de Munchensy (granddaughter of William Marshal (qv), earl of Pembroke and lord of…...
Woodlock, Ellen
Woodlock, Ellen (1811–84), philanthropist and social worker, was born 27 January 1811, second daughter among seven sons and four daughters of Martin Mahony (1764–1834) of Cork, woollen manufacturer, and his second wife, Maria (née Reynolds), of Roscreg. The Rev.…...