McCabe, Thomas
McCabe, Thomas (1740?–1820), watchmaker, businessman, and United Irishman, was born probably at Lurgan, Co. Armagh, the eldest of four sons of Patrick McCabe (1708?–85), a clock- and watchmaker, and his wife, Mary (née Maziere) (1717?–1801). Taking up their father's trade, he and…...
McCormack, Percy (Percival Davis)
McCormack, Percy (Percival Davis) (1929–2015), nuclear scientist, rocket engineer, pilot and physician, was born 23 October 1929 at the family home at 5 Garville Road, Rathgar, Dublin, the eldest of three children (he had a sister, Marion, and a brother, John) born to Thomas Henry…...
McCreery, John
McCreery, John (c.1768–1832), printer and radical, was born in Burndunnet, near Strabane, Co. Tyrone, son of James McCreery (1745–1811), a Strabane printer. In the late 1780s John McCreery left Strabane for Liverpool, where he was apprenticed to George Wood, a leading local…...
McDonnell, Thomas
McDonnell, Thomas (d. 1809), printer and bookseller, was known as a young Dublin printer in 1763; nothing else is known of his early life. He was one of the master printers contracted to produce the Hibernian Journal in 1771, the year of its inception, and took part (August…...
McDonnel, Sir Edward
McDonnel, Sir Edward (1806–60), merchant and paper manufacturer, was born in Dublin, son of Christopher McDonnel, also a merchant and paper manufacturer, and his wife Ann, daughter of Edward Brennan, all from Dublin. Although one of the most eminent and successful merchants in the…...
McDonogh, Martin (Mac Donnchada, Máirtin)
McDonogh, Martin (Mac Donnchada, Máirtin) (1858–1934), merchant, industrialist, and TD, was born in Lettermullen, Galway, eldest son among three sons and two daughters of Thomas Redmond McDonogh (d. 1902), merchant, originally of Lettermullen and later Galway, and his wife Honoria…...
McGregor, John James
McGregor, John James (c.1773–1834), historian and topographer, was born 24 February c.1773 in Limerick city, the seventh son and youngest of seventeen children (many of whom did not survive to adulthood) of John McGregor (d. 1796), native of Scotland, probably by…...
McLaughlin, Hugh
McLaughlin, Hugh (1918–2006), publisher and inventor, was born 11 October 1918 in the family residence at Cavan Lower in Killygordon, Co. Donegal, the youngest of five sons and two daughters of James McLaughlin, stationmaster, and his wife Dorothy (née Rogers). He attended Dromore…...
Merne, Oscar James
Merne, Oscar James (1943–2013), ornithologist and conservationist, was born on 6 November 1943 in Dublin to Oscar Sean Merne, a bank official, and Madeline Mary (née Patten). He was the middle child between two sisters, Morna (b. 1942) and Cloida (b. 1947). He attended school at the…...
Miller, Liam
Miller, Liam (1924–87), publisher, was born William Miller 24 April 1924 in Mountrath, Co. Laois, son of James Miller, victualler, and Elizabeth Miller (née Carbery). He studied architecture at UCD and travelled to London after 1945 to…...
Mitchell, George Francis (‘Frank’)
Mitchell, George Francis (‘Frank’) (1912–97), environmental historian, archaeologist, geologist, and educator, was born 15 October 1912 in Dublin, younger son of David William Mitchell, owner of a Dublin ironmongery and furniture business, and Francis Elizabeth Mitchell (née Kirby). His…...
Monteith, Charles Montgomery
Monteith, Charles Montgomery (1921–95), publisher, was born 9 February 1921 in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, son of James Monteith, draper, and Marian Monteith (née Montgomery). The family were devoutly presbyterian. Charles was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institute – he later…...
Mooney, John Joseph
Mooney, John Joseph (1920–2000), farmer and publisher, was born 8 March 1920 in a nursing home at 4 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin, elder of two children of Patrick Mooney, farmer and cattle dealer, a native of Athy, Co. Kildare, who had inherited an uncle's farm at Kilmurry, Co.…...
Moore, Theophilus
Moore, Theophilus (c.1730–c.1809), almanack compiler, may have been born in King's Co. (Offaly), but details of his life are scant and conflicting. John McCall (qv) in his comprehensive ‘History of Irish almanacks’ (written 1878; unpublished…...
Mulcahy, John Augustine (‘Jack’)
Mulcahy, John Augustine (‘Jack’) (1906–94), industrialist, businessman, and philanthropist, was born 26 August 1906 at Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, fifth among twelve children of Patrick Mulcahy, town clerk of Waterford , and Mary Mulcahy (née O'Shea). He was educated locally in the…...
Mulholland, Andrew
Mulholland, Andrew (1792–1866), textile manufacturer, was born 15 March 1792, probably in Belfast. His father, Thomas Mulholland, is believed to have been of humble origins and probably illiterate; he started as a dealer, and then invested in property. In 1784 he married Anne Doe…...
Murphy, James Cavanah (Cavanagh)
Murphy, James Cavanah (Cavanagh) (c.1760–1814), artist, topographer, and architect, was a native of Blackrock, Co. Cork. He is known as ‘James Murphy architect’ in his published works and it is not clear when ‘Cavanah/Cavanagh’ was inserted into his name. His parentage is…...
Murphy, James Jeremiah
Murphy, James Jeremiah (1825–97), brewer, banker, and businessman, was born 10 November 1825 in Cork, eldest among six sons and nine daughters of Jeremiah James Murphy (1795–1851), merchant and distiller, of Lota Park, Glanmire, Cork, and his wife Catherine (d. 17 July 1872),…...
Murphy, John
Murphy, John (c.1755–1832), engraver and educational publisher, was born in Cork city and reared in its northern suburbs, around Mallow Lane. At the age of seventeen he emigrated to London, led by his ‘predilection for the Fine Arts and a desire to cultivate an inclination for…...
Murphy, Joseph
Murphy, Joseph (1923–2001), founder of Tayto crisps, was born 15 May 1923 beside the Liberties in Dublin, one of four sons and one daughter of Thomas Murphy, builder, and Molly Murphy (née Sweeney), who owned a wallpaper and paint shop on Thomas St. He was educated at Synge St.…...
Muspratt, James
Muspratt, James (1793–1886), chemical industrialist, was born 12 August 1793 in Dublin, third child and second son among six sons and two daughters of Evan Muspratt, cork-cutter, and Sarah Muspratt (née Mainwaring), both of Dublin, whose families came originally from England. After…...
Neal (Neale), John
Neal (Neale), John (fl.1701–40), publisher of music, manufacturer of musical instruments, and musician, worked in Dublin throughout his adult life and may have been born in the city. He appears, c.1701, running a recorder-making shop in Christ Church Lane, Dublin. From…...
Neill (Neil), Patrick
Neill (Neil), Patrick (1665?–1705?), printer, was born in Glasgow, and was probably the same as the Patrick Neill, bookbinder, who in 1691 was admitted a burgess of that city and guild brother in right of his father. His parents were most likely David Neill and Mary Hamilton, whose…...
Nelson, Oliver
Nelson, Oliver (c.1715–1775), printer, was apprenticed to George Grierson (d. 1753), in Essex St., Dublin, for 1736/7. Prior to this he probably worked for William Bowyer in London intermittently during 1732–6, but nothing is known of his early life. He was sworn free of…...
Neville, Parke
Neville, Parke (1812–86), civil engineer, architect, and land surveyor, was born in Dublin, son of Arthur Neville, engineer and surveyor; his mother's name is not known. The Neville family had been associated with engineering and surveying in Ireland for at least four generations. His…...