Vard, Cecil
This is a co-subject for the entry on Vard, John (‘Jack’, ‘Jackie’). View the original entry....
Vard, John (‘Jack’, ‘Jackie’)
Vard, John (‘Jack’, ‘Jackie’) (1926–98), sportsman and businessman, was born 29 May 1926 in 4 Rosedale Terrace, Dublin, one of six sons and two daughters of Alfred (‘Taylor’) Vard, of Dublin, originally a cobbler by profession, and his London-born first wife, Daisy May Vard (née…...
Vard, Julian (Julie)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Vard, John (‘Jack’, ‘Jackie’). View the original entry....
Wafer, Lionel
Wafer, Lionel (d. 1705), surgeon, buccaneer, topographer, and ethnographer, was probably born in Ireland or to an Irish catholic family abroad. In A new voyage & description of the isthmus of America (1699), the work on which his reputation rests, he states: in my…...
Walker, Samuel B. (‘Sammy’)
Walker, Samuel B. (‘Sammy’) (1912–72), rugby footballer, was born 21 April 1912 at 174 Cupar Street, Belfast; the son of Samuel Walker, grocer, and Mary Isabella Walker (née Craig). Educated at the RBAI, he played his club…...
Walsh, Cornelius (‘Con’)
Walsh, Cornelius (‘Con’) (1881–1961), Olympic hammer thrower, was born 24 April 1881 in Carriganima (Carriganimmy), Clondrohid, near Macroom, Co. Cork, eldest of at least nine children of Edmond Walsh, farmer, from Carriganima, and Hannah Walsh (née Kelleher), originally from…...
Walsh, Edward J. (‘Ned’)
Walsh, Edward J. (‘Ned’) (c.1865–1939), athlete and rugby international, was born c.1865. Some sources give 1868 or later as his birth year, but his death certificate suggests 1865 as more likely, and this date tallies better with his subsequent sporting career.…...
Walsh, John (‘Johnny’)
Walsh, John (‘Johnny’) (1911–98), Gaelic footballer, was born 11 February 1911 in Ballylongford, Co. Kerry, second child among three sons and two daughters of David Walsh, local creamery manager and publican, originally from Clonakilty, Co. Cork, and Mary Walsh (née O'Brien), both…...
Walsh, Oliver (‘Ollie’)
Walsh, Oliver (‘Ollie’) , (1937–96), hurler, was born 13 July 1937 at Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, one of four children of Michael Walsh and Johanna Walsh (née Kennedy) of Mill St., Thomastown. Educated at Thomastown national school and Kilkenny vocational school, Ollie Walsh first…...
Walsh, Richard (‘Droog’)
Walsh, Richard (‘Droog’) (1877–1958), hurler, was born December 1877 at Rathkieran, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, second son among seven children of William Walsh of Rathkieran and Anastasia Walsh (née Quinn) of Ballygorey, Mooncoin, both of farming stock. He was educated at Carrigeen…...
Walton, Simon Francis (‘Sim’)
Walton, Simon Francis (‘Sim’) (1880–1966), hurler, was born 4 September 1880 in Reimeen, Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny, one of four children (three girls and a boy) of John Walton, farmer, and Johanna Walton (née Bannon) of Reimeen. His father had been a pioneer of hurling in Kilkenny in the…...
Watts, George
Watts, George (1772–1858), veterinary surgeon and horse breeder, was born in England, possibly in Devon or in Yorkshire; nothing certain is known of his family background, though there is a possibility that he was related to Richard Watt (1751–98) of Bishop Burton, near Beverley…...
Weir, Isaac O'Neill (‘Ike’)
Weir, Isaac O'Neill (‘Ike’) (1867–1908), bareknuckle boxer, was born 17 January 1867 in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, son of Jacob Weir, weaver, and Catherine Weir (née Neil). As a young man he showed an aptitude for many different sports and activities, being described as an excellent jockey…...
West, Trevor
West, Trevor (1938–2012), mathematician, politician and sportsman, was born on 8 May 1938 in Cork, the eldest of four sons of Timothy Roberts West, headmaster of Midleton College, Co. Cork, and Dorothy Trevor West (née McNeill), of Charleston, Ballinacurra, Co. Cork, who was CEO of…...
Whelan, William Augustine (‘Billy’; ‘Liam’)
Whelan, William Augustine (‘Billy’; ‘Liam’) (1935–58), soccer player, was born 1 April 1935 in 28 St Attracta's Road, Cabra, Dublin, fourth among seven children of John Whelan, labourer, and Elizabeth Whelan (née McGuirk). He was educated at St Peter's national school in nearby…...
White, Richard Newport ('Dick')
White, Richard Newport ('Dick') (1924–2010), pilot and airline executive, was born on 21 May 1924 in Peter Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, the second child and eldest son of Richard White, a bank manager of Peter Street and later of Bayly Farm, Ballinaclough, near Nenagh, and his wife…...
White, Rosetta Phoebe Blair-
White, Rosetta Phoebe Blair- (1895–1991), tennis player, was born in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, daughter of R. J. Newell , DL and JP, of Hillside, Omagh. She developed her tennis skills by playing every day…...
Wickham, Joseph Ignatius ('Joe')
Wickham, Joseph Ignatius ('Joe') (1890–1968), football administrator, was born Ignatius Joseph Wickham on 5 February 1890 in Phibsborough, Dublin, one of eleven children (seven girls and four boys) of John Wickham, a railway engine driver, and his wife Mary Anne (née Kelly). He was…...
Williams, Charles Wye
Williams, Charles Wye (1779–1866), shipping magnate and inventor, was born in Dublin, second of two sons of Thomas Williams (1748–1832), secretary of the Bank of Ireland, and Mary Ann Williams (née Quin or Quine), both of Dublin. Educated by private tutors, Charles later studied law…...
Wilson, John Patrick
Wilson, John Patrick (1923–2007), government minister and Gaelic footballer, was born on 8 July 1923 at Callanagh, Kilcogy, Co. Cavan, the son of John Wilson, farmer, and his wife Brigid (née Comaskey). His grandfather James Wilson was a Fenian, his father a Fianna Fáil and GAA activist…...
Winder, Frank (Francis Gerard Augustine)
Winder, Frank (Francis Gerard Augustine) (1928–2007), biochemist, naturalist and mountaineer, was born 14 April 1928 in Dublin, one of four sons of Percy Winder (d. 1950), secretary of the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society and a freeman of the city of Dublin, and his second…...
Wing, Mornington Albert (‘Morny’)
Wing, Mornington Albert (‘Morny’) (c.1897–1965), champion jockey and trainer, was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, son of Walter Wing, professional jockey, horse dealer, and mail coach driver, of 6 Mail Coach Yard, Doncaster, and Ada Wing (maiden name unknown) of Castleford,…...
Woods, Stanley
Woods, Stanley (1903–93), racing motorcyclist, was born 28 November 1903 in Rathmines, Dublin, son of Edward H. (‘Ted’) Woods, company representative, from Rathgar, Dublin, and Lily Menzies Woods (née Stanley), both of 21 Brighton Avenue, Rathmines. He was educated at the High…...
Woulfe, Tom
Woulfe, Tom (1915–2015), Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) administrator and civil servant, was born 20 September 1915 on the family farm at Faha, Beale, near Ballybunion, Co. Kerry, one of three sons and three daughters of James Woulfe, farmer, and his wife Mary (née Stack.) He…...
Wright, George Newenham
Wright, George Newenham (1794?–1877), clergyman, schoolmaster, topographical writer and biographer, was born in London probably in 1793 or 1794. He was the youngest of the four sons of Thomas Wright (qv), a surgeon of Great Ship St.,…...