Redmond, Mary
Redmond, Mary (1950–2015), solicitor and founder of the Irish Hospice Foundation, was born on 25 August 1950, third in a family of six girls and a boy, to Dr John Redmond, civil servant, and his wife Mary (Máire) (née Lannin). She described her childhood in the family home on Mount Eden…...
Reynolds, Doris Livesey (Mrs Arthur Holmes
Reynolds, Doris Livesey (Mrs Arthur Holmes ) (1899–1985), geologist, was born 1 July 1899 in England, daughter of Alfred Reynolds and Louisa Margaret Reynolds (née Livesey). Educated at Palmer's school, Grays, Essex, and at Bedford College, University of London, she was appointed…...
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…...
Roe, Helen Maybury
Roe, Helen Maybury (1895–1988), librarian and antiquary, was born 18 December 1895 in Mountrath, Queen's Co. (Laois), the only child of William Ernest Roe and Anne Roe (neé Lambert Shields). Her father's family had lived in the Mountrath area since the seventeenth century and her…...
Rooney, Maude
Rooney, Maude (1902–1974), consumers' and women's rights activist, was born Mary Maude Mahony in Co. Armagh, one of six children (three boys and three girls) of a retired RIC district inspector (who was a catholic), and his wife Frances Charlotte. She was raised in Holywood, Co. Down…...
Rowan, Anne Margaret
Rowan, Anne Margaret (1832–1913), novelist, historian, and political activist, was born 21 November 1832 in Tralee, Co. Kerry, to Arthur Blennerhasset Rowan (qv), Church of Ireland clergyman and antiquarian, and his wife…...
Russell, Mary Baptist (Katherine, Kate)
Russell, Mary Baptist (Katherine, Kate) (1829–98), nun, philanthropist, and educator, was born 18 April 1829 at Seafield, Ballybot, Newry, Co. Down, the third daughter and third child among the six children of Arthur Russell, ship's captain turned brewer, and his wife, Margaret (…...
Ruthven, Annette Jocelyn Otway-
Ruthven, Annette Jocelyn Otway- (1909–89), historian, was born 7 November 1909 at 63 Lower Baggot St., Dublin, third child among one son and three daughters of Capt. Robert Mervyn Bermingham Otway-Ruthven (1867–1919), Royal Artillery, of Castle Otway, Co. Tipperary, and Margaret…...
Ryan, Agnes
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ryan, Mary Kate ('Kit', 'Cáit'). View the original entry....
Ryan, Philomena Frances (Phyllis O'Kelly)
Ryan, Philomena Frances (Phyllis O'Kelly) (1895–1983), chemist, was born 28 February 1895, the youngest child of the seven girls and five boys of John Ryan (1844–1921), farmer, of Tomcoole, near Taghmon, Co. Wexford, and his wife, Elizabeth (‘Eliza’) (née Sutton) (1848–1930).…...
Sandes, Elizabeth Anne (‘Elise’)
Sandes, Elizabeth Anne (‘Elise’) (1851–1934), founder of Sandes Soldiers' Homes in Ireland, India, and Great Britain, was born 19 February 1851 in Tralee, Co. Kerry, third daughter among seven daughters and two sons of Stephen Sandes, British army officer, of Sallow Glen, Co. Kerry…...
Scannell, Mary J. P. ('Maura')
Scannell, Mary J. P. ('Maura') (1924–2011), botanist, was born on 18 March 1924 in Cork city, one of seven children (five daughters and two sons) of Patrick Scannell, a carrier and contractor, and his wife Margaret (née Murnane). The family was well off, living in a villa on the South…...
Scharff, Jane
This is a co-subject for the entry on Scharff, Robert Francis. View the original entry....
Shackleton, Lydia
Shackleton, Lydia (1828–1914), botanical artist, teacher, and poet, was born 22 November 1828, at Griesemount, Ballitore, Co. Kildare, the third eldest of thirteen children of George Shackleton, a miller, and Hannah Shackleton (née Fisher). Her forebear…...
Sheehy, Jeanne Iseult
Sheehy, Jeanne Iseult (1939–99), art historian, was born 15 September 1939 in Dublin, daughter of Edward Sheehy (d. 1956), a distinguished critic, and Anna Sheehy (née Kelly), an accomplished graphic artist. She had one brother, David, a picture restorer. Educated at Eccles St.…...
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…...
Smyly, Ellen
Smyly, Ellen (1814–1901), philanthropist, was born 14 November 1814, third daughter among seven children of Mathew Franks (1768–1853) of Jerpoint, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, and 28 Merrion Square, Dublin, and Mary Franks (née Fergusson; d. 1856). Ellen began her charity work in…...
Steevens, Grizel
This is a co-subject for the entry on Steevens, Richard. View the original entry....
Stevenson, Hilary (Mary Hill)
Stevenson, Hilary (Mary Hill) (1947–94), food scientist, was born 12 January 1947 at Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, the only daughter of James Stewart Morrison , of a farming family, and Elizabeth Morrison (née Martin) of Coleraine. Her childhood was spent at Drumadaun, Seacon Road, in…...
Stokes, Barbara Maive
Stokes, Barbara Maive (1922–2009), paediatrician and disability campaigner, was born 20 December 1922 in London to Brigadier William Noel Stokes (d. 1969) and his wife Pauline Mary (née Reynolds). As a child she often spent summers in Ireland, and in her teens played in the Irish junior…...
Stokes, Margaret McNair
Stokes, Margaret McNair (1832–1900), archaeologist and antiquary, was born in March 1832 at York St., Dublin, eldest daughter of William Stokes (qv), MD, and Mary Stokes (neé Black) of Glasgow.…...
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, 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…...
Tighe, Joan
Tighe, Joan (1922–2014), journalist, editor and historian, was born on 28 June 1922 in Dublin, the second eldest of six children of Robert Tighe and his wife Catherine Angela (née Moloney). Robert Tighe served as a British army lieutenant during the first world war and was later…...
Tinney, Sheila Christina (née Power)
Tinney, Sheila Christina (née Power) (1918–2010), mathematical physicist, was born on 15 January 1918 in Galway city, fourth daughter of Michael Power (1885–1974), professor of mathematics in UCG (1912–55), and Christina Power (née…...