Ní Chonaill, Eibhlín Dhubh
Ní Chonaill, Eibhlín Dhubh (c.1743–c.1800), poet, was born in Derrynane (Doire Fhionáin), Co. Kerry, one of the twenty-two children of Máire Ní Dhuibh (qv) and her husband, Domhnall Mór Ó Conaill of Derrynane…...
Nic Niocaill, Eibhlín
Nic Niocaill, Eibhlín (1884–1909), Gaelic League activist, was born 22 October 1884 in Dublin as Eveleen Constance Nicholls , only daughter and second among four children of Archibald J. Nicholls (1845–1924), barrister and secretary of the Loan Fund Board of Ireland, and his wife, Mary…...
Ní Dhonnchadha Dhuibh, Máire
Ní Dhonnchadha Dhuibh, Máire (d. 1795?), poet, was born c.1702 in Glenflesk, Co. Kerry, daughter of Domhnall Ó Donnchadha and his wife Alice (née Ferriter), both of Co. Kerry. She was a descendant of the Uí Dhonnchadha an Ghleanna (O'Donoghue of the Glen), ‘Dubh’ being…...
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 Ghuairim, Máire
Ní Ghuairim, Máire (1896–1964), teacher, author and sean-nós singer, was born 6 July 1896 in Roisín na Manach, Carna, Co. Galway, eldest daughter of farmer Máirtín Gorham and his wife, Catherine Burke. She received her earliest education in the Convent of Mercy school in Roisín na…...
Norton, William Joseph (‘Bill’)
Norton, William Joseph (‘Bill’) (1900–63), trade unionist and politician, was born 2 November 1900 at 21 Bath Avenue, Dublin, eldest of eight children of Patrick Norton, a tramcar conductor, and Bridget Norton (née Malone). He attended Rathmines national school, leaving aged…...
O'Beirne, Seamas (Ó Beirn, Séamus; Byrne, James Fahy
O'Beirne, Seamas (Ó Beirn, Séamus; Byrne, James Fahy ) (1881–1935), medical doctor, dramatist, and businessman, was born 18 July 1881 on Tawin island, Co. Galway, the eldest son among at least three sons and two daughters of Patrick Byrne, farmer, and Mary Byrne (née Fahy), of Kinvara…...
Ó Briain, Donnchadh
Ó Briain, Donnchadh (1897–1981), politician and Gaelic League activist, was born 17 November 1897 in Knockaderry, Co. Limerick, one of two sons and a daughter of David O'Brien of Clonakilty, Co. Cork, creamery manager, and Kathleen O'Brien (née Casey) of Ballyguile. He was educated at…...
Ó Briain, Liam
Ó Briain, Liam (1888–1974), republican, scholar of Romance languages, and Irish-language enthusiast, was born 16 September 1888 at 10 Church Street, North Wall, Dublin, seventh child of Arthur O'Brien, clerk, and Mary O'Brien (née Christie), who was from Co. Meath. He was christened…...
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'Brien, John (Ó Briain, Seán)
O'Brien, John (Ó Briain, Seán) (c.1701–69), bishop and lexicographer, was born at Ballyvoddy, about 5 km north of Glanworth, Co. Cork, son of Thomas O'Brien, a prosperous farmer, and his wife, Eleanor MacEniry, a native of Co. Limerick. Nothing is known of his early…...
O'Brien, Kathleen Cruise
O'Brien, Kathleen Cruise (née Sheehy ) (1886–1938), teacher, suffragist and Irish language enthusiast, was born 28 April 1886 in Loughmore, Co. Tipperary, the youngest in a family of two sons and five daughters (one of whom died in infancy) of …...
O'Brien, Paul
O'Brien, Paul (c.1763–1820), poet, priest, and professor of Irish, was born in Moynalty, Co Meath, son of Cathal O'Brien, farmer, and his wife Máiréad Downs. Among his ancestors were a great-grandfather, William O'Brien, a poet; and a great-grandmother was a sister of…...
O'Brien, William
O'Brien, William (1881–1968), labour leader and trade union official, was born 23 January 1881 at Ballygurteen, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, third son and youngest among four children of Daniel O'Brien of Co. Tipperary, member of the RIC, and…...
Ó Broin, León
Ó Broin, León (1902–90), senior civil servant, historian, and author, was born Leo Byrne on 10 November 1902 at 21 Aungier Street, Dublin, the second of four sons of James P. Byrne, a potato factor's bookkeeper, and Mary Byrne (née Killeen), daughter of a seaman who abandoned his family…...
Ó Buachalla, Liam
Ó Buachalla, Liam (1899–1970), professor of economics and Irish-language enthusiast, was born 10 April 1899 at 40 Clanbrassil Street, Dublin, son of Thomas Buckley, cooper, and Sarah Buckley (née Treacy). His family moved to Drogheda when he was very young and he received his education…...
Ó Cadhain, Máirtín
Ó Cadhain, Máirtín (1906–70), republican, creative writer, and academic, was born 4 January 1906 at An Cnocán Glas, Spiddal, Co. Galway, second born and first surviving child among seven sons and six daughters of Seán Ó Cadhain, farmer, and Bríd Ní Chonfhaola, farmer's daughter, both of…...
Ó Cadhlaigh, Cormac
Ó Cadhlaigh, Cormac (1884–1960), Celticist, was born 26 April 1884, in Kinsale, Co. Cork, one of seven children of shoemaker Jeremiah Ó Cadhlaigh and his wife, Marianne McCarthy. His mother had trained as a teacher but never entered the profession and instead managed Clarke's tobacco…...
O'Callaghan, Michael
O'Callaghan, Michael (1887–1962), trade unionist, revolutionary nationalist, and civil servant, was born 25 January 1887 in Henry Street, Tipperary town, son of Denis Callahan, draper, of farming stock from Ballyhone, Emly, Co. Tipperary, and Bridget Callahan (née Hayes), of…...
Ó Callanáin, Peatsaí (Patrick Callanan)
Ó Callanáin, Peatsaí (Patrick Callanan) (1791–1865), poet, was born in Carheendiveane, Craughwell, Co. Galway, in 1791, younger brother of Marcas Ó Callanáin (qv). Of his parents little has come down but that Peatsaí came by his…...
Ó Caoimh, Eoghan
Ó Caoimh, Eoghan (c.1656–1726), poet and scribe, was born at Glenville, about 16 km north of Cork city, one of three sons of Caomh Ó Caoimh, a prosperous farmer. He received a good education and was literate in English and Latin, as well as Irish. He married (February 1681)…...
O'Carroll, Michael William ffrench-
O'Carroll, Michael William ffrench- (1919–2007), politician, doctor, and social campaigner, was born 15 September 1919 at 89 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, the eldest of two sons and a daughter of Arthur Stephens ffrench-O'Carroll (1896–1952), medical doctor then in military service,…...
Ó Ceallaigh, Brian
Ó Ceallaigh, Brian (1889–1936), Irish language enthusiast, was born 13 January 1889 in Killarney, Co. Kerry, son of John Kelly, shopkeeper and hotelier, and Brigid Kelly (née Cronin). He was educated at Clongowes Wood College (1900–03) and Blackrock College (1906–7). On 2 November 1907…...
Ó Cléirigh, Conn R.
Ó Cléirigh, Conn R. (1927–95), Celtic scholar, was born 7 February 1927 in Dublin, the elder of two children of James Clery, publican, of Amiens Street, and his wife, Johanna (née Connolly); Conn had a sister, Alice. He was educated at the Loreto convent, North Great George's Street,…...
Ó Cléirigh, Cú Choigcríche (O'Clery, Peregrine)
Ó Cléirigh, Cú Choigcríche (O'Clery, Peregrine) (fl. 1630–62), one of the ‘four masters’, was from Baile Uí Chléirigh, Co. Donegal. His father, Diarmaid, might possibly be the Diarmaid son of An Cosnamhach found in an Ó Cléirigh genealogy, and/or the ‘Dermot O Clery’ pardoned…...