Cúndún, Pádraig Phiarais
Cúndún, Pádraig Phiarais (1777–1857), Irish-language writer, was born at Shanakill, a son of Piaras Cúndún, a farmer of Kilmacdonagh, Ballymacoda, Co. Cork, and his wife, Máire. He had two brothers, Tomás and Cit, and he may have had at least one sister. Information is scant on his…...
Cunningham, Mary Elizabeth
Cunningham, Mary Elizabeth (1868–1939), philanthropist and war worker, was born 28 January 1868 in Glencairn, Belfast, Co. Antrim, the fourth child of Josias Cunningham (qv), a prosperous stockbroker, and Jane Agnes (Davis) Cunningham…...
Daly, Edward Kevin
Daly, Edward Kevin (1933–2016), catholic bishop and social activist, was born in West Rock Nursing Home, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, on 5 December 1933, eldest of five children (two sons and three daughters) of Thomas Daly, shopkeeper, undertaker and farmer of Belleek,…...
Daniel (Ó Domhnuill, O'Donnell), William
Daniel (Ó Domhnuill, O'Donnell), William (1570–1628), Church of Ireland archbishop of Tuam and translator of the New Testament into Irish, was a son of Nicholas Daniel of Kilkenny; nothing is known of his mother. During his youth he became a protestant, probably under the…...
Darragh, Austin
Darragh, Austin (1927–2015), doctor and businessman, was born in the family home in Heytesbury Street, Dublin, on 27 April 1927, the sixth of nine children of Alexander Darragh, a mathematics teacher, and his wife Frances (née McDonnell). He grew up in Terenure, Dublin, and spent his…...
Davey, Ray (Robert Raymond
Davey, Ray (Robert Raymond ) (1915–2012), presbyterian minister and founder of the Corrymeela Community, was born on 10 January 1915 in Dunmurry, outside Belfast, the son of Robert Davey (d. 1946), presbyterian minister of Dunmurry, and Charlotte Davey (née Higginson). His parents…...
Davitt, Michael
Davitt, Michael (1950–2005), poet, was born Joseph Michael Davitt on 20 April 1950 in Mayfield, Cork city, the third child of four children (three girls and a boy) of Joe Davitt, a bus driver and native of Mallow, Co. Cork, and his wife Hilda (néae Parker), originally from Stoke-on-…...
Deakin, James Aubrey
Deakin, James Aubrey (1874–1952), Irish-language and republican activist, was born 19 June 1874 at Mount Auburn, Richmond Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, one of at least three sons and five daughters of James Deakin, commercial traveller, native of Birmingham, England, and Mary Anne Deakin (…...
Deane, Anne (Duff)
Deane, Anne (Duff) (c.1834–1905), businesswoman, philanthropist, and nationalist, was born at Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon, the daughter of Joseph Duff and Monica Duff (née Dillon), a younger sister of the Young Irelander, …...
Dease, Thomas (Déis, Tomás)
Dease, Thomas (Déis, Tomás) (c. 1568–1651/2), catholic bishop of Meath and poet in Irish, was second of three sons of Richard Dease of Turbotstown, Co. Westmeath, and his wife Lady Eleanor Nugent of Carlanstown, Co. Meath. He was closely related to the Nugents of Delvin…...
De Barra, Dáibhí (Barry, David; Dáth an Ghleanna)
De Barra, Dáibhí (Barry, David; Dáth an Ghleanna) (1757/8–1851), prose writer, scribe, and poet in Irish, was born in Woodstock, Carrigtohill, Co. Cork, son of Dáibhí, a tenant farmer on the earl of Barrymore's estate. He was educated locally and could read and write both Irish and…...
De Bhailís, Colm
De Bhailís, Colm (1796–1906), composer of traditional songs, was born 2 May 1796 in the area known as Ceantar na nOileán (then an isolated island district), west of Béal an Daingin in Connemara, Co. Galway. The precise location of his birth is unknown; Denvir (p. 8) suggests three…...
De Bhál (de bhFál), Éamonn (Edward Wall)
De Bhál (de bhFál), Éamonn (Edward Wall) (1667/8–1763), poet, was probably a native of Couragh in the parish of Dungourney, some 10 km north-east of Midleton, Co. Cork – the district in which he spent most of his life. Nothing is known of his immediate family, but a hostile composition…...
de Bhaldraithe, Tomás
de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1916–96), Irish-language scholar, was born in Ballincurra, Co. Limerick, one of five children of Pádraig de Bhaldraithe (1884–1953), civil servant, from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, and Eilís Nic Conmara (1886–1973) from near Kilkee, Co. Clare. When his family moved to…...
De Brún, Pádraig (Browne, Patrick)
De Brún, Pádraig (Browne, Patrick) (1889–1960), priest, scholar, and academic administrator, was born 13 October 1889 in Grangemockler, Co. Tipperary, third child and second son among four sons and two daughters of Maurice Browne (1844–1911), a national school teacher from Cappoquin, Co…...
De Búrc (Búrc), Éamon
De Búrc (Búrc), Éamon (1866–1942), storyteller and singer in Irish, was born 2 April 1866 in Carna, Connemara, Co. Galway, son of the storyteller Liam a’ Búrc. His mother came from Cashel, Roundstone, Connemara; other details of her are unknown. He was more commonly known as Éamon Liam…...
De Grey, Henrietta Frances
De Grey, Henrietta Frances (1784–1848), Countess de Grey , political hostess and philanthropist, was born 22 June 1784 at Florence Court, Co. Fermanagh, the fifth and last daughter and youngest of the ten children of William Willoughby Cole (1736–1803), 1st earl of Enniskillen, and…...
de Jubainville, Marie-Henri d'Arbois-
de Jubainville, Marie-Henri d'Arbois- (1827–1910), Celtic scholar and linguist, was born 5 December 1827 at Nancy, France, son of Charles-Joseph d'Arbois de Jubainville, judge-auditor of the civil tribunal of Nancy and later advocate to the bar of that district, and his wife…...
Delap, Kathleen Hilda (née Orpen)
Delap, Kathleen Hilda (née Orpen) (1910–2004), activist in women's organisations, was born on 27 January 1910 in the family home, Lisheens, Carrickmines, Co. Dublin, fourth child and third daughter among five daughters and one son of Charles St George Orpen (1864–1939) and Cerise…...
Denny (Fitzmaurice), Lady Arabella
Denny (Fitzmaurice), Lady Arabella (1707–92), philanthropist, was the second daughter of Thomas Fitzmaurice (d. 1741) of Lixnaw castle, Tralee, Co. Kerry, 21st lord of Kerry, created 1st earl of Kerry in 1722, and Anne Fitzmaurice (née Petty; d. 1737), only daughter of the…...
De Nógla, Éadbhard
De Nógla, Éadbhard (fl. c.1710–c.1792), Irish-language poet and tailor, was probably born in Cork city, son of the Jacobite lawyer Patrick Nagle. His mother's name is unknown. His father was originally from the area between Mallow and Fermoy and was a close friend of…...
De Renzy, Sir Matthew
De Renzy, Sir Matthew (1577–1634), Irish planter, customs official, and Gaelic scholar, was born in Cullen (probably Cologne), Germany. His career reflects the possibilities open to continental immigrants in early seventeenth-century Ireland. Having spent some time as a cloth dealer in…...
De Róiste, Liam
De Róiste, Liam (1882–1959), politician, writer and Irish-language activist, was born 15 June 1882 in Fountainstown, Co. Cork, son of Edward Roche and Eliza Roche (née Ahern), both schoolteachers. He attended the local national school and, although little Irish was spoken in his area,…...
De Siúnta, Earnán (Ernest Edwin Joynt)
De Siúnta, Earnán (Ernest Edwin Joynt) (1874–1949), engineer and Irish-language enthusiast, was born Ernest Edwin Joynt, 11 November 1874, at the family residence in Knox St., Ballina, Co. Mayo, only son among four children of Richard Watson Joynt, editor of the Ballina Herald…...
De Valera, Sinéad
De Valera, Sinéad (1875–1975), teacher, folklorist, and writer, was born Jane Flanagan , 1 June 1875, in Ballbriggan, Co. Dublin, one of three daughters and four children of Laurence Flanagan, a carpenter, and Margaret Flanagan (née Byrne). When she was seven the family moved to Munster…...