Ua hartacáin, Cináed
Ua hartacáin, Cináed (d. 975), was a poet who, according to a note in the Annals of Ulster, belonged to the sept of Cernach Sotal, who held lands in Brega. A kinsman, Fiachra Ua hArtacáin (d. 978), was abbot of Iona. It has been persuasively argued that Ua hArtacáin was already…...
Ua Lothcháin, Cúán
Ua Lothcháin, Cúán (d. 1024), poet to Máel-Sechnaill, king of Mide, was a native of Tethba in the kingdom of Mide. His family belonged to the Uí Lothcháin, rulers of Gailenga Móra (in present-day Co. Meath and Co. Longford), and were descendants of Cormac Gaileng. He composed…...
Ua Úathgaile, Dublittir
Ua Úathgaile, Dublittir (fl. c.1080–1120), author and scholar, was associated with the church of Killeshin, Co. Laois. He belonged to the Uí Bairrche. The medieval Irish genealogies preserve the name of Úathgal son of Sóergal, progenitor of the Uí Úathgaile and likely to…...
Uí Choisdeailbh, Eibhlín (Edith Costello)
Uí Choisdeailbh, Eibhlín (Edith Costello) (1870–1962), folksong collector, Irish language enthusiast, and political activist, was born 27 June 1870, probably in the Strand union workhouse, St Pancras, London. She was christened Edith Drury and raised a member of the Church of…...
Ussher, Percy Arland
Ussher, Percy Arland (1899–1980), essayist and translator, was born 9 September 1899 at Battersea, London, son of Beverly Ussher, inspector of schools, and Emily Ussher (née Jebb). Educated at Abbotsholme School, Derbyshire, he had radical journals posted to him from Ireland, and so…...
Wagner, Heinrich Hans
Wagner, Heinrich Hans (1923–88), linguistic scholar, was born 16 January 1923 in Zurich, Switzerland, elder of two sons of Heinrich Wagner, businessman, and his wife Eliza (née Siegfried), both of Zurich. His mother, the daughter of a restaurateur, spoke German (her native tongue),…...
Walsh (Bhailís, Wallis, Uailis), Francis (Proinsias)
Walsh (Bhailís, Wallis, Uailis), Francis (Proinsias) (1654–1724), lexicographer and Franciscan priest, was born in the Fingal area of north Co. Dublin. Nothing is known of his family or early education. He entered the Franciscan order and was ordained (1677) in the Irish Franciscan…...
Walsh, Edward
Walsh, Edward (1805–50), translator, poet, and schoolteacher, was born in Derry city, where his father, an evicted small farmer who became a sergeant in the north Cork militia was posted during the Napolelonic period; his mother was from a more genteel background. After the battle of…...
Warren, Nathaniel
Warren, Nathaniel (c.1737–1796), merchant, MP, and first commissioner of police, was born in Dublin. His parentage is unclear, but a number of Warrens were engaged as merchants and glaziers in the city prior to his birth. Alternatively, he may be the son of Oliver Warren…...
Wickham, Sir Charles George
Wickham, Sir Charles George (1879–1971), soldier and policeman, was born 1 September 1879 at Chestnut Grove, Tadcaster, Yorkshire, fourth son of William Wickham Wickham and Katherine Henta Wickham. He was educated at Harrow School and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.…...
Willcocks, Sir Richard
Willcocks, Sir Richard (1768–1834), yeomanry officer and policeman, was born in 1768 at Palmerston (Palmerstown) near Chapelizod, Co. Dublin. His parents' names are unknown and his own surname is variously given as Willcocks, Wilcox, or Wilcock. He became a Dublin police…...
Wilson, Charles Henry
Wilson, Charles Henry (c.1755–1808), writer and linguist, was born in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan, son of an anglican clergyman; no other details are known of his family. He received a classical school education and attended TCD before…...
Windisch, Wilhelm Oscar Ernst
Windisch, Wilhelm Oscar Ernst (1844–1918), Sanskrit and Pali scholar and celticist, was born 4 September 1844 in Dresden, Germany, son of a teacher, was educated at the Kreuzschule in Leipzig, and went on to Leipzig University (1863), where he studied classical and comparative philology…...
Winter, Sir Ormonde de l'Épée
Winter, Sir Ormonde de l'Épée (1875–1962), soldier, director of intelligence, and deputy chief of police in Ireland, was born 15 January 1875 at Sutton Court Lodge, Chiswick, west London, youngest of five children of W. H. Winter, GPO…...
Wymes, Michael John
Wymes, Michael John (1907–89), policeman, was born 22 December 1907 at Lisdoo, Dundalk, Co. Louth, son of RIC constable (later head constable) Michael Wymes, and Margaret Wymes (née Collins). He had one brother, Patrick (P. J.), later…...
Young, Matthew
Young, Matthew (1750–1800), clergyman, Irish scholar, and natural philosopher, was born 3 October 1750 at Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, fourth son of Owen Young, a minor landowner who impoverished his family through dissolute habits, and Olivia Maria Young (née Bell). He was educated at the…...
Young, Rose Maud (Ní Ó hÓgain, Róis)
Young, Rose Maud (Ní Ó hÓgain, Róis) (1865–1947), Irish-language scholar, was born 30 October 1865 in Galgorm Castle, near Ballymena, Co. Antrim, fifth daughter among seven daughters and five sons of John Young (1826–1915) and his first wife, Grace (née Savage). John Young was a…...
Zeuss, Johann Kaspar
Zeuss, Johann Kaspar (1806–56), philologist, linguist, and founder of Celtic studies, was born 22 July 1806 in the village of Vogtendorf, near Kronach in Upper Franconia, Germany, fourth among six children of Michael Zeuss, stonemason, and Margaretha Zeuss (neé Hanna). Although he…...
Zimmer, Heinrich
Zimmer, Heinrich (1851–1910), philologist, historian, and Celtic scholar, was born 11 December 1851 in Castellaun in the Rhineland, Germany, son of a peasant farmer. After pursuing his early education at Kreuznach, he spent some time at the universities of Strasburg, Tübingen, and…...