Mac Conmara, Donnchadh ‘Rua’
Mac Conmara, Donnchadh ‘Rua’ (c.1715–1810), poet, is believed to have been born in Cratloe, Co. Clare, but his early life is obscure and nothing is known of his family. According to tradition, he studied for the priesthood at the Irish college in Rome for five years, was…...
Mac Gearailt, Piaras (Fitzgerald, Pierce)
Mac Gearailt, Piaras (Fitzgerald, Pierce) (c.1709–c.1792), poet, was born in Ballykinealy, near Ballymacoda, Co. Cork, into a branch of the Fitzgeralds who were related to the knights of Kerry but had lost most of their property as a result of their involvement in the…...
Maguire, Sam
Maguire, Sam (1877–1927), revolutionary, was born 12 March 1877 in Maulabracka, Dunmanway, Co. Cork, one of five sons and three daughters of John Maguire and Jane Maguire (née Kingston), farmers who had a substantial holding on the Shouldham estate. Educated at the Model School,…...
Mahony, Harold Sigerson
Mahony, Harold Sigerson (1867–1905), tennis player, was born 13 February 1867, probably in Edinburgh, only son of Richard John Mahony (1828–92) of Dromore Castle, near Kenmare, Co. Kerry, JP and high sheriff (1853), and his wife Mary…...
Mason, Henry Joseph Monck
Mason, Henry Joseph Monck (1778–1858), miscellaneous bilingual writer, librarian, and evangelical reformer, was born 15 July 1778 at Powerscourt demesne, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, son of Lt-col. Henry Monck Mason and his second wife, Jane, only daughter of…...
Mecredy, Richard James Patrick
Mecredy, Richard James Patrick (1861–1924), cyclist and journalist, was born 18 May 1861 at Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, son of the Rev. James Mecredy, DD, a Church of Ireland clergyman then in the parish of Inveran, Spiddal, Co. Galway.…...
Milligan, Victor
Milligan, Victor (1929–2009), athlete and civil engineer, was born in Belfast on 11 November 1929, the only child of Albert Milligan, a member of the RUC, and his wife Margaret (née Walker). Growing up in Irwin Drive, Ballyhackamore, in east Belfast, he was encouraged by his parents…...
Neville, William Cox
Neville, William Cox (c.1855–1904), rugby international, sports administrator, and pioneer obstetrician, was born c.1855 in Dundalk, Co. Louth, son of John Neville, civil engineer; nothing is known of his mother. Educated at Dundalk College, he studied medicine…...
Nic Dhonnchadha, Lil
Nic Dhonnchadha, Lil (1891–1984), Irish language scholar and language activist, was born 9 October 1891 in Belfast, one of the four surviving children of customs and excise officer Séamus Mac Donnchadha and his wife, Georgina Ffolliott L'Amie, who had trained as a teacher. Her father…...
O Brien, Conor
O Brien, Conor (1880–1952), sailor and author, was born Edward Conor Marshall O'Brien on 3 November 1880 in Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick, the son of Edward William O'Brien, JP, and Julia O'Brien (née Marshall). A grandson of…...
O'Brien, Ellen Lucy (‘Nelly’)
O'Brien, Ellen Lucy (‘Nelly’) (Ní Bhriain, Neilí) (1864–1925), miniature and landscape artist, and Gaelic League activist, was born 4 June 1864, the eldest of two daughters and one son of Edward William O'Brien, landowner, of Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick, and Mary O'Brien (née Spring Rice…...
O'Brien, Sir Edward
O'Brien, Sir Edward (1705–65), 2nd baronet, MP, and racehorse owner, was born 7 April 1705, elder son among three children of Lucius O'Brien and his wife Catherine Keightley, daughter of Lady Frances Hyde, a sister-in-law of King James…...
O'Connell, Frederick William
O'Connell, Frederick William (1876–1929), clergyman and Irish-language scholar, was born 22 October 1876 in Clifden, Co. Galway, son of Reverend W. Morgan O'Connell, rector of Clifden. Educated at the High School, Dublin, he entered Trinity College Dublin (TCD) with entrance prizes in…...
O'Daly, John
O'Daly, John (1800–78), writer and publisher, was born 5 February 1800 in Fernane, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, eldest among three sons and three daughters of Eamonn O'Daly and Brigid O'Daly (née Kyley). He was educated at a local hedge school before going to work, in 1826, for the…...
O'Donoghue, Nannie Power
Power O’Donoghue (née Lambert), Nannie (1843–1940), journalist, equestrian and writer was born 2 June 1843 and baptised as Ann Stewart Lyster Lambert in St Thomas Church of Ireland, Marlborough Street, Dublin. She was the youngest child of four daughters and one son of Charles Lambert,…...
Ó hUigínn, Pól (Paul Higgins)
Ó hUigínn, Pól (Paul Higgins) (1628?–1724), Irish scholar, preacher and convert to protestantism, was probably born in Co. Sligo, the son of Pól Ó hUigínn and Cecilia Jordan. His grandfather, Tadhg Óg Ó hUigínn, was a bardic poet and a son of the famous bardic poet…...
Peacock, Bertie (John Robert)
Peacock, Bertie (John Robert) (1928–2004), football player and manager, was born in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, on 29 September 1928. His family lived in Killowen in the town; his father was a water bailiff, and he had a brother and five sisters. He was apprenticed to a local plumber…...
Peter, Richard Milliken
Peter, Richard Milliken (1849–1909), rugby and swimming pioneer and administrator, was born in Dublin, a member of the Peter family after whom Peter Place, off Adelaide Road in Dublin, was named; no other family details are known. He was educated at Blackheath school near London,…...
Quin, Coslett William Charles
Quin, Coslett William Charles (1907–95), clergyman and Irish scholar, was born 27 February 1907 at Derriaghy rectory, Co. Antrim, the only son of the Rev. Charles Edward Quin (d. 1936), rector of Derriaghy, and his wife Edith, daughter of Coslett Waddell of Magheralin, Co. Down.…...
Quin, Windham Thomas Wyndham-
Quin, Windham Thomas Wyndham- (1841–1926), 4th earl of Dunraven, politician and sportsman, was born 12 February 1841 at Adare, Co. Limerick, son of Edwin Richard Windham Wyndham-Quin (qv) (1812–71), 3rd earl of Dunraven,…...
Rambaut, Daniel Frederick
Rambaut, Daniel Frederick (1865–1937), doctor and Irish international rugby player, was born on 6 August 1865 at 3 Newtown Buildings, Waterford city, to Reverend Edmund Francis Rambaut, a Church of Ireland clergyman at Trinity, Waterford (who later moved to Carysfort church, Blackrock,…...
Raymond, Anthony
Raymond, Anthony (1675–1726), clergyman and Irish-language scholar, was born in Ballyloughran, near Listowel, Co. Kerry, second son of Anthony Raymond, sheriff of Kerry, and his wife Ann (née Taylor). His family moved to Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, at some stage during his youth. Little is…...
Robinson, David Lubbock
Robinson, David Lubbock (1882–1943), British soldier, republican, senator, and hockey player, was born 11 August 1882 in Dublin, the second of the three sons and one daughter of John Joseph Robinson, Church of Ireland clergyman, and his wife, Henrietta Harriet, youngest daughter…...
Roe, Robin
Roe, Robin (1928–2010), army chaplain and rugby player, was born on 11 November 1928 at Skeirke (Skirk), Ballybrophy, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois, the youngest of two sons and three daughters of William Henry Roe, a farmer, and his wife Anne (née Marshall). Educated at King's…...
Rooke, Charles Vaughan (‘C. V.’)
Rooke, Charles Vaughan (‘C. V.’) (1869–1946), rugby player, was born 24 September 1869 at Summerhill, Dublin, son of Thomas Slator Rooke, gentleman and member of the Plymouth Brethren, from Dublin; and Adelaide Rooke (née Reid) originally of Rossbrook, Co. Armagh. Educated…...