Jacob, Rosamond
Jacob, Rosamond (1888–1960), suffragist, republican, and writer, was born 13 October 1888 in Waterford city, third child of Louis Jacob (1841–1907) and Henrietta Jacob (née Harvey; 1849–1919). Louis Jacob worked in his father-in-law's house-agent and stockbroking firm in Waterford. Both…...
Jameson, Anna Brownell
Jameson, Anna Brownell (1794–1860), writer, feminist, and art historian, the eldest of five daughters of the miniature painter Denis Brownell Murphy (qv) and his English wife, was born 19 May 1794 at the family home on College…...
Jellett, Eva Josephine
Jellett, Eva Josephine (1868–1958), doctor, was born 6 January 1868 at 40 Wellington Row, Dublin, youngest daughter of John Hewitt Jellett (qv), clergyman, mathematician, and provost of TCD…...
Jemison, Mary ('Deh-he-wä-mis')
Jemison, Mary ('Deh-he-wä-mis') (1743?–1833), American frontierswoman, was born aboard the ship William and Mary, when her parents, Thomas Jemison and his wife Jane (née Erwin), (both of protestant Scotch-Irish heritage) were emigrating to colonial Pennsylvania, departing from…...
Jones, Lady Katherine
Jones, Lady Katherine (1615–91), Viscountess Ranelagh , woman of letters, was born 22 March 1615 in Youghal, Co. Cork, fifth daughter in a family of fifteen children of Richard Boyle (qv), 1st earl of Cork, and…...
Jones, Mary Harris (‘Mother Jones’)
Jones, Mary Harris (‘Mother Jones’) (1837?–1930), union organiser, was (according to baptismal records) born in July 1837 in Cork city; however, the year is disputed. Many details of her life come from The autobiography of Mother Jones (1925; 1974). She emigrated to North…...
Jordan, Kate
Jordan, Kate (1862–1926), novelist and playwright, was born 23 December 1862 in Dublin, the daughter of Michael James and Kathleen Jordan. Her father, an academic, came from a family that included numerous academics, musicians and artists. When Kate was three her family emigrated to…...
Kavanagh, Julia
Kavanagh, Julia (1824–77), novelist, short-story writer, and biographer, was born 7 January 1824 in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, the only child of Bridget Fitzpatrick (d. 1887) and Morgan Peter Kavanagh (d. 1874), writer and philologist. She spent much of her childhood in Normandy and…...
Kavanagh, Lady Harriet Margaret
Kavanagh, Lady Harriet Margaret (1800–85), artist, traveller, and antiquarian, was second daughter among three sons and four daughters of Richard Le Poer Trench (qv), later 2nd earl of Clancarty, and Henrietta Margaret Le Poer Trench…...
Kavanagh, Rose
Kavanagh, Rose (1859–91), poet, was born 24 June 1859 in Killadroy, Co. Tyrone. Nothing is recorded of her parents except that her mother was a cousin of Archbishop John Hughes (qv) of New York. When Rose was 11 years old the family…...
Keane, Mary Nesta (‘Molly’)
Keane, Mary Nesta (‘Molly’) (1904–96), writer, was born 20 July 1904 at Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, second daughter (among three sons and two daughters) of Walter Clarmont Skrine (c.1860–1930) and …...
Kearney, Mother Kevin
Kearney, Mother Kevin (1875–1957), pioneer Ugandan missionary sister and foundress of Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, was born 28 April 1875 in Knockenrahan, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, the third and youngest daughter of Michael Kearney, a farmer, and Teresa Kearney (née…...
Kelly, Gertrude Brice
Kelly, Gertrude Brice (1862–1934), surgeon and political activist, was born on 10 February 1862 near Waterford to Jeremiah Kelly and Kate Kelly (née Forrest) who were both teachers, and supporters of the movement for Irish independence. She was one of ten children, including notable…...
Kelly, (Mary Anne) Eva
Kelly, (Mary Anne) Eva (1830–1910), poet and nationalist, known as ‘Eva of the Nation’, was born 15 February 1830 at the home of her maternal grandfather John O'Flaherty in Headford, Co. Galway, one of seven children of Edward Kelly and Mary Kelly (née O'Flaherty) of…...
Kelly, Myra (Teresa)
Kelly, Myra (Teresa) (1875–1910), writer and teacher, daughter of the surgeon Dr James Edward Kelly and Annie Kelly (née Morrogh), was born 26 August 1875 at her father's residence, 2 Gardiner's Row, Dublin. The family moved to New York city, where her father built up a successful…...
Kelly, Rosaline
Kelly, Rosaline (1922–2013), union official and media professional, was born on 27 November 1922 to Laurence Kelly, an insurance agent, and Ellen Kelly (née Fogarty) of 2 Sandyford Terrace, Drogheda, Co. Louth. Rosaline attended primary school at St Patrick's and St Philomena's in…...
King, Mary
This is a co-subject for the entry on O’Flaherty (Flaherty), May. View the original entry....
Knight (Hope-Connolly), Olivia Mary
Knight (Hope-Connolly), Olivia Mary (1828?–1908), poet, translator and teacher, was born at Rathbawn, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, probably on 29 September 1828, the only daughter of Simon Knight, a civil engineer, and his wife, possibly Sarah D'Alton of Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon. Olivia…...
Lamont (La Mont, La Monte), Elish
Lamont (La Mont, La Monte), Elish (1816–70), artist and writer, was born in Belfast into a prominent business family, daughter of John Lamont, stationer and printer. Having trained as a miniaturist in London, she subsequently returned to Belfast, where by 1837 she had established…...
Larkin, Delia
Larkin, Delia (1878–1949), trade unionist, was born 28 February 1878 at Fermie Street in the Toxteth district of Liverpool, the youngest of three sons and three daughters of James Larkin, a fitter with an engineering firm, and Mary Ann Larkin (née McNulty), a native of Co. Down.…...
Laverty (Kelly), (Mary) Maura
Laverty (Kelly), (Mary) Maura (1907–66), author and broadcaster, was born 15 May 1907 in Rathangan, Co. Kildare, the third of nine surviving children of Michael Kelly and Mary Ann Kelly (née Treacy). Her father appears to have given up his career in farming at his wife's…...
Lavin, Mary
Lavin, Mary (1912–96), short-story writer and novelist, was born 11 June 1912 at East Walpole, Massachusetts, USA, only child of Thomas Lavin (d. 1945) and Nora Lavin, née Mahon. Her father came from Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon, her mother from a large middle-class family in Athenry…...
Lawless, Emily
Lawless, Emily (1845–1913), novelist, historian, and poet, was born at Lyons House, near Hazelhatch, Co. Kildare, fourth child and eldest daughter of Edward Lawless (1816–69), a wealthy landlord who in 1853 succeeded as 3rd Baron Cloncurry, and his wife Elizabeth (née Kirwan), a…...
Leadbeater, Mary
Leadbeater, Mary (née Shackleton) (1758–1826), author, poet, and memoirist, was born 1 December 1758 at Ballitore (‘Ballintore’), Co. Kildare, the second child of the three daughters and one son of…...
Le Blond, Elizabeth (‘Lizzie’) Alice Frances (née Hawkins-Whitshed; other married names Burnaby, Main)
Le Blond, Elizabeth (‘Lizzie’) Alice Frances (née Hawkins-Whitshed; other married names Burnaby, Main) (1860–1934), mountaineer, author and photographer, was born 26 June 1860 in Dublin, the only child of Sir St Vincent Bentinck Hawkins-Whitshed, 3rd (and last) baronet of Killincarrick…...