Deevy, Teresa
Deevy, Teresa (1894–1963), playwright, was born 21 January 1894 at her parents' residence in Passage Road, Waterford, youngest of thirteen children of Edward Deevy, a successful draper, originally from Ballycloyne, Co. Kilkenny, and Mary Deevy (née Feehan), also of Co. Kilkenny. Her…...
Despard, Charlotte
Despard, Charlotte (1844–1939), suffragist, nationalist, socialist, and writer, was born 15 June 1844 in Ripple Vale, Kent, the third daughter of Captain John Tracey William French RN, a relative of the Frenches of Co. Roscommon, and Margaret French…...
Devas, Nicolette
Devas, Nicolette (née Macnamara ) (1911–87), artist and writer, was the second-born child and eldest daughter among three daughters and one son of Francis Macnamara (see below), of Ennistymon House, Doolin, Co. Clare, and Mary Yvonne Macnamara (née Majolier); her youngest sister…...
Devlin, Edith Florence Newman
Devlin, Edith Florence Newman (1926–2012), lecturer in English, was born on 21 September 1926, in Swords, Co. Dublin, the youngest among three sons and two daughters of Hugh Gaw and Eva Gaw (née Newman). Her mother was a teacher in a Church of Ireland primary school, and her father, who…...
Dillon, Cecily
Dillon, Cecily (Cecily of St Francis) (c.1603–1653), co-foundress and first abbess of the Irish Poor Clares in Dublin, Bethlehem and Athlone, both in Co. Westmeath, was probably born at Kellefaghny, Co. Westmeath, the daughter of…...
Dillon, Eilís
Dillon, Eilís (1920–94), writer, was born 7 March 1920 in Galway city, third among five children of Thomas Dillon (qv), professor of chemistry at University College Galway (UCG), and his wife Geraldine (1891–1986), daughter of…...
Dillon, Eleanor Mary
Dillon, Eleanor Mary (c.1601–1629), nun, was born at Killenfaghny, Co. Westmeath, one among five daughters and seven sons of Theobald Dillon (qv) (d. 1624), 1st Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen, Co. Mayo, and his wife Eleanor…...
Dirrane, Bridget (née Gillan)
Dirrane, Bridget (née Gillan) (1894–2003), nurse, centenarian and memoirist, was born 15 November 1894 in Oatquarter in the townland of Kilmurvey on Inishmore, one of the Aran islands, Co. Galway, the youngest of four boys and four girls born to Joseph Gillan, who wove flannel cloth…...
Donnellan, Anne
Donnellan, Anne (c.1700–62), literary critic, and promoter of literature, learning, and the arts, was the daughter of Nehemiah Donnellan (qv), MP and chief baron of the Irish exchequer (c.1702–05), by his…...
Dowling, Margaret (Sister Mary Dominic)
Dowling, Margaret (Sister Mary Dominic) (1853–1900), Dominican Sister and foundress, was born in Ballyconra, Co. Kilkenny, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Dowling. Margaret received a rudimentary education locally and emigrated to New York in 1869. On 23 June 1876 she entered the…...
Dowling, Sheila (Sighle)
Dowling, Sheila (Sighle) (née Bowen ) (c.1896–1957), republican, socialist, trade unionist, and feminist, was a member of Cumann na mBan. During the war of independence she served as stenographer in dáil courts in north Dublin city, and worked for the republican solicitor…...
Downing, Ellen Mary Patrick
Downing, Ellen Mary Patrick (1828–69), poet, was born 19 March 1828 in Cork, the daughter of J. B. Downing, resident medical officer at the Cork Fever Hospital, where her mother served as matron. After making her first communion in St Patrick's church, Cork, she added Patrick to…...
Downing, Mary McCarthy
Downing, Mary McCarthy (c.1815–1881), poet and nationalist, was born in Kilfadimore, near Kenmare, Co. Kerry, eldest daughter of Daniel McCarthy , esq., also of Kerry. Throughout her life she had several pen names but is best remembered as ‘Christabel’, and under this name…...
Doyle, Catherine
Doyle, Catherine (1820–1908), nun, was born near Old Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, one of four daughters (and seven children) of John and Mary Doyle. Little is known of her early life or education. In April 1849 she entered St Leo's Convent of Mercy, Carlow, where for the next five…...
Drelincourt, Mary
This is a co-subject for the entry on Drelincourt, Peter. View the original entry....
Drew, Catherine
Drew, Catherine (1832–1910), journalist and writer, was born 27 May 1832 in Broughshane, Co. Antrim, the third of eight daughters of the Rev. Thomas Drew (qv), DD, curate of the joint parish of St Patricks, Skerry and Racavan in Broughshane (…...
Du Bois, Lady Dorothea
Du Bois, Lady Dorothea (Annesley ) (1728–74), poet, novelist, and playwright, was born in Dublin, the eldest of seven daughters of Richard Annesley (qv), Lord Altham, later 6th earl of Anglesey, and his wife, Ann (née Simpson),…...
Duffin, Emma Sylvia
Duffin, Emma Sylvia (1883–1979), nurse, diarist and welfare worker, was born 8 November 1883 in Belfast, fourth daughter in a family of seven daughters and two sons of Adam Duffin (qv) and Maria Duffin (née Drennan). The family was well-to-do…...
Eccles, Charlotte O'Conor
Eccles, Charlotte O'Conor (1864/5–1911), journalist and novelist, was born in Ballingard House, Co. Roscommon, fourth and oldest surviving daughter of Alexander O'Conor Eccles, justice of the peace and founder of the Roscommon Messenger (1848–1935), a home rule newspaper.…...
Edgeworth, Maria
Edgeworth, Maria (1768–1849), novelist, essayist, and educationist, was born at Black Bourton Manor, Oxfordshire, England, the estate of the Hungerford family; her maternal grandmother was a Hungerford heiress. Her date of birth is sometimes given as 1 January 1767. Edgeworth considered…...
Egerton, George
Egerton, George (Mary Chavelita Dunne ) (1859–1945), writer, was born 14 December 1859 in Melbourne, Australia, eldest daughter among three daughters and one son of Capt. John Joseph Dunne (1837–1910), native of Queen's Co. (Laois), Ireland, army officer, author, artist, sportsman,…...
Elder, Olivia
Elder, Olivia (1735?–1780), poet, was born on 21 January, possibly in 1735 or perhaps 1739, the daughter of Rev. John Elder (1693–1779), presbyterian minister of Aghadowey in north Co. Londonderry since 1723; her mother's name is not known. There seems to have been at least one brother…...
Ercnait
Ercnait (5th/ 6th cent.?), foundress of Dún dá Én and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged to the Cruithin lineage of Uí Nialláin, located in the vicinity of Armagh in what would later be the overkingdom of Airgialla. She belongs to the first generation of Irish religious…...
Esler, Erminda Rentoul
Esler, Erminda Rentoul (1860?–1924), author, was born Erminda Rentoul in Manorcunningham, Co. Donegal, to Alexander Rentoul, presbyterian minister, and his wife Erminda (née Chittick). She had five sisters and three brothers; her eldest brother was…...
Fainche
Fainche (6th cent.), anchoress, abbess of Ros Airthir (Rossory, Co. Fermanagh), and saint in the Irish tradition, most likely belonged to the dynasty of Cenél Lóegaire. Later medieval genealogies (Book of Lecan and Leabhar Breac) name her father as Crimthann son of Guaire –…...