Donnelly, John
Donnelly, John (1934–1991), chemist, was born 8 August 1934 in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, second son among three sons and two daughters of Michael Donnelly, garda sergeant, originally from Dublin, and Maureen Donnelly (née Carroll) from Tipperary. He spent his early life in Nenagh,…...
Dowling, Richard
Dowling, Richard (1846–98), writer, was born 3 June 1846 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, only son of David Jeremiah Dowling (d. c.1855), schoolmaster, and Margaret Dowling. His father died when he was 9 years old. He was educated in Clonmel, Waterford, and St Munchin's Jesuit…...
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…...
Drumm, James Joseph
Drumm, James Joseph (1896–1974), chemist, industrial technologist, and inventor, was born 25 January 1896 in Dundrum, Co. Down, one of three sons of John Drumm (or Drum), RIC constable, and his wife Bridget (née Connolly). The family…...
Duffy, Bernard Joseph
Duffy, Bernard Joseph (1882–1952), barrister, playwright, and novelist, was born 19 June 1882 at Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, son of James Joseph Duffy, general merchant, and Mary Anne (Maryann) née McEntagart. Educated at Viscount Weymouth Grammar School, Carrickmacross, and…...
Dunican, Laurence Kieran (‘L. Kieran’)
Dunican, Laurence Kieran (‘L. Kieran’) (1935–98), microbiologist, was born 29 January 1935 at 92 Marlborough Road, Donnybrook, Dublin, eldest among three sons and two daughters of James Joseph Dunican, teacher and dairy farmer of Horseleap, Co. Westmeath, and Mary Lucy Dunican (…...
Dunlevy, Margaret ('Pearl')
Dunlevy, Margaret ('Pearl') (1909–2002), physician and epidemiologist, was born Bridget Margaret Mary Dunlevy on 13 August 1909 at Mountcharles, Co. Donegal, the fifth of six children (four boys and two girls) of George Dunlevy, shopkeeper and merchant, and Maggie Dunlevy (née Doherty…...
Dunne, Seán
Dunne, Seán (1919–69), republican and labour activist, was born in Waterford city, youngest of three children of Michael Dunne, member of the RIC, and Brigid Dunne, and was educated at the CBS…...
Dunne, Seán Christopher
Dunne, Seán Christopher (1956–95), poet, editor, and journalist, was born 30 May 1956 at Belleville nursing home, Waterford, son of Richie Dunne, factory worker, and Maureen Dunne (née Walshe). His father and a housekeeper, Tessie Ryan, looked after the family after his mother…...
Dunning, Gertrude Frances
Dunning, Gertrude Frances (née Hayes; other married name Talbot Power) (1856–1926), philanthropist, was born on 29 March 1856 in St Patrick’s parish in Cork city, the only child of Thomas Hayes (1820/21–12 Aug. 1905) and his wife Margaret (née Ryan) of Grenville House,…...
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.…...
Everett, James
Everett, James (1890–1967), Labour politician and trade unionist, was born 14 February 1890 in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, a son of Robert Everett, a small farmer and waiter, and Margaret Everett (née Doyle). He had one brother and a sister and attended the local national school in…...
Farrell, Michael James
Farrell, Michael James (1899–1962), writer, was born in Carlow, one of at least seven children (four boys and three girls) of James Farrell, an ironmonger, and his wife Mary Agnes (née Brophy). He was educated at Knockbeg College, becoming an enthusiastic student of the classics, and…...
Feehan, John (Seán)
Feehan, John (Seán) (1916–91), publisher and writer, was born 8 September 1916 in Ballinree, Dualla, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, the elder of two sons of Thomas Feehan, teacher, Ballytarsna, and his wife, Catherine O'Connor, teacher, of Dualla. His brother Gerard died aged two, and his…...
FitzGerald, Alexis James Oliver
FitzGerald, Alexis James Oliver (1916–85), solicitor and economist, was born 4 September 1916, the fourth child of Alexis FitzGerald and his wife, Elizabeth O'Halloran. He was born, as he would later say himself, ‘under the clock’ in the Waterford Mental Hospital, where his father was…...
Fitzgerald, (Fanny Louisa) Geraldine Penrose-
Fitzgerald, (Fanny Louisa) Geraldine Penrose- (1846–1939), novelist and catholic convert, was born 27 January 1846, youngest daughter of Robert Uniacke Penrose-Fitzgerald and his wife Frances Matilda (née Austen); she had at least three brothers and one sister. The Penrose-…...
Fitzgerald, John
Fitzgerald, John (1825–1910), poet, painter, antiquary, and wood-carver, was born 18 June 1825 at Hanover Street, Cork, son of John Fitzgerald and Martha Mary Deacy. He was educated at Fr Mathew's (qv) school, Blackamoor Lane, and…...
Flannery, Martin Raymond
Flannery, Martin Raymond (1941–2013), theoretical physicist, was born on 8 January 1941 in Claudy, Co. Londonderry, one of the younger children in a family of seven of James Flannery and Bridget Flannery (née Lohan). His parents were the two teachers in the primary school at Altahoney,…...
Flood, Finbarr
Flood, Finbarr (1938–2016), soccer player, managing director of Guinness brewery and chairman of the Labour Court, was born on 1 December 1938 in Kilmainham, Dublin, one of three children (and only son) to Jack Flood, a worker in Guinness, and his wife Eva Flood (née…...
Forrester, Ellen (Magennis)
Forrester, Ellen (Magennis) (1828–83), nationalist and poet, was probably born in Clones, Co. Monaghan, sixth child of a local schoolmaster; her mother was a presbyterian, who in later life converted to catholicism. At the age of 17 she moved to England, and after a period working…...
Forristal, Desmond Timothy ('Des')
Forristal, Desmond Timothy ('Des') (1930–2012), priest, broadcaster and writer, was born on 25 September 1930 at 70 Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin, to Anthony James Forristal, civil servant, and his wife Máirín Genevieve (née McInerney), who were then living at 8 Weston Villas,…...
Fraser (Frazer), John
Fraser (Frazer), John (1803/4–1852), poet and cabinet-maker, was born in Birr, King's Co. (Offaly), into a presbyterian family, originally bearing the name de Jean (possibly of huguenot extraction). There are conflicting accounts of his date of birth. It is asserted in one…...
French, Seán
French, Seán (1889–1937), chemist and politician, was born John French on 29 May 1889 in Cork city, son of William French, coach trimmer, and his wife Ellen (née Twomey), of 25 King Street, Cork. After his education at the Christian Brothers' School, St Patrick's Place, Cork, and a…...
Gaffney, Henry Michael
Gaffney, Henry Michael (1895–1974), Dominican priest and writer, was born 31 May 1895 in Cuffe's Grange, Co. Kilkenny, the son of Michael Gaffney, publican, and Bridget Gaffney (née Kenna). He entered the Dominican order in Tallaght, Co. Dublin, on 14 September 1915 and was…...
Gallagher, Frank
Gallagher, Frank (1893–1962), journalist, author, and republican, was born 22 February 1893 in Cork, one of a family of four brothers and five sisters of James Gallagher, an accountant, and his wife Kathleen Gallagher (née Whitely). Educated at Presentation College, Cork, he…...