Mee, Jeremiah
Mee, Jeremiah (1889–1953), leader of the Listowel RIC mutiny, was born 29 March 1889 at Knickanes, Glenamaddy, Co. Galway, fourth child among five sons and four daughters of John Mee and Ellen Mee (née Mee). His home was a 21-acre farm near Glenamaddy village. From 1893 to 1901 he…...
Melville, William
Melville, William (1852–1918), detective, was born in Sneem, Co. Kerry, son of James Melville. He had at least one brother; other details of his early life are unknown. In 1872 he joined the London Metropolitan Police; his rise within the detective service may have been accelerated…...
Merrigan, Matthew Paul (‘Matt’)
Merrigan, Matthew Paul (‘Matt’) (1921–2000), trade unionist and socialist, was born 25 June 1921 in a two-room cottage at 5 Thomas Place, Dolphin's Barn, Dublin, eighth of nine children of Matthew Merrigan (c.1884–1928), builder's labourer, and Anne (‘Nanny’) Merrigan (née…...
Midgley, Henry Cassidy (‘Harry’)
Midgley, Henry Cassidy (‘Harry’) (1892–1957), trade unionist and politician, was born 8 September 1892 at 59 Seaview St., Belfast, third child and eldest son among two daughters and three sons of Alexander Midgley (1860–99), shipyard labourer, originally of Lurgan, Co. Armagh,…...
Moloney, Katherine (Kathleen)
Moloney, Katherine (Kathleen) (1896–1969), republican and trade unionist, was born Catherine Agnes Barry on 19 October 1896 in the family home at 8 Fleet Street, Dublin, eldest child among five daughters and two sons of Thomas Barry (d. 1908), prosperous dairyman, and Mary Barry (…...
Molony, Helena
Molony, Helena (1883–1967), actress, republican, trade unionist, and feminist, was born 15 January 1883 at 8 Coles Lane, off Henry St., Dublin, the younger of one daughter and one son of Michael Moloney, grocer, of that address, and Catherine Moloney (née McGrath). Orphaned at an early…...
Morrissey, Daniel
Morrissey, Daniel (1895–1981), trade unionist, politician, and businessman, was born 28 November 1895 in Silver St., Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, one of three sons and one daughter of William Morrissey, carter-contractor, and Bridget Morrissey (née Gleeson). Educated at Nenagh…...
Mortished, Ronald James Patrick
Mortished, Ronald James Patrick (1891–1957), socialist and first chairman of the Labour Court, was born 14 June 1891 in London, son of James Mortished, a printer from Limerick, and his wife (née Thompson) from Sligo. Ronald began his education in London council schools and through…...
Mullen, Michael
Mullen, Michael (1919–82), trade unionist, republican, and politician, was born 1 February 1919 at 10 New St., Church St., Dublin, son of John Mullen, glassblower, and Martha Mullen (née Smith). Educated at St Michan's, Halston St., Dublin, he was forced to leave school at 14 to…...
Mullen, Patrick
Mullen, Patrick (1883–1972), labourer, trade unionist, and writer, was born 17 April 1883 in Kilronan, Inishmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, fourth among ten or eleven children of Johnny Mullen, smallholder, and Mary Mullen (née Costelloe). His father, self-styled ‘king of the island…...
Murphy, John ('Jack')
Murphy, John ('Jack') (1920–84), trade unionist, republican, and activist for the unemployed, was born near Synge Street in Dublin, third son among four sons and five daughters of Denis Murphy, a carpenter; his mother's forename was probably Mary. His father, a founding member in…...
Murphy, William Richard English
Murphy, William Richard English (1890–1975), teacher, soldier, schools’ inspector, general and police commissioner, was born on 26 January 1890 at Danescastle, Carrig on Bannow, Co. Wexford, son of John Joseph Murphy and Sarah Agnes (née English), both of whom were teachers. He had one…...
Murray, James Andrew
Murray, James Andrew (1840–1921), businessman, was born in 1840 in Co. Clare, the eldest of five sons and one daughter of Michael Murray and his wife Ann (née MacNamara), of whom little is known. The family emigrated to Canada about 1845, and in 1858 at age eighteen, James left for the…...
Nannetti, Joseph Patrick (‘J. P.’)
Nannetti, Joseph Patrick (‘J. P.’) (1851–1915), trade unionist and politician, was born 19 March 1851 in Dublin, son of Giacomo Nannetti, sculptor and modeller, of 6 Great Brunswick St. Educated at Baggot St. convent schools and CBS…...
Neligan, David
Neligan, David (1899–1983), intelligence agent, police detective and superintendent, was born 14 October 1899 in Templeglantine, Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, youngest among four sons and four daughters of David Neligan, a Co. Kerry native, and Eliza Neligan (née Mullane), a native of…...
Nevin, Donal
Nevin, Donal (1924–2012), trade unionist and historian, was born on 20 January 1924 at 8 Cornmarket Row, Limerick, the home of his parents, Thomas Nevin, a cabinet maker, and his wife Alice. He was the second youngest of eight children (three girls and five boys). Nevin won a local…...
Nixon, John William
Nixon, John William (1877–1949), policeman and politician, was born 1 June 1877 in Graddum, Co. Cavan, into a methodist family; other family details are unknown. He joined the RIC in 1899, served in Belfast, Donegal, Antrim, Mayo,…...
Norton, William Joseph (‘Bill’)
Norton, William Joseph (‘Bill’) (1900–63), trade unionist and politician, was born 2 November 1900 at 21 Bath Avenue, Dublin, eldest of eight children of Patrick Norton, a tramcar conductor, and Bridget Norton (née Malone). He attended Rathmines national school, leaving aged…...
O'Brien, Nora Connolly
O'Brien, Nora Connolly (1892–1981), republican and socialist activist, was born on 14 November 1892 at 6 Lothian Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, second among six daughters and one son of James Connolly (qv), of Edinburgh, the socialist…...
O'Brien, William
O'Brien, William (1881–1968), labour leader and trade union official, was born 23 January 1881 at Ballygurteen, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, third son and youngest among four children of Daniel O'Brien of Co. Tipperary, member of the RIC, and…...
O'Callaghan, Michael
O'Callaghan, Michael (1887–1962), trade unionist, revolutionary nationalist, and civil servant, was born 25 January 1887 in Henry Street, Tipperary town, son of Denis Callahan, draper, of farming stock from Ballyhone, Emly, Co. Tipperary, and Bridget Callahan (née Hayes), of…...
O'Carroll, Richard
O'Carroll, Richard (1876–1916), trade unionist and revolutionary nationalist, was probably the ‘Richard Carroll’ born 29 February 1876 at 6 Hanover Sq., near the north quays, Dublin, son of Richard Carroll, labourer, of that address, and Mary Carroll (née Keogh). A bricklayer by trade,…...
O'Connell, Thomas Joseph (‘T. J.’)
O'Connell, Thomas Joseph (‘T. J.’) (1882–1969), teacher, trade unionist, and politician, was born 28 November 1882 at Spotfield, Bekan, Co. Mayo, second son of Thomas Connell, farmer, and Maria Connell (née Biesty). Educated at Bekan national school, where from July 1895 he served…...
O'Duffy, Eoin
O'Duffy, Eoin (1890–1944), soldier, policeman, and politician, was born 28 January 1890 on the family farm at Carrickaduff (Cargaghdoo), near Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, youngest among five sons and two daughters of Eugene (‘Owen’) Duffy and Brigid Duffy (née Fealy) of the nearby…...
O'Dwyer, William (‘Bill-O’)
O'Dwyer, William (‘Bill-O’) (1890–1964), policeman, lawyer, judge, and politician in the USA, was born 7 July 1890 in Lismirrane (Lismiraun), Bohola, Swinford, Co. Mayo, eldest of eleven children (of whom six sons and four daughters survived infancy) of Patrick O'Dwyer, native of…...