Murphy, John
Murphy, John (c.1755–1832), engraver and educational publisher, was born in Cork city and reared in its northern suburbs, around Mallow Lane. At the age of seventeen he emigrated to London, led by his ‘predilection for the Fine Arts and a desire to cultivate an inclination for…...
Murphy, John
Murphy, John (1772–1847), catholic bishop of Cork and bibliophile, was born 23 May 1772 in Cork city, son of John Murphy, a wealthy merchant in the leather and tanning business, and Joan Murphy (née Brouilly). The Murphys were among the most prominent Cork mercantile families; another…...
Neal (Neale), John
Neal (Neale), John (fl.1701–40), publisher of music, manufacturer of musical instruments, and musician, worked in Dublin throughout his adult life and may have been born in the city. He appears, c.1701, running a recorder-making shop in Christ Church Lane, Dublin. From…...
Neill (Neil), Patrick
Neill (Neil), Patrick (1665?–1705?), printer, was born in Glasgow, and was probably the same as the Patrick Neill, bookbinder, who in 1691 was admitted a burgess of that city and guild brother in right of his father. His parents were most likely David Neill and Mary Hamilton, whose…...
Nelson, Oliver
Nelson, Oliver (c.1715–1775), printer, was apprenticed to George Grierson (d. 1753), in Essex St., Dublin, for 1736/7. Prior to this he probably worked for William Bowyer in London intermittently during 1732–6, but nothing is known of his early life. He was sworn free of…...
Ní Bhrolcháin, Muireann
Ní Bhrolcháin, Muireann (1955–2015), academic and activist, was born on 15 May 1955 at Calvary Hospital (Bon Secours) in Galway, the eldest of three daughters of Cilian Ó Brolcháin, professor of physics at University College Galway (UCG, now the University of Galway) from Dublin, and…...
Nicholson, Ernest Wilson
Nicholson, Ernest Wilson (1938–2013), biblical scholar, was born on 26 September 1938 in Portadown, Co. Armagh, the youngest of three children of Ernest Tedford Nicholson, a soldier and baker, and Veronica Muriel Nicholson. After attending Hart Memorial Primary School in Portadown, he…...
Niland, Nora
Niland, Nora (1912–88), Sligo county librarian and founder of the Sligo municipal art collection, was born 21 March 1912 in Galway, eighth child among six sons and three daughters of John Niland, of Ballinastack, Tuam, Co. Galway, railway worker and small farmer, and his wife Elizabeth…...
Nolan, Thomas
Nolan, Thomas (1872/3–1939), newspaper editor and publisher, was educated at the CBS, Tralee, Co. Kerry; few other details of his early life are available. As a young man he joined the clerical staff of J. B. Healy, building…...
Nowlan, Kevin Barry
Nowlan, Kevin Barry (1921–2013), historian and champion of Dublin’s architectural heritage, was born on 2 November 1921, the only son of John Joseph Nowlan, a heating engineer, and his wife Barbara Nowlan (née O’Neill), of 40 Crannagh Road, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin. He was educated at…...
Nutt, Alfred Trübner
Nutt, Alfred Trübner (1856–1910), folklorist, Celtic scholar, and publisher, was born 22 November 1856 in London, the only surviving son of David Nutt (d. 1863), bookseller and publisher, and his wife Ellen, daughter of Robert Carter, naval surgeon, and granddaughter of William…...
O'Brien, Máire
O'Brien, Máire (1882–1958), republican activist, civil servant and translator, was born Mary Louise O'Brien at 2 Lower Gloucester Street (now Sean MacDermott Street), Dublin, on 23 August 1882, one of five children of the nationalist politician…...
O'Brien, Thomas
O'Brien, Thomas (1914–74), poet, publisher, and Spanish civil war veteran, was born 24 April 1914 in Dublin, eldest child among two sons and two daughters of Hugh O'Brien and Mary (‘Polly’) O'Brien (née Berkeley). Having attended local Christian Brothers' schools, he left formal…...
Ó Buachalla, Breandán
Ó Buachalla, Breandán (1936–2010), scholar and critic, was born in Cork city on 15 January 1936, the fourth of the seven children of Joseph and Bridget Buckley (née de Courcy). He attended St Nessan's Christian Brothers' School, O'Sullivan's Quay, and later studied at University College…...
O'Connor, Jerome Murphy-
O’Connor, Jerome Murphy- (1935–2013), priest and biblical scholar, was born James Murphy-O’Connor in Cork city on 10 April 1935, the eldest son of Kerry Murphy-O’Connor, a wine merchant, and his wife Mary (née McCrohan). He had a sister and two brothers. His was a clerical family: two…...
O'Conor, Charles
O'Conor, Charles (1764–1828), priest, librarian, and antiquary, was born 15 March 1764 at Belanagare, Co. Roscommon, second of six sons of Denis O'Conor (d. 1804) and Catharine O'Conor (neé Browne), who also had six daughters. The O'Conors were catholic, descendants of a princely…...
Ó Cuinneagáin, Gearóid Seán Caoimhín
Ó Cuinneagáin, Gearóid Seán Caoimhín (1910–91), political activist and publisher, was born 2 January 1910 at Belfast, the third child of Sean Cunningham and his wife Caitlín. He was educated in Belfast, at St Brigid's school, Malone Rd, and the …...
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, David James
O'Donoghue, David James (1866–1917), biographer, editor, and librarian, was born 22 July 1866 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England, of Cork-born parents. He studied at local Roman Catholic primary schools, and was self-educated at the British Museum library, where he read widely on…...
Ó hÉigeartaigh, Seán Sairseal
Ó hÉigeartaigh, Seán Sairseal (1917–67), civil servant and publisher, was born 11 February 1917 in Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales, son of post office official, Patrick Sarsfield O'Hegarty, (qv) and his wife, Liaimín…...
O'Keeffe, Timothy
O'Keeffe, Timothy (1926–94), publisher and editor, was born 27 September 1926 in Kinsale, Co. Cork, son of Michael O'Keeffe, hospital porter, formerly of Middlesex, England, and Margaret O'Keeffe (née Sheehan) of Kinsale. He moved to England at an early age and was educated at St Edmund…...
Ó Lochlainn, Colm
Ó Lochlainn, Colm (1892–1972), printer, publisher and Gaelic scholar, was born William Gerard O'Loughlin at Drumcondra, Dublin, on 11 October 1892, the second of four surviving children (from six) of John O'Loughlin, publisher, and his wife Delia Bridget (née Carr), whose family were…...
O'Sullivan, Seumas
O'Sullivan, Seumas (1879–1958), writer, editor, and publisher, was born James Sullivan Starkey 17 July 1879 at 7 Charleston Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin, third son among three sons and two daughters of William Starkey, physician and pharmicist, and Martha Starkey (née Sullivan). His father…...
Patten, John
Patten, John (1774–1864), associate of Robert Emmet (qv) and librarian of the RDS, was born 16 August 1774, youngest among three children of the Rev. J. Patten (d. 1787) of Annerville, presbyterian…...
Pepyat, Jeremiah
Pepyat, Jeremiah (c.1683–1753?), printer and bookseller, was apprenticed to John North of Dublin in 1697 and on North's death that same year moved to Joseph Ray (qv), with whom he served seven years apprenticeship; nothing else is…...