Esmond, Sir Laurence
Esmond, Sir Laurence (1565–1645), 1st Baron Esmond and soldier, was born in Johnstown castle, second son of Walter Esmond of Johnstown, Co. Wexford, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Michael Furlong of Horetown. His family was strongly loyalist and his father died fighting for the…...
Esmond, Sir Thomas
Esmond, Sir Thomas (d. 1674), soldier and confederate, was the only son of Lawrence, Lord Esmond (qv) (d. 1646), of Limerick, Co. Wexford, and Margaret, daughter of Murrough O'Flaherty of Connacht. His parents separated over…...
Farquhar, George
Farquhar, George (1677?–1707), playwright, was born in Derry, son of an anglican clergyman (his parents’ names are unknown), and educated in Derry at the Free Grammar School under Ellis Walker. The details of Farquhar's life remain scanty, in spite of his fame, and modern scholars have…...
Farrell, James Gordon
Farrell, James Gordon (1935–79), novelist, was born 23 January 1935 in Liverpool, England, second of three sons of William Farrell, broker's clerk and accountant, and Josephine Farrell (née Russell), born in Ireland of an English timber dealer. He moved with his family to…...
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, Lord Henry
Fitzgerald, Lord Henry (1761–1829), soldier and politician, was born 30 July 1761, fourth son among nine sons and ten daughters of James Fitzgerald (qv), later 1st duke of Leinster, and his wife Lady…...
Fitzgibbon, John Charles Henry
Fitzgibbon, John Charles Henry (1829–54?), Viscount Fitzgibbon and soldier, was born 2 May 1829 at Mountshannon House, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, the only legitimate son of Richard Hobart Fitzgibbon, 3rd earl of Clare, and his wife Diana, daughter of Charles Brydges Woodcock,…...
Fitzpatrick, John (‘Jack’)
Fitzpatrick, John (‘Jack’) (d. p.1693?), army officer and politician, was the son of Florence Fitzpatrick, of Castletown, in the barony of Upper Ossory, Queen's County, who was a member of the commons in the confederate general assembly, 1642–9. The Fitzpatricks had…...
Foley, Gerald Robert Edward
Foley, Gerald Robert Edward (1886–1982), soldier and policeman, was born 10 May 1886 at the rectory, Askeaton, Co. Limerick, son of William Foley, the incumbent, and Josephine Foley (née Clarke). After completing his Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), he joined the…...
Forbes, Sir Arthur
Forbes, Sir Arthur (1656–1734), 2nd earl of Granard , soldier and Jacobite, was eldest son of Arthur Forbes (qv), later 1st earl of Granard, and his wife Catherine Stewart. He saw service in the French army prior to 1675. After…...
Fortescue, Sir Faithful
Fortescue, Sir Faithful (c. 1580–1666), royalist army officer and settler, was the second son of William Fortescue (d. 1604) of Buckland, Filleigh, Devon, and his second wife, Susannah Chichester, daughter of Sir John Chichester of Raleigh in Kent. About 1604–5, at a very…...
Gibbon, (William) Monk
Gibbon, (William) Monk (1896–1987), poet and writer, was born 15 December 1896 in Dundrum, Co. Dublin, son of Canon William Gibbon, a rural dean in Taney parish, Dundrum, and Agnes Gibbon (née Pollock), who had four children from a previous marriage. Gibbon was educated at St Columba's…...
Godley, John Raymond
Godley, John Raymond (1920–2005), 3rd Baron Kilbracken of Killegar , pilot, journalist, traveller, landowner and environmentalist, was born 17 October 1920 in Chester Street, Belgravia, London, England, the eldest of two sons (Wynne being the younger) and a daughter (Kathleen) of…...
Goldsmith, Oliver
Goldsmith, Oliver (1728–74), poet, essayist, dramatist, and novelist, was born 10 November 1728 at Pallas, Co. Longford (though 1729 and 1730 have also been suggested for the year of his birth, and Lissoy, Co. Westmeath, for its location) He was the second of five sons (and three…...
Graves, Alfred Perceval
Graves, Alfred Perceval (1846–1931), writer, folklorist, and schools inspector, was born 22 July 1846 at 12 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, the second son of nine children of Charles Graves (qv), clergyman and mathematician, and Selina…...
Graves, Clotilde Inez Mary (‘Richard Dehan’)
Graves, Clotilde Inez Mary (‘Richard Dehan’) (1863–1932), novelist, dramatist, and journalist, was born 3 June 1863 at Buttevant barracks, Co. Cork, the third daughter of Major W. H. Graves and Antoinette Graves (née Deane). Her father was a cousin of the journalist and critic…...
Greatrakes, William
Greatrakes, William (1723/5–81), barrister and soldier, was born in Waterford, third son of Allen Greatrakes, gentleman, of Mount Lahan, Co. Cork, and Frances Greatrakes (née Supple) of Aghadoe, Co. Kerry. He entered TCD (July 1740) and…...
Gregory, (William) Robert
Gregory, (William) Robert (1881–1918), painter, theatre designer, sportsman, and airman, was born 20 May 1881 in London, only child of Sir William Gregory (qv) of Coole Park, Co. Galway, and his second wife, Isabella Augusta…...
Grierson (Crawley), Constantia
Grierson (Crawley), Constantia (c.1705–1732), editor, scholar, and one of Swift's female literary circle, was born Constantia Crawley in Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, into a poor family. Little is known of her early life or education, save from the memoirs of her friend…...
Groves, Edward Kelly
Groves, Edward Kelly (1776/7–c.1854), clergyman, writer, and political activist, was born in Dublin, son of James Groves, attorney, and Grace Groves (née Kelly). Educated initially by private tutor, he entered TCD (January 1790…...
Gwynn, Stephen Lucius
Gwynn, Stephen Lucius (1864–1950), man of letters, politician, and soldier, was born 13 February 1864 at St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, Dublin, eldest child of John Gwynn (qv), warden of St Columba's and later professor of divinity Trinity…...
Halloran (O'Halloran), Laurence Hynes
Halloran (O'Halloran), Laurence Hynes (1765–1831), schoolmaster, clergyman, writer, and forger, was born 29 December 1765 in Co. Meath. Orphaned while still a young child, he was raised by his uncle, Judge William Gregory, before attending Westminster School. In 1785 he opened a…...
Halpin, Nicholas John
Halpin, Nicholas John (1790–1850), clergyman and writer, was born 18 October 1790 at Portarlington, Queen's Co. (Laois), son of William Halpin, gentleman. He entered TCD in 1810 and, in a distinguished career there, showed a talent for…...
Hamilton, Edwin
Hamilton, Edwin (1849–1919), writer and editor, was born 14 April 1849, the only son of the Rev. Hugh Hamilton (1811–84), curate (1840–50) of Balbriggan and vicar (1844–72) of Balscadden, both in Co. Dublin, and his wife, Charlotte Mary, daughter of the Rev. Henry Ormsby. He was…...
Hamilton, Frederick
Hamilton, Frederick (d. 1732), general and politician, has been stated to be a son of Frederick Hamilton, a gentleman with an estate at Somerset near Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, and his second wife Mary. Another reliable authority however makes him the second son of Archibald…...