Monck (Monk, Molesworth), Mary
Monck (Monk, Molesworth), Mary (c.1678–1715), poet and translator, was one of the seventeen children, nine of whom survived to adulthood, born to Robert Molesworth (qv), landowner, writer, and politician, later 1st Viscount…...
Moore, Dorothy (née King; other married name Dury)
Moore, Dorothy (née King; other married name Dury) (1612/13–1664), woman of letters, was born into the New English ruling class in Ireland, one of nine children of…...
Moore, Margaret Jane (‘Mrs Mason’)
Moore, Margaret Jane (‘Mrs Mason’) (1772–1835), Countess Mount Cashell and writer, was born 24 October 1772 in Dublin at the Henrietta St. residence of her parents; she was the eldest daughter of Robert King , Viscount Kingsborough (qv),…...
Mould, Daphne Desiree Charlotte Pochin
Mould, Daphne Desiree Charlotte Pochin (1920–2014), geologist, author, photographer and flight instructor, was born on 15 November 1920 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, the only child of Walter Mould, a teacher, and his wife Marguerite (née Steer). Growing up in the heart of what she called the…...
Mulholland, Rosa (Lady Gilbert)
Mulholland, Rosa (Lady Gilbert) (1841–1921), novelist, was born in Belfast, daughter of Dr Joseph Stevenson Mulholland. She was educated privately and spent some time travelling in the west of Ireland, being subsequently credited in higher social circles with having an authentic…...
Murdoch, (Jean) Iris
Murdoch, (Jean) Iris (1919–99), novelist and philosopher, was born 15 July 1919 at 59 Blessington St., Dublin, only child of Wills John Hughes Murdoch (1890–1958) (only son of Wills John Murdoch of Hillhall, Co. Down), second lieutenant, 1st King Edward's Horse (1915–19), and a second-…...
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…...
Ní Chéileachair, Síle
Ní Chéileachair, Síle (1924–85), teacher and Irish language author, was born 24 July 1924 in Cúil Aodh, Co. Cork, one of six children of farmer Dónall Bán Ó Céileachair and his wife, Siobhán Ní Mhulláin. Although born in the Gaeltacht, she grew up in a bilingual environment. She…...
Ní Chonaill, Eibhlín Dhubh
Ní Chonaill, Eibhlín Dhubh (c.1743–c.1800), poet, was born in Derrynane (Doire Fhionáin), Co. Kerry, one of the twenty-two children of Máire Ní Dhuibh (qv) and her husband, Domhnall Mór Ó Conaill of Derrynane…...
Ní Dhonnchadha Dhuibh, Máire
Ní Dhonnchadha Dhuibh, Máire (d. 1795?), poet, was born c.1702 in Glenflesk, Co. Kerry, daughter of Domhnall Ó Donnchadha and his wife Alice (née Ferriter), both of Co. Kerry. She was a descendant of the Uí Dhonnchadha an Ghleanna (O'Donoghue of the Glen), ‘Dubh’ being…...
Ní Ghráda, Máiréad
Ní Ghráda, Máiréad (1896–1971), playwright, author, and broadcaster, was born 23 December 1896 in Knockadangan, Kilmaley, Co. Clare, younger of two daughters of James O'Grady (1856–1942), farmer and sometime county councillor, and Bridget O'Grady (née Greene; 1854–1934), native of…...
Ní Ghuairim, Máire
Ní Ghuairim, Máire (1896–1964), teacher, author and sean-nós singer, was born 6 July 1896 in Roisín na Manach, Carna, Co. Galway, eldest daughter of farmer Máirtín Gorham and his wife, Catherine Burke. She received her earliest education in the Convent of Mercy school in Roisín na…...
Ní Laoghaire, Máire ‘Bhuí’
Ní Laoghaire, Máire ‘Bhuí’ (1774–c.1848), poet, was born in Túirín na nÉan, the area of Ballingeary in west Cork, one of five sons and three daughters of Diarmuid Ó Laoghaire , a farmer of fifty acres. Her mother's first name was Siobhán but her family name is unknown. Máire…...
Ní Mhuiríosa, Máirín
Ní Mhuiríosa, Máirín (1906–82), Irish scholar, poet and journalist, was born 5 September 1906 in Dublin, daughter of mathematics teacher Tomás Ó Muiríosa and his wife Mary Golden. Both her parents were Irish-speakers and the family spent their summer holidays in the Ring Gaeltacht in Co…...
O'Brennan, Kathleen
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Brennan, Elizabeth (‘Lily’). View the original entry....
O'Brien, Charlotte Grace
O'Brien, Charlotte Grace (1845–1909), social reformer and writer, was born 23 November 1845 at Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick, younger daughter of the Young Ireland leader, William Smith O’Brien (qv), and his wife Lucy Caroline, daughter of…...
O'Brien, Frances Marcella
O'Brien, Frances Marcella (‘Attie ’) (1840–83), poet and novelist, was born 24 June 1840 near Ennis, Co. Clare, second youngest among three sons and two daughters of William O'Brien, farmer, from Co. Clare, and Marcella O'Brien (née Burke-Browne) of Newgrove, Co. Clare. Her mother…...
O'Brien, Kate
O'Brien, Kate (1897–1974), novelist, was born Kathleen Mary Louise O'Brien on 3 December 1897 in Limerick city, seventh among ten children of Thomas O'Brien, horse breeder, and Katherine O'Brien (née Thornhill) of Kilfinane, Co. Limerick. Her grandfather was an evicted tenant who…...
O'Brien, Kate Cruise
O'Brien, Kate Cruise (1948–98), writer and editor, was born 25 June 1948 in Dublin, youngest among three children of Conor Cruise O'Brien, diplomat and writer, and his first wife, Christine (née Foster). Two years after her birth the family moved from Pembroke Road to Howth, where…...
O'Brien, Sophie Raffalovich
O'Brien, Sophie Raffalovich (1860–1960), writer and activist, was born in Odessa on 15 January 1860, daughter of Herman Raffalovich , banker, and his wife, Marie. She had two brothers: André, who became well known as a homosexual aesthete, and Ernest, a banker and tsarist agent…...
O'Casey, Eileen
O'Casey, Eileen (1897–1995), actress, author, and wife of writer Sean O'Casey (qv), was born 27 December 1897 in Dublin, youngest among three children of Edward Reynolds , accountant, from Athlone, Co. Westmeath, and Kathleen Reynolds (…...
O'Connor, Patricia
O'Connor, Patricia (1905–83), writer and teacher, was born Henrietta Norah O'Connor (known within her family as Norah) at Sheephaven coastguard station, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal on 4 December 1905, third of four children (three daughters and a son) of Patrick O'Connor, coastguard and…...
O'Donoghue, Nannie Power
Power O’Donoghue (née Lambert), Nannie (1843–1940), journalist, equestrian and writer was born 2 June 1843 and baptised as Ann Stewart Lyster Lambert in St Thomas Church of Ireland, Marlborough Street, Dublin. She was the youngest child of four daughters and one son of Charles Lambert,…...
O'Donovan Rossa, Mary Jane (née Irwin)
O'Donovan Rossa, Mary Jane (née Irwin) (1845–1916), poet, was born in 1844/5 (baptised 26 January 1845) in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, the daughter of Maxwell Irwin, a farmer and member of Young Ireland. She was educated in the Sacred Heart Convent, Roscrea and started writing poetry at an…...
O'Faolain, Eileen
O'Faolain, Eileen (1900–88), author of children's books, and wife of writer Sean O'Faolain (qv), was born 10 June 1900 at 5 Lee Rd, Cork city, one of five children of Joseph Gould , engineman, and Julia Gould (née O'Connell). After the…...