Cusack, James William
Cusack, James William (1788–1861), surgeon, was born 26 May 1788 at Laragh, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, third son among four sons and one daughter of Athanasius Cusack (1749–1813), country gentleman, and Mary Ann Cusack (née Rotheram). Apprenticed in 1806 to Ralph Smith Obré (d. 1820)…...
Cusack, Margaret Anna (‘The nun of Kenmare’)
Cusack, Margaret Anna (‘The nun of Kenmare’) (1829–99), nun and author, was born 6 May 1829 at Coolock, Co. Dublin, the elder of two children of Dr Samuel Cusack and his wife, Sarah (née Stoney). Early life and conversion to catholicism She was educated privately, learning informally…...
Cust, Aleen Isabel
Cust, Aleen Isabel (1868–1937), veterinary surgeon and first female member of the RCVS, was born 7 February 1868 at Cordangan Manor, Co. Tipperary, elder daughter and fourth among six children of Sir Leopold Cust (1832–78),…...
Dargan, William
Dargan, William (1799–1867), engineer, was born 28 February 1799 in Co. Carlow. His parents were Patrick and Elizabeth Dargan, his father being a well-to-do farmer who was a tenant of Lord Portarlington. Much of William's early life is obscure. Likewise the exact place of birth is…...
Darley, Frederick
Darley, Frederick (1764–1841), builder, alderman, and police magistrate, born in Dublin and baptised on 6 July 1764, was one of the many children of Henry Darley (1721?–1798), a wealthy public works contractor, and his first wife, Mary (née Steele; d. 1770). Henry's grandfather,…...
Darragh, Austin
Darragh, Austin (1927–2015), doctor and businessman, was born in the family home in Heytesbury Street, Dublin, on 27 April 1927, the sixth of nine children of Alexander Darragh, a mathematics teacher, and his wife Frances (née McDonnell). He grew up in Terenure, Dublin, and spent his…...
Davy, Edmond William
This is a co-subject for the entry on Davy, Edmond (Edmund). View the original entry....
Dawson, William Richard
Dawson, William Richard (1864–1950), doctor, was born 11 September 1864 at Stramore, Gilford, Co. Down, elder son among two sons and several daughters of the Rev. Abraham Dawson (1826–1905), clergyman, and Charity Dawson (née Wade). He was educated at the Royal School, Dungannon, and…...
Dease, Richard
This is a co-subject for the entry on Dease, William. View the original entry....
Dease, William
Dease, William (1752–98), surgeon, was born in Lisney, Co. Cavan, into an ancient landed family, younger son of Richard Dease and Anne Dease (née Johnson). After a classical education at Dr Clancy's school in Dublin, he was apprenticed to a Dublin surgeon, Dr Keogh (most likely…...
Deasy, Henry Hugh Peter
Deasy, Henry Hugh Peter (1866–1947), soldier, explorer, and pioneer motorist, was born 29 June 1866 in Dublin, second son of Rickard Deasy (qv), privy councillor for Ireland and previously lord justice of appeal, of Carysfort,…...
de Barra, Leslie (Mary)
de Barra, Leslie (Mary) (1893–1984), republican and Red Cross pioneer, was born 9 January 1893 at 39 Royal Canal Bank, Dublin, daughter of Michael Price , blacksmith, and Mary Price (née Hamilton). Both parents were enthusiasitic supporters of…...
Deeny, James Andrew
Deeny, James Andrew (1906–94), medical doctor and public health official, was born 7 November 1906 in North Street, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, one of three children of Michael Deeny, doctor, and Jane Margaret Deeny (née Donnelly); his sister Sheelagh and brother Donnell also became…...
Denvir, John
Denvir, John (1834–1916), author, journalist, publisher, and Fenian, was born in Bushmills, Co. Antrim, eldest son of James Denvir, clerk, of Ballywalter, Lecale, Co. Down, and Margaret ‘Peggy’ Denvir (née O'Loughlin) of Ballymagenaghy, Co. Down. Although born in Ireland while his…...
De Tomanzie, Ethens
De Tomanzie, Ethens (1841–86), doctor, politician and impostor, claimed variously to have been born in Africa, Brazil, India, Cuba and Burma. Nothing is known about his family background or true birthplace. He once admitted in court that he had been a barber in New York prior to coming…...
Devane, James
This is a co-subject for the entry on Devane, John Francis. View the original entry....
Devane, John Francis
Devane, John Francis (1883–1964), surgeon, was born 8 June 1883 at 29 William Street, Limerick, the son of Cornelius Devane, grocer, and Johanna Devane (née McCormack). He had two brothers and two sisters. His eldest brother was the Jesuit…...
Dickson, Charles
Dickson, Charles (1886–1978), physician and historian, was born at Dromore, Co. Down, on 20 January 1886, son of John Mitchel Dickson, a linen merchant whose mother, Matilda (d. 1897), was a sister of John Mitchel (qv). Later the family, who…...
Dickson, (Emily) Winifred
Dickson, (Emily) Winifred (1866–1944), doctor, was born 13 July 1866 in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, one of three daughters and three sons of Thomas Alexander Dickson (1833–1909), linen manufacturer, who was elected MP for Dungannon (1874–80; re-elected 1880, but unseated on petition),…...
Dillon, Michael
Dillon, Michael (1915–62), physician, writer, Buddhist novice-monk and the first person known to surgically transition from female to male, was born Laura Maud Dillon on 1 May 1915 in Ladbroke Grove, London, England. Dillon was the second child of Robert Arthur Dillon (1865–1925),…...
Dirrane, Bridget (née Gillan)
Dirrane, Bridget (née Gillan) (1894–2003), nurse, centenarian and memoirist, was born 15 November 1894 in Oatquarter in the townland of Kilmurvey on Inishmore, one of the Aran islands, Co. Galway, the youngest of four boys and four girls born to Joseph Gillan, who wove flannel cloth…...
Diver, Bridget
Diver (Divers, Deaver, Deavers, Devens, Devins, Devan), Bridget (‘Irish Biddy’, ‘Michigan Bridget’) (fl. 1861–4), vivandière and ‘daughter’ of the First Michigan Cavalry regiment, was born in Ireland sometime before 1840. It has been suggested that the ‘Michigan Bridget’ legend…...
Donaghy, John Patrick
Donaghy, John Patrick (1919–87), physician, was born 4 March 1919 in Holywood, Co. Down, the son of Matthew George Donaghy, an officer in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and Julia Donaghy (née Brady). Educated at QUB, he graduated…...
Donahoe, Patrick
Donahoe, Patrick (1811–1901) editor, publisher, and businessman, was born 17 March 1811 in Munnery, Kilmore, Co. Cavan, the son of Terrence Donahoe and his wife Jane (née Christy). His mother died when he was an infant. In 1821 he emigrated, with his father, to Boston,…...
Donovan, Charles
Donovan, Charles (1863–1951), military doctor, parasitologist, and entomologist, was born in Calcutta, India, of a Cork family, the eldest of the four children of Charles Donovan, of the Bengal civil service, whose wife's name was probably Grace Jennings. When he was thirteen…...