Diarmait
Diarmait (late 6th cent.), founder and first abbot of Inis Clothrann (Inchcleraun on Lough Ree, Co. Longford), and saint in the Irish tradition, was – according to the medieval pedigree assigned to him – son of Lugna son of Lugaid, who was attached to the Connacht dynasty of Uí…...
Diuma (Dímma)
Diuma (Dímma) (d. 658), missionary-bishop called the ‘apostle of Mercia’, was sent with three others by Fínán (qv), abbot and bishop of Lindisfarne, to evangelise Mercia after the baptism of King Peada, son of Penda, c.652. His…...
Doherty, John
Doherty, John (c.1895–1980), traditional fiddler, was born in Ardara, Co. Donegal, youngest of the five sons and four daughters of Michael ‘Mickey’ Doherty (c.1850–1934), musician and tinsmith, of the Simey branch of Dohertys of Lettermacaward, Co. Donegal, and Mary…...
Doherty, Michael (Mickey)
Doherty, Michael (Mickey) (1894–c.1967), traditional fiddler, was the third son and sixth child among five sons and four daughters of Michael ‘Mickey’ Doherty (c.1850–1934), musician and tinsmith, also known as ‘An Dochartach Mór’, of Lettermacaward, Co.…...
Dolan, Joseph Francis Robert ('Joe')
Dolan, Joseph Francis Robert ('Joe') (1939–2007), pop singer, was born 16 October 1939 in the county hospital, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, youngest of eight surviving children (five boys and three girls; another boy had died in early childhood) of Patrick Dolan (c.1890–1950) and…...
Donaghy, Eileen
Donaghy, Eileen (1930–2008), singer, was born on 16 July 1930 in Brackaville, near Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, the second of three children (two girls and a boy) of Hugh Pat McNally, a stonemason, and his wife Brigid (née Corey). She was christened Mary Josephine, but was always known…...
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,…...
Donatus
Donatus (d. 876), Irish scholar and ecclesiastic born at the end of the eighth century, was elected bishop of Fiesole, near Florence, in 829. The tenth/ eleventh-century ‘Vita sancti Donati episcopi’ has little biographical detail, and almost nothing is known of Donatus's Irish…...
Donnán
Donnán (d. 615) of Eigg, missionary and martyr in Scotland, was born (according to tradition) in north-eastern Ireland; he trained under Finnian (qv) of Movilla, and came as a missionary to Scotland sometime before 590. He…...
Donnelly, Nicholas
Donnelly, Nicholas (1837–1920), catholic bishop, church musician, and local historian, was born 23 November 1837, in St Paul's parish, Dublin, eldest son of John Donnelly, a merchant. He was educated at Castleknock College and the Irish College, Rome, where he was ordained priest…...
Doonican, Val
Doonican, Val (1927–2015), singer and musician, was born Michael Valentine Doonican on 3 February 1927 at 10 Passage Road in Waterford, the youngest of eight children (four boys and four girls) of John Doonican, a metal worker, and his wife Agnes (née Kavanagh). To distinguish him from…...
Doran, Johnny
Doran, Johnny (1908–50), uilleann piper, was one of four sons and five daughters of John Doran, horse dealer, and Kathleen Doran (neé McCann); the family were members of the travelling community. Although his father played the pipes, Johnny also learned his skills on the instrument…...
Dowd (O'Dowd), Dan
Dowd (O'Dowd), Dan (1903–89), uilleann piper and pipe-maker, was born 5 March 1903 at 13 Paul Street, in the Liberties in Dublin, son of Daniel Dowd and his wife, Catherine, née Davis. Having learned to play the war pipes at the School of Music in Chatham Row, he joined the local James…...
Downey, Edmund
Downey, Edmund (1856–1937) publisher, editor, and author, was born 24 July 1856 in Waterford, the son of William Downey, a ship owner and broker, and his wife Margaret (née Hayes). He was educated in Waterford at the Catholic University School, and St. John's College, where he excelled…...
Doyle, Jack
Doyle, Jack (1913–78), boxer, actor, singer and playboy, was born Joseph Alphonsus Doyle, 31 August 1913 at 12 Queen Street, Queenstown, Co. Cork, eldest son among four sons and two daughters of Michael Doyle, sailor, of Queenstown, and Anastasia Doyle. His schooling, at St Joseph's…...
Doyle, James Michael
Doyle, James Michael (1906–97), musician, soldier, and administrator, was born 24 August 1906, the eldest son and second of seven children of James Michael Doyle (1864–1946), chief clerk to ships’ chandlers McCann Verdon, and his wife Lucy Josephine née Brady (1881–1965), of 13 Iona…...
Drew, Ronnie (Joseph Ronald Augustine)
Drew, Ronnie (Joseph Ronald Augustine) (1934–2008), folk singer, was born 16 September 1934 in 'Beaufort', Glasthule (Sandycove), Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, eldest of three sons and two daughters of Patrick ('Paddy') Drew, carpenter, and Margaret ('Peg') Drew (née Maher), a seamstress…...
Dubourg, Matthew
Dubourg, Matthew (1703–67), violinist, was born in London in 1703, the natural son of a dancing-master named Isaacs. He studied the violin under Francesco Geminiani (1687–1762), who was a pupil of Corelli and one of the foremost violinists of his day, and established an early reputation…...
Duff, Arthur Knox
Duff, Arthur Knox (1899–1956), composer, arranger, and music producer, was born 13 March 1899 at 27 Bloomfield Avenue, Dublin. His father, John William Duff, was from King's Co. (Offaly) and worked first as an accountant, later as a clerk in a local tobacco factory on the South…...
Duffy, James
Duffy, James (1808/9–1871), publisher, was born in 1808 probably in Co. Cavan, at either Shercock or Kingscourt, and was educated locally at a hedge school. He had at least two brothers and two sisters. He is said first to have made a living as a pedlar in Cavan and Meath, dealing with…...
Dukes, Frederick Ernest (‘Fred’)
Dukes, Frederick Ernest (‘Fred’) (1912–98), engineer and campanologist, was born 23 May 1912 in Inchicore, Dublin, eldest of two sons and one daughter of George Dukes, railway foreman, originally of Staffordshire, then Dublin, and Mary Elizabeth (‘Lillie’) Dukes (née Erskine), of…...
Dúnchad
Dúnchad (d. 717), 11th abbot of Iona, was of royal descent, being a direct descendant of some of the Uí Néill high-kings – grandson of Maél Cobo (d. 615) and grandnephew of Domnall (qv) (d. 642). Under his rule (from c.707) Iona, and…...
Dunlap, John
Dunlap, John (1746/7–1812), printer, was born in what is now Meetinghouse Street, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, a younger son among probably three sons and four daughters of John Dunlap, saddler, and Sarah Dunlap (née Ector). He may have been apprenticed to learn the printing trade in Gray's of…...
Dunphy, Sean
Dunphy, Sean (1937–2011), showband and cabaret singer, was born John Michael Dunphy on 30 November 1937 in the family home at 17 London Bridge Road, Irishtown, Dublin, son of Patrick Dunphy, a plasterer, and Mary Dunphy (née Farrell). Following his father into a building trade, he…...
Ecgberht
Ecgberht (c.638–729), an Englishman of noble birth, moved to Ireland, ‘either for the sake of religious studies or to live a more contemplative life’, according to Bede. His departure for Ireland can be assigned to the period when Bishops…...