Boucher, James Chrysostom (‘Jimmy’)
Boucher, James Chrysostom (‘Jimmy’) (1910–95), cricketer, was born in Dublin on 22 December 1910. He was the only son and one of three children of James Boucher, a quarter-master sergeant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who died in 1918, having been invalided out two years…...
Bourke, Thomas
Bourke, Thomas (fl. 1643–4), printer, has been considered the first known printer in Waterford. Though his background is not known, it has been argued that the ‘good standard of the typesetting and printing of his extant works demonstrate that he was already a well-trained…...
Bowles, John Joseph
Bowles, John Joseph (1879–1949), handball player, was born 5 September 1879 in Clare St., Thomondgate, Limerick, son of Joseph Bowles, cooper, and Lisa Bowles (née Cusack). Although he gained initial recognition as an oarsman with Shannon Rowing Club, he achieved fame through…...
Bowles, Michael Andrew
Bowles, Michael Andrew (1909–98), musicologist and founder of the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra (later the National Symphony Orchestra), was born 30 November 1909 at Riverstown, Co. Sligo, eldest son among six daughters and two sons of Patrick Bowles, a shopkeeper, and his wife…...
Boydell, Brian Patrick
Boydell, Brian Patrick (1917–2000), composer and musicologist, was born 17 March 1917 in Dublin, son (with two younger sisters) of James Boydell, maltster, and Eileen Boydell (née Collins, daughter of Alfred T. Collins (qv)), both of…...
Boyle, Ina (Selina Adelaide Philippa)
Boyle, Ina (Selina Adelaide Philippa) (1889–1967), composer, was born 8 March 1889 in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, daughter of Rev. William Foster Boyle, curate in Powerscourt parish, and his wife Philippa Augusta Jephson. Her father made violins and cellos as a hobby. She grew up at…...
Bracken, Joseph K.
Bracken, Joseph K. (1852–1904), monumental sculptor and builder, local politician, and a founder in 1884 of the ‘Gaelic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of National Pastimes’ which evolved to become the Gaelic Athletic Association (…...
Bradshaw, Harry
Bradshaw, Harry (1913–90), professional golfer, was born 9 October 1913 in Killincarrig, Co. Wicklow, eldest among four sons and two daughters of Edward ‘Ned’ Bradshaw, golf caddie and later golf professional, and Elizabeth Bradshaw (née Walsh) of Killincarrig. He was educated locally.…...
Brady, Sir Francis William
Brady, Sir Francis William (1824–1909), judge, 2nd baronet, and founding member of the RIAM, was born in Dublin 22 July 1824, eldest son among two sons and three daughters of Sir Maziere Brady…...
Branigan, James Christopher (‘Jim’, ‘Lugs’)
Branigan, James Christopher (‘Jim’, ‘Lugs’) (1910–86), garda, was born 6 January 1910 in the South Dublin Union, James St., eldest among three sons and a daughter of John Alick Branigan (d. 1957), South Dublin Union official, originally of Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary, and Ellen Branigan…...
Brase, Wilhelm Fritz
Brase, Wilhelm Fritz (1875–1940), musician, was born 4 May 1875 at Egestorf, near Hanover, Germany. He graduated at the Leipzig conservatoire and the Berlin academy of music, was the youngest person to become ‘royal musical director’ (1909), attained a leading position among the…...
Breathnach, Breandán
Breathnach, Breandán (1912–85), author, collector, and musician, was born 1 April 1912 in Hamilton St., Dublin, elder of two sons and three daughters of Patrick Walsh (d. 1980), silk weaver, and Julia Walsh (née Parker) (d. 1927). Educated at Francis St. national school, he obtained a…...
Brennan, Seamus Anthony (‘Shay’)
Brennan, Seamus Anthony (‘Shay’) (1937–2000), soccer player, was born 6 May 1937 in Manchester, England, one of four sons and three daughters of Jim Brennan and Mary Brennan (née Whelan), both originally from Co. Carlow. Educated locally, Brennan joined Manchester United as an…...
Bresnihan, Barry (Finbar Patrick Kevin)
Bresnihan, Barry (Finbar Patrick Kevin) (1944–2010), rheumatologist and rugby player, was born on 13 March 1944 at 15 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin, the only son (as well as three daughters) of Dr Con Bresnihan (d. 1974), GP, chief medical officer to the civil service, and medical…...
Brodie, Malcolm
Brodie, Malcolm (1926–2013), sports journalist, was born on 27 September 1926 in Dumbarton Road, Partick West, Glasgow, the elder of two sons of John Brodie, shipyard worker, and his wife Sarah (née Walker). Raised in a Dumbarton Road tenement, he followed the Glasgow Rangers football…...
Brosnan, Cornelius (‘Con’)
Brosnan, Cornelius (‘Con’) (1900–75), Gaelic footballer, was born 27 December 1900 in Newtownsandes (now Moyvane), Co. Kerry, son of Jeremiah Brosnan, shopkeeper and creamery manager, and Ellie Brosnan (née Nolan). Educated at Newtonsandes N.S. and St. Michael's College, Listowel,…...
Brosnan, Patrick (‘Paddy Bawn’)
Brosnan, Patrick (‘Paddy Bawn’) (1917–95), Gaelic footballer, was born 16 November 1917 at Strand St., Dingle, Co. Kerry, son of Timothy Brosnan, fisherman, and Ellie Brosnan (née Johnson). He was educated at Dingle national school and the local…...
Brown, Edward Godfrey
Brown, Edward Godfrey (1874–1955), conductor and musical director, was born 15 January 1874 at 74 Blake St., Barrow-in-Furness, Cumberland (Cumbria), the only son among four children of Edward Brown (1853–1941) and Emma Brown (née Godfrey). His father came from Marlow,…...
Brownlow, Charles
Brownlow, Charles (1831–82), 2nd Baron Lurgan and sportsman, was born 10 April 1831 in Eaton Place, London, elder son of Charles Brownlow, 1st Baron Lurgan, and his second wife, Jane, daughter of Roderick Macneill of Barra. He had a younger brother, a sister, and a half-sister. He…...
Bruce, William
Bruce, William (1702–55), publisher and writer, was born in Killyleagh, Co. Down, the youngest of the three sons of the Rev. James Bruce (qv) (1660?–1730), and his wife, Margaret (née Trail), of Tullychin (d. 1706). He was educated at the…...
Bruen, James O'Grady (‘Jimmy’)
Bruen, James O'Grady (‘Jimmy’) (1920–72), amateur golfer, was born 8 May 1920 in Belfast, only child of James Bruen (d. 1950), bank official and company secretary, and Margaret Bruen (née Shepperson Cooke). The family moved to Blackrock, Cork, when he was very young. Throughout his…...
Buckley, Din (Den) Joe
Buckley, Din (Den) Joe (1919–2009), hurler, was born Denis Joseph Buckley at the family home in Roman Street, Cork city, on 19 March 1919, the sixth of eleven children of Timothy Buckley, shop assistant, and his wife Elizabeth (née Falvey). The working-class Blackpool district in…...
Bulger, Daniel Delany
This is a co-subject for the entry on Bulger, Lawrence Quinlivan ('Larry'). View the original entry....
Bulger, Lawrence Quinlivan ('Larry')
Bulger, Lawrence Quinlivan ('Larry') (1870–1928), rugby player and medical doctor, was born 5 February 1870 at his parents' home on Moore Street, Kilrush, Co. Clare, the youngest of five sons and two daughters of Daniel Scanlan Bulger (d. 1904), then a pawnbroker and draper, later a…...
Bulger, Michael Joseph
This is a co-subject for the entry on Bulger, Lawrence Quinlivan ('Larry'). View the original entry....