Nicholson, Asenath
Nicholson, Asenath (1792–1855), traveller and social reformer, was born 24 February 1792, youngest child and only daughter among three children of Michael Hatch (c.1747–1830), farmer, and his wife, Martha (maiden name unknown; 1745–1837), in Chelsea, Vermont, USA. Educated at…...
O'Daly, John
O'Daly, John (1800–78), writer and publisher, was born 5 February 1800 in Fernane, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, eldest among three sons and three daughters of Eamonn O'Daly and Brigid O'Daly (née Kyley). He was educated at a local hedge school before going to work, in 1826, for the…...
Orpen, Edward Richards Richards-
Orpen, Edward Richards Richards- (1884–1967), agriculturalist, conservationist and senator, was born Edward Richards Orpen on 20 October 1884 in London, the son of Goddard Henry Orpen (qv) and his wife…...
Oulton, Walley Chamberlain
Oulton, Walley Chamberlain (c.1765–c.1820), dramatist and theatre historian, was born in Dublin, son of Walley Oulton, a merchant, and his wife Catherine (née Walker). Very little is known of his life outside his work. Educated locally by Dr Thomas Ball (1718?–…...
Pennefather, William
Pennefather, William (1816–73), evangelist, philanthropist, and hymn writer, was born 5 February 1816 at 5 Merrion Square, Dublin, the youngest son of the eight children of Richard Pennefather (qv), chief baron of the exchequer in…...
Pepyat, Jeremiah
Pepyat, Jeremiah (c.1683–1753?), printer and bookseller, was apprenticed to John North of Dublin in 1697 and on North's death that same year moved to Joseph Ray (qv), with whom he served seven years apprenticeship; nothing else is…...
Pepyat, Mary
This is a co-subject for the entry on Pepyat, Jeremiah. View the original entry....
Pepyat, Sylvanus
This is a co-subject for the entry on Pepyat, Jeremiah. View the original entry....
Porter, Margaret Lavinia
Porter, Margaret Lavinia (d. 1881), philanthropist, was eldest daughter among three sons and five daughters of Thomas Lindsey , gentleman, of Hollymount, Co. Mayo, and his wife (m. 1784) Lady Margaret, daughter of Charles Bingham…...
Prior, Thomas
Prior, Thomas (1681–1751), founder of the Dublin Society and philanthropist, was born in Garrison House, Rathdowney, Queen's Co. (Laois), second son among five children of Col. Thomas Prior and his first wife, whose name is unknown. According to unverified family history, his…...
Ram, Abel
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ram, Sir Abel. View the original entry....
Reid, Christina
Reid, Christina (1942–2015), playwright, was born on 12 March 1942 in Ardoyne in North Belfast, the eldest of three children and only daughter of James Orchin, a Belfast dock worker, and Christina Orchin, who worked as a linen mill worker and later a waitress. Although the family…...
Robinson, Lennox
Robinson, Lennox (1886–1958), playwright and director, was born Esmé Stuart Lennox Robinson on 4 October 1886 near Douglas, Co. Cork, youngest of seven children (of whom twins died in infancy) of Andrew Craig Robinson, stockbroker, and Emily Anna Robinson (née Jones). When Lennox was…...
Rodway, Norman John Frank
Rodway, Norman John Frank (1929–2001), actor and theatre producer, was born 7 February 1929 in Dublin, son of Frank Rodway, manager of a shipping agency, and Lilian Rodway (née Moyles). The couple had recently moved to Dublin from London. They settled in Malahide, north of Dublin, where…...
Roe, Henry
Roe, Henry (1826–94), distiller and philanthropist, was born in Dublin, where his family had been involved in the distilling and brewing business since the 1750s and had acquired a seventeen-acre site off James's St. In 1863 Henry Roe, and his brother, George, inherited George Roe…...
Rugheimer, Gunnar
Rugheimer, Gunnar , (1923–2003), RTÉ controller of programmes, was born 26 February 1923 in Stockholm, Sweden, to Carl Rügheimer (b. 1893), hat manufacturer, and his wife Sonja Traugott (b. 1901); both were Jewish and had been born in Sweden of Danish descent. After attending…...
Share, Bernard Vivian
Share, Bernard Vivian (1930–2013), writer and editor, was born on 31 May 1930 in London to Irish parents Frederick Share, a civil servant, and May Share, who had emigrated there from Dublin. He lived in England until he was seventeen, attending school in Pinner, Middlesex, before moving…...
Sheridan, Thomas
Sheridan, Thomas (1719–88), actor, theatre manager, and orator, was third son of Thomas Sheridan (qv), schoolmaster and essayist, of Dublin; nothing is known of his mother. He was educated at home by his father until the age of 13.…...
Simms, Mercy Felicia
Simms, Mercy Felicia (1915–98), social crusader, was born 3 March 1915 in a nursing home at 89 Lower Baggot St., Dublin, only child of Brian James Gwynn (1883–1972) of 48 Hollybrook Road, Clontarf, civil servant employed as assistant secretary in the labour exchange, and his wife…...
Simpson, Alan Patrick
Simpson, Alan Patrick (1920–80), theatre director, was born in Baggot Street, Dublin, son of Walter Simpson, Church of Ireland minister. Sent to Belfast to broaden his outlook, he was educated at Campbell College and spent a brief period in Germany before returning to Dublin in the late…...
Smyly, Ellen
Smyly, Ellen (1814–1901), philanthropist, was born 14 November 1814, third daughter among seven children of Mathew Franks (1768–1853) of Jerpoint, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, and 28 Merrion Square, Dublin, and Mary Franks (née Fergusson; d. 1856). Ellen began her charity work in…...
Southerne, Thomas
Southerne, Thomas (1660–1746), dramatist and soldier, was born 12 February 1660 at Oxmantown, Dublin, youngest child among four sons and two daughters of Francis Southerne, founder-member of the brewers' corporation of Dublin, and his wife Margaret. Educated at the free school in…...
Spence, Gusty (Augustus Andrew)
Spence, Gusty (Augustus Andrew) (1933–2011), loyalist paramilitary and community activist, was born on 28 June 1933 at Joseph Street in the Hammer area of the Shankill Road, west Belfast, sixth of seven children (five boys and two girls) of William Edward ('Ned') Spence, labourer and…...
Steevens, Grizel
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Steevens, Richard
Steevens, Richard (c.1654–1710), MD and benefactor, and Grizel (Grizell, Grissell) Steevens (c.1654–1747), heiress, were the twin children of John Steevens (d. 1682), a clergyman from the benefice of Cherill in Calne, Wiltshire, England, and Constance Steevens (…...