McCosh, James
McCosh, James (1811–94), presbyterian minister, philosopher, and academic, was born 1 April 1811, near Patna, Ayrshire, Scotland, second and only surviving son and fifth child of seven born to Andrew McCosh, farmer, and Jean Carson, his wife. Educated at the local parish school,…...
McGuinness, Charles John
McGuinness, Charles John (1893–1947), sailor and adventurer, was born 6 March 1893 in Derry city, elder of two sons of John McGuinness, sea-captain and harbourmaster, and Margaret McGuinness (née Hernand). In 1908, at the age of 15, McGuinness left home, stowing away in a ship and…...
McHugh, Kevin
McHugh, Kevin (1946–2006), fisherman and businessman, was born in Bullsmouth, Achill Island, Co. Mayo, on 26 May 1946, the fourth of eight children of Michael McHugh, ESB maintenance engineer, and his wife Norah (née Lavelle). Educated…...
Meredith, James Creed
Meredith, James Creed (1875–1942), judge of the supreme court and writer, was born in Dublin, son of Sir James Creed Meredith, secretary of the Royal University of Ireland from 1880 to 1909, and his third wife, Nellie (née Graves). He had three brothers and two sisters. He began…...
Monck, William Henry Stanley
Monck, William Henry Stanley (1839–1915), philosopher and astronomer, was born 21 April 1839 at Skeirke, Queen's Co. (Laois), third son of Thomas Stanley Monck, curate of Skeirke 1829–50, and Lydia Elinor Monck (née Kennedy). The family moved (1850) to Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny,…...
Moore, Michael
Moore, Michael (c.1639–1726), priest, philosopher and educationist, was born in Bridge St., Dublin, son of Andrew Moore and Mary Moore (née Dowdall) of Mountown (Monktown, Co. Meath). In the 1650s Moore travelled to Nantes, where he received an education in the humanities…...
Moriarty, John Stephen
Moriarty, John Stephen (1938–2007), philosopher and shaman, was born 2 February 1938 at Moyvane, near Listowel, Co. Kerry, fourth of six children (two sons and four daughters) of James Moriarty, smallholder and native speaker of Irish (with eleven cows and 'thirty-two acres of bad,…...
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-…...
O Brien, Conor
O Brien, Conor (1880–1952), sailor and author, was born Edward Conor Marshall O'Brien on 3 November 1880 in Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick, the son of Edward William O'Brien, JP, and Julia O'Brien (née Marshall). A grandson of…...
O'Connor, Fergal
O'Connor, Fergal (1926–2005), priest and philosopher, was born Thomas Francis O'Connor on 6 December 1926 in Rathmorrel, Causeway, Co. Kerry, third of seven children of Henry O'Connor, national school teacher, and his wife Nora (née Egan). O'Connor's grandfather had also been a…...
O'Donohue, John Joseph
O'Donohue, John Joseph (1956–2008), priest, philosopher and spiritual writer, was born 2 January 1956 in Ennistymon hospital, Co. Clare, eldest of three sons and one daughter of Patrick O'Donohue (d. 1970s), a small farmer and stonemason (whom John remembered as a profound influence…...
O'Kelly, William
This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Kelly, William Hugh MacNevin-. View the original entry....
Ó Laoghaire, Diarmuid
Ó Laoghaire, Diarmuid (1915–2001), writer and lecturer on Celtic spirituality, and Irish-language enthusiast, was born 1 August 1915 in Dublin, one of three children of Michael O'Leary from Doneraile, Co. Cork, and Mary O'Leary (née Flood), from Co. Meath; his father was manager of…...
O'Malley, Gráinne (Grace) (‘Granuaile’)
O'Malley, Gráinne (Grace) (‘Granuaile’) (c.1530–1603?), noblewoman and sea captain, was the daughter of Eoghan O'Malley (usually known as Dubhdarra O'Malley), lord of Umhall (now the barony of Murrisk, Co. Mayo), and Margaret, daughter of Conchobhar O'Malley. Gráinne (or…...
O'Reilly, John Roberts
O'Reilly, John Roberts (1794–1873), Royal Navy and coastguard officer, was born 9 April 1794 at Baltrasna, Co. Meath, third son of Thomas O'Reilly, gentleman, and his wife Margaret, daughter of the Hon. Justice Robert Sibthorpe of Duncanny, Co. Louth. His brother, Anthony Alexander…...
Patten, James
Patten, James (d. p.1780), naval surgeon, was born in Ulster, son of the Rev. William Patten. Appointed as a Royal Navy surgeon, he sailed with Capt. James Cook on board HMS Resolution during Cook's second voyage of…...
Petrus de Hibernia (Peter of Ireland)
Petrus de Hibernia (Peter of Ireland) (fl. c.1200–p.1260), philosopher and teacher at Naples, probably of Anglo-Irish descent, was known as gemma magistrorum, the ‘gem of teachers’. He received his education probably at Oxford and Paris and may also have…...
Phillips, Molesworth
Phillips, Molesworth (1755–1832), marine officer and adventurer, was born 15 August 1755 in Swords, Co. Dublin, son of John Phillips (d. 1779), surgeon and illegitimate son of Robert Molesworth (qv), 1st Viscount Molesworth of Swords…...
Ponsonby, Charles William Talbot-
Ponsonby, Charles William Talbot- (1843–1927), navalofficer, landowner, and JP, was born 29 May 1843 at Langrish House, Petersfield, Hampshire, the son of Admiral Sir Charles Talbot, KCB…...
Pounder, Cuthbert Coulson
Pounder, Cuthbert Coulson (1891–1982), marine engineer, was born 12 May 1891 in Hartlepool, Co. Durham, youngest son of a family of six. His father was a blacksmith owning his own business. When he was 6 his mother died, and he was brought up by his stepmother, a Lowland Scot. On…...
Prior, Sir James
Prior, Sir James (1790?–1869), naval surgeon and author, was born at Lisburn, Co. Antrim, son of Matthew Prior (nothing is known of his mother), and trained as a surgeon. On 22 June 1810 he sailed from Plymouth as ship's surgeon on the RN frigate …...
Punch (Pontius, Ponce), John
Punch (Pontius, Ponce), John (1603–c.1660×73), philosopher, theologian, and controversialist, was born in Cork of an Anglo-Irish family. Nothing is known of his parents, his early years, or his education before he entered the novitiate of the Irish Franciscans at St…...
Rebbeck, Denis
This is a co-subject for the entry on Rebbeck, Sir Frederick (Ernest). View the original entry....
Rebbeck, Sir Frederick (Ernest)
Rebbeck, Sir Frederick (Ernest) (1877–1964), shipbuilder and marine engineer, was born near Swindon, Wiltshire, only son of Albert Ernest Rebbeck and Jeanette Rebbeck. He was educated privately, serving his engineering apprenticeship in the English midlands, followed by employment at…...
Reid, Thomas
Reid, Thomas (1791–1825), naval surgeon and author, was one of four sons of Thomas Reid, farmer, from Cadian, near Eglish, Co. Tyrone. He received a classical education from the family pastor, the presbyterian minister Hugh Bell, before attending the Royal College of Surgeons in…...