Bell, Robert
Bell, Robert (1864–1934), geologist, was born in Ballycreen, Co. Down, and may have been one of two Robert Bells, born in 1864 and registered in Lisburn, the poor law union centre for Ballycreen townland. The first was born 20 May 1864, to Robert Bell and Eliza McNeice; the second,…...
Bell, Sir William Ewart
Bell, Sir William Ewart (1924–2001), rugby international and civil servant, was born 13 November 1924 in Belfast, son of the Rev. Dr Frederick George Bell, an ordained minister of the presbyterian church, and Margaret Jane Bell (née Ewart), a qualified teacher. He was the eldest…...
Belrieu, Jacques de
Belrieu, Jacques de (c.1630–1719), Seigneur de St Laurans, Baron de Virazel , huguenot colonist, was born at Bordeaux, France, and married (1651) Marie de Gaumont, with whom he had at least three children: Daniel, Charles, and Marie Ann. Virazel became a lawyer and…...
Bender, Philipp Philip Phineas
Bender, Philipp Philip Phineas (c.1831–1901), Jewish minister and teacher, was born in Germany, and moved (c.1851) to Hull, England, where he was appointed minister to the Jewish community. He settled (1862) in Dublin and was appointed (1863–81) a preacher at…...
Benignus (Benén, and other by-forms)
Benignus (Benén, and other by-forms) (d. 467/8), bishop and disciple of St Patrick, was according to the genealogies son of Sescnén, descendant of Tadc son of Cian of Éoganacht Chaisil. In the works of the Patrician hagiographers Muirchú (qv)…...
Bennett, Alexander (‘Alec’)
Bennett, Alexander (‘Alec’) (1897–1973), motorcyclist, was born 25 April 1897 in Craigantlet, Co. Down, son of Robert Bennett, farmer, of Craigantlet, and Isabella Bennett (née Rea). Having emigrated to Canada at an early age, he began competing as a motorcyclist, primarily on half-…...
Bennett, William Thomas (‘Bill’)
Bennett, William Thomas (‘Bill’) (1877–1967), champion athlete and road bowler, was born 7 September 1877 at Killeady, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork, one of two sons and three daughters of William Bennett, farmer, from Killeady, and Eliza Bennett (née Hobbs), who was from a well known…...
Bennis, Elizabeth (Eliza)
Bennis, Elizabeth (Eliza) (1725–1802), methodist activist and diarist, was probably born in Limerick, one of two surviving daughters of Isaac and Alice (née Mitchell) Patten . The Pattens were presbyterian, and Elizabeth had a conventionally pious upbringing and evidently received…...
Benson, Charles William
Benson, Charles William (1836–1919), clergyman and schoolmaster, was born 12 July 1836, eldest son of Dr John Benson of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Fitzgerald, RN, of Waterford. Educated at Dr Price's school…...
Berchán
Berchán (6th cent.?), founder and first abbot of Cluain Sasta (Clonsast, Co. Offaly) and saint in the Irish tradition, appears to be at the centre of an extensive network of interlocking cults. The genealogies represent him as the son of Muiredach son of Daig and of Fiamain daughter…...
Beresford, Denis Robert Pack-
Beresford, Denis Robert Pack- (1864–1942), naturalist, was born 23 March 1864, eldest son of Denis Pack-Beresford (1810–81), MP for Co. Carlow (1862–8), and Annette Pack-Beresford (née Brown) of Fenagh House, Bagnalstown, Co. Carlow. Educated at Rugby School and Oxford (…...
Beresford, George de la Poer
Beresford, George de la Poer (1765–1841), Church of Ireland bishop, was born 19 July 1765 in Dublin, second son of the Rt Hon. John Beresford (qv) (1738–1805) and his wife Anne Constantia, daughter of Gen.…...
Beresford, Lord John George de la Poer
Beresford, Lord John George de la Poer (1773–1862), Church of Ireland archbishop of Armagh, was born 22 November 1773 in Tyrone House, Dublin, third son (among four sons and two daughters) of George de la Poer Beresford (1735–1800), 2nd earl of Tyrone and 1st marquess of Waterford…...
Beresford, Marcus Gervais
Beresford, Marcus Gervais (1801–85), Church of Ireland archbishop of Armagh, was born in Dublin 14 February 1801, second son in a family of three sons and five daughters of George de la Poer Beresford (qv), bishop of…...
Beresford, William
Beresford, William (1743–1819), 1st Baron Decies, Church of Ireland archbishop of Tuam, was born 16 April 1743, an illegitimate son of Marcus Beresford, first earl of Tyrone (1694–1763). He entered Trinity College Dublin on 18 December 1759, and there graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1763…...
Bergin, Stanley Francis
Bergin, Stanley Francis (1925–69), cricketer and journalist, was born 19 November 1925 at 8 St John's Road, Sandymount, Dublin, as Stanislaus Mary Bergin, youngest of seven sons of Bernard Christopher Bergin, assistant director GPO, and…...
Berkeley, George
Berkeley, George (1685–1753), philosopher and Church of Ireland bishop of Cloyne, was born 12 March 1685 in or near Kilkenny city, and spent his childhood at Dysart Castle, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. Little is known of his parents other than that his father, William Berkeley, came to…...
Bermingham, Francis
Bermingham, Francis (c.1602–c.1672), Franciscan priest, was born in Athenry, Co. Galway. Educated on the Continent, he joined the Franciscan order, where he was known as Franciscus a Galvia (Francis of Galway). In 1636 he left Spain to complete his…...
Bermingham (Mac Fheorais), William
Bermingham (Mac Fheorais), William (d. 1312), archbishop of Tuam, was second son of Meiler de Bermingham, lord of Athenry. Though details of his early ecclesiastical career are exiguous, he did receive the church of Knockraffen (Knockgraffon parish, Co. Tipperary) in Cashel when he was…...
Bernal, John Desmond
Bernal, John Desmond (1901–71), scientist, was born 10 May 1901 at Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, eldest of three sons and two daughters of Samuel George Bernal, farmer, of Brookwatson, Nenagh, and his wife Elizabeth Miller, daughter of a Presbyterian minister in San José, California.…...
Bernard, Agnes Morrogh (Mother Mary Arsenius)
Bernard, Agnes Morrogh (Mother Mary Arsenius) (1842–1932), nun, teacher, and founder of Providence Mill, Foxford, Co. Mayo, was born 24 February 1842 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the eldest child of John Morrogh , of a prominent catholic family from Glanmire, Cork, and Frances…...
Bernard (Barnard), Nicholas
Bernard (Barnard), Nicholas (d. 1661), Church of Ireland clergyman and writer, was born in England about the start of the seventeenth century. He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge in May 1617, graduating BA (1621) and…...
Bernard, John Henry
Bernard, John Henry (1860–1927), Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin and provost of TCD, was born 27 July 1860 at Sooree, Bengal, India, eldest among three children of William Frederick Bernard, assistant engineer to the east Indian…...
Berwick, Edward
Berwick, Edward (1754?–1820), classicist and anglican clergyman, was born in Co. Down, son of Duke Berwick, gentleman. After attending the Rev. Saumarez Dubourdieu's school in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, he entered TCD (1770), gained a…...
Best, George
Best, George (1946–2005), professional footballer, was born 22 May 1946 in the Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, eldest child among two sons and four daughters of Richard 'Dickie' Best (1919–2008), a shipyard iron turner with Harland and Wolff, and his wife Ann Mary 'Annie' Best (née…...