Keeffe (O'Keeffe), Robert (‘Bob’)
Keeffe (O'Keeffe), Robert (‘Bob’) (1880–1949), hurler and GAA administrator, was born 16 August 1880 in Glengrant, near Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, one of at least three sons and two daughters of Peter Keeffe, farmer, from Glengrant, and Honora (‘Norah’, ‘Nano’) Keeffe (née Nolan).…...
Keenan, Donal
Keenan, Donal (1919–90), Gaelic footballer and sports administrator, was born 10 March 1919 at Elphin, Co. Roscommon, son of John Keenan, bookmaker, and Hannah Keenan (née O'Reardon). After attending the local national school, Keenan briefly studied at Summerhill College, Sligo,…...
Kelly, Billy ('Spider')
Kelly, Billy ('Spider') (1932–2010), boxer, was born on 21 April 1932 at his parents' home on Long Tower Street, Derry city, the eldest of ten children of Jimmy Kelly, boxer and taxi driver, and his wife Kathleen (née Bradley), both Derry natives. Jimmy ('Spider') Kelly (1912–88),…...
Kelly, Jimmy (Spider)
This is a co-subject for the entry on Kelly, Billy ('Spider'). View the original entry....
Kenny, Henry Francis
Kenny, Henry Francis (1913–75), Gaelic footballer and politician, was born 7 September 1913 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, youngest child among three sons and one daughter of Anthony Kenny, publican, and Bridget Kenny (née McHale) of Rush St., Castlebar. He was educated at St Patrick's…...
Kent, Edmond
Kent, Edmond (1915–99), Jesuit priest and economist, was born 9 June 1915 at 15 Rostrevor Terrace, Rathgar, Dublin, son of Pierce Kent, civil servant and later commissioner of the board of works, and Mary Catherine Kent (née Connolly). Educated at Clongowes Wood College, Kildare,…...
Keohane, Joseph Nicholas (‘Joe’)
Keohane, Joseph Nicholas (‘Joe’) (1918–88), Gaelic footballer, army officer, and republican, was born 18 August 1918 in Boherbee, Co. Kerry, son of John Keohane, sergeant in the Munster Fusiliers, and Babs Keohane (née Doocey). Educated at Tralee…...
King, Kathleen
King, Kathleen (1893–1978), botanist and bryologist, was born Anastasia Lelia Catherine 5 July 1893 in Dublin, daughter of Lawrence Murphy , of a farming family from Ballycarnew, Co. Wexford, and Bridget Murphy (née Monaghan) from Co. Longford. The family lived in Upper Merrion St…...
Kirwan, Richard
Kirwan, Richard (1733–1812), chemist, mineralogist, geologist, and meteorologist, was born 1 August 1733 at Cloughballymore, Co. Galway, second son among four sons of Martin Kirwan and Mary Kirwan (neé French). He was educated first in Ireland and later at Poitiers, France, and…...
Landers, John Joe (‘Purty’)
Landers, John Joe (‘Purty’) (1907–2001), GAA footballer and IRA activist, was born 23 April 1907 at Dawson's Terrace, Tralee, Co. Kerry, son of Garret Landers, engine fitter and noted footballer, and Katherine Landers (née Roche) of Listowel. He was educated locally at the…...
Langton, Jimmy
Langton, Jimmy (1918–87), hurler, was born 18 January 1918 in Lavistown, Co. Kilkenny, one of seven children of James Langton, farmer, and Mary Langton (née Long). Educated at James’ St. CBS in Kilkenny city, he worked in Padmore…...
Lanigan, Paddy (‘Icey’)
Lanigan, Paddy (‘Icey’) (1880–1945), hurler, was born 24 March 1880 in Kilkenny city, son of Thomas Lanigan, clerk, and Catherine Lanigan (née Birch). A member of the now defunct Erin's Own hurling club in Kilkenny city, he won the first of his six all-Ireland senior hurling…...
Lavan, John Thomas (‘Sean’)
Lavan, John Thomas (‘Sean’) (1898–1973), athlete, footballer, and medical doctor, was born 22 September 1898 in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, eldest of four children of Michael Lavan, landholder, and Bridget Lavan (née O'Brien). Educated locally at Ballyglass national school, he won a king…...
Leahy, Cornelius (‘Con’)
Leahy, Cornelius (‘Con’) (1876–1921), athlete, was born 27 April 1876 in Cregane, Charleville, Co. Cork, son of Thomas Leahy, farmer, and Mary Leahy (née McDonagh). In his international athletic career between 1899 and 1908, he won four successive British Amateur Athletic…...
Lipper, Michael (‘Mick’)
Lipper, Michael (‘Mick’) (1931–87), politician and footballer, was born 15 June 1931 in Garryowen, Co. Limerick, fifth of ten children of Dominic Lipper, locomotive driver, and Catherine Lipper (née McGann). Educated at CBS Sexton St…...
Loughnane, William (‘Bill’, ‘Willie’)
Loughnane, William (‘Bill’, ‘Willie’) (1915–82), hurler, musician, doctor, and politician, was born 5 August 1915 in Feakle, Co. Clare, son of Willie Loughnane, farmer and shopkeeper, and Kate Loughnane (née McInerney), and educated at Feakle national school, St Flannan's College…...
Lynch, John Mary (‘Jack’)
Lynch, John Mary (‘Jack’) (1917–99), sportsman and taoiseach, was born 15 August 1917 in a small family home beside St Anne's Church of Ireland church in Shandon, a working-class area of Cork city, youngest of five sons and fifth among seven children (one of whom died before he was born…...
MacCabe, Frederick Faber
MacCabe, Frederick Faber (1868–1954), racehorse trainer and journalist, was born in Glasnevin, Dublin. Educated at Terenure College, Downside School, and TCD, he qualified as a medical doctor in 1891. In his late teens and early twenties…...
MacCarthy, Seán
MacCarthy, Seán (1890–1974), republican and GAA president, was born 22 January 1890 at Dunkereen, Upton, Co. Cork, son of Timothy MacCarthy, ploughman and later agricultural steward, and Hannah MacCarthy (née Hegarty). He was educated at Knockavilla national school and at De La…...
MacEoin, Uinseann Ó Rathaille
MacEoin, Uinseann Ó Rathaille (1920–2007), architect, journalist, campaigner, republican, socialist, and mountain climber, was born Vincent O'Rahilly McGuone on 4 July 1920 in Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone, one of four children of Malachy McGuone, a wine and spirit merchant who owned the…...
MacHale, Joseph Patrick
MacHale, Joseph Patrick (1922–2005), university administrator and sportsman, was born 8 January 1922 in Dublin, sixth child and younger son of J. P. MacHale, a senior official with the Hibernian Insurance Company, and his wife Grace. Educated at CBS Dún Laoghaire (1930–32) and…...
Mackle, Henry
Mackle, Henry (1921–94), physical chemist and folklore writer, was born 12 May 1921 at Derrykeeran, Co. Armagh, the son of Patrick Mackle, farmer, and Sarah Mackle (née Byrne). He studied chemistry at QUB, graduating with first-…...
MacMahon, Bernard
MacMahon, Bernard (c.1736–1816), priest, scientist, and translator, was born at Castlering, Co. Louth, one of two brothers. He was educated locally and studied for the secular priesthood at Antwerp, presumably at the Irish College there. His name appears on the 1771 list…...
MacNamee, Pádraig
MacNamee, Pádraig (1896–1975), teacher, Irish-language enthusiast, and GAA official, was born 8 August 1896 in Carrigastickan, near Forkhill, Co. Armagh, one of four children (two sons and two daughters) of James MacNamee, farmer, and Brigid MacNamee (née McCann). Growing up in a partly…...
MacNeven (MacNevin), William James
MacNeven (MacNevin), William James (1763–1841), physician, scientist, and United Irishman, was born 21 March 1763 at Ballynahown, near Aughrim, Co. Galway, the eldest of the four sons of James MacNeven and his wife Rose (née Dolphin). Rose MacNeven died young and James not long…...