Co. Armagh

Mac Kenna, Niall (MacCann) (fl.1700), poet, harper, and songwriter, was born in the Fews, Co. Armagh. His date of birth and parents’ names are unknown. Indeed very little is known about him apart from the songs he left behind. While O'Reilly gives MacKenna as the English…

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-…

This is a co-subject for the entry on MacMoyer (Moyer, Weyer), John (‘Fr Francis’ ‘Maor na Canoine’). View the original entry.

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…

MacRory, Joseph (1861–1945), academic and catholic bishop, was born 18 March 1861 in Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone, one of ten children of Francis MacRory, farmer, and Rose MacRory (née Montague). He began his education at the local parish school and from an early age demonstrated an…

Magee, Patrick (1924–82), actor, was born on 31 March 1924 in Edward Street, Armagh town, eldest of five children of Patrick McGee, schoolteacher and eventually principal of St Patrick's primary school. When he joined Actors' Equity he changed his surname to 'Magee' to avoid confusion…

Magennis, Peter Elias (1869–1937), priest and nationalist, was born 1 June 1869 near Tandragee, Co. Armagh, son of Thomas Magennis, labourer, and Bridget Magennis (née Boyle). He was educated at St Malachy's College, Belfast, and was awarded his BA…

Maguire, (Benjamin) Waldo (1920–2005), broadcaster, controller of BBC Northern Ireland, was born 31 May 1920 in Portadown, Co. Armagh, the eldest of three children, two boys and a girl, of Benjamin Maguire and his wife Elizabeth Ann (née Eldon). His father worked for the Post…

Makem, Thomas ('Tommy') (1932–2007), folk singer, was born 4 November 1932 in Keady, Co. Armagh, youngest of five children of Peter Makem and his wife Sarah (née Boyle). Though Peter Makem was a fiddler and flautist, Tommy derived his musical interests and talent primarily through…

Mallon, John (1839–1915), policeman, was born 10 May 1839 near Meigh, Co. Armagh, the eldest child of Thomas Mallon, a tenant farmer, and his wife, Judith (Susan) Connolly. Educated at Newry model school and mentored by Canon Michael Murphy, Mallon was then apprenticed to a Newry draper…

McCarrison, Sir Robert (1878–1960), doctor and scientist, was born 15 March 1878 in Portadown, Co. Armagh, second son of Robert McCarrison, flax buyer, and Agnes McCarrison (née McCullagh). He graduated MB, …

This is a co-subject for the entry on McCluskey, Constantine Mary (‘Conn’). …

McCusker, (James) Harold (1940–90), politician, was born 7 February 1940 in William Street, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, son of James Harold McCusker and his wife Lily. His early life was overshadowed by his father's premature death (aged thirty-seven), which left the family in straitened…

McGettigan, Daniel (1815–87), catholic archbishop of Armagh, was born in November 1815 in Drumdutton, parish of Mevagh, Co. Donegal, son of Manasses McGettigan, farmer, and his wife (née Boyle). Daniel was educated locally and studied classics under a dissenter clergyman in…

McGhee, Richard (1851–1930), trade unionist and politician, was baptised on 12 February 1851 in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, the eldest of three sons of Richard McGhee, a tenant farmer and later a shopkeeper, and his wife Alice. He claimed that at age 14, in protest against 'the bigotry and…

Nelson, Rosemary (1959–1999), human rights lawyer, was born Rosemary Magee at Lurgan, Co. Armagh, daughter of Thomas Magee and his wife Sheila. A strawberry birthmark partly paralysed the left side of her face, and from the age of ten she endured several years of facial surgery and skin…

Nesbitt, William (1824–81), professor of Latin and of Greek, was born in January 1824 in Co. Armagh, son of John Nesbitt (d. 1858), methodist minister (whose family moved with him to various congregations), and his wife, who may have been Jane Douglass. Nesbitt was educated mostly…

Niall Caille (d. 846), son of Áed Oirdnide and king of Tara, was a member of the Northern Uí Néill dynasty of Cenél nÉogain. His father, Áed Oirdnide (qv) son of Niall Frossach (qv) king of…

Nicholson, Ernest Wilson (1938–2013), biblical scholar, was born on 26 September 1938 in Portadown, Co. Armagh, the youngest of three children of Ernest Tedford Nicholson, a soldier and baker, and Veronica Muriel Nicholson. After attending Hart Memorial Primary School in Portadown, he…

Nugent, John Dillon (1869–1940), politician and insurance manager, was born 22 December 1869 in Keady, Co. Armagh, the son of John Nugent, auctioneer and publican, and his wife Sarah (née Dillon). He moved to Dublin in 1890. Employed as assistant superintendent with the Prudential…

Ó Fiaich, Tomás (1923–90), cardinal archbishop of Armagh, was born 3 November 1923 at Anamar, Cullyhanna, Co. Armagh, as Thomas James Fee, second son of Patrick Fee (1882–1964) and Annie Fee (née Carragher; d. 1932). Both parents taught at Cregganduff public elementary school: his…

O'Hagan, (Owen) Martin (1950–2001), journalist, was born 23 June 1950 at Lurgan, Co. Armagh, the eldest of six children of a British soldier. Until the age of seven he lived in family accommodation in British army camps in Germany; then his father left the army and returned to…

Olpherts, Sir William (1822–1902), general, also known as ‘Hellfire Jack ’, was born 8 March 1822 at Dartry Lodge, Blackwaterstown, Co. Armagh, third son of William Olpherts, lawyer, and Rosanna Olpherts (née Macartney). Educated at Gracehill School in Ballymena and later the…

This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Malley, Mary (Margaret). View the original entry.

O'Neill, Arthur (1734/6–1816), harper, was born at Drumnastrade, near Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, of O'Neill stock on his mother's and father's sides going back several generations; nothing else is known of his parents. It was supposed in folk tradition that the children of such a union were…