Co. Cavan

Armstrong, Florence (1928–2010), teacher and pioneer of multi-denominational education, was born on 26 November 1928, one of four children (three boys and a girl) of Thomas Armstrong and his wife Elizabeth (née Dunne). Both parents were from farming backgrounds. Florence (usually…

Beaty, James (1798–1892), politician and newspaper proprietor in Canada, was born near Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, in 1798, possibly on 2 September. He was the youngest of five sons of Robert Beaty, land surveyor, and Catherine Beaty (née Crawford); his father was of a fairly…

Bedell, William (1571–1642), scholar and churchman, was born in late December 1571 at Black Notley, Essex, England, second son of John Bedell and his wife, Elizabeth Elliston, and entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1584, the year of its foundation. He graduated in 1588, took…

Brady, Hugh (c.1600–1669), priest and jurist, was born at Castletara, Co. Cavan. Nothing is known of his parentage, or early life. He entered the University of Louvain on 18 December 1620 and read humanities in the College of the Most Holy Trinity. Two years later he…

Brady, Thomas (1752–1827), Baron von Brady , Feldzeugmeister (general of artillery) in the Austrian army, was born in Cootehill, Co. Cavan. Destined for the church, he was sent to Vienna to study theology. Here he attracted the attention of the empress Maria Theresa, who…

Brooke, Charlotte (1750☓1760–1793), poet, dramatist, and pioneer in the introduction of Irish culture to the English reader, was born at Rantavan House, Mullagh, Co. Cavan, daughter of Henry Brooke (qv) and Catherine Brooke (née Meares; 1718?–…

Brooke, Henry (1703–83), literary and political writer, was born in Ratavan, near Virginia, Co. Cavan, son of the Rev. William B. Brooke, wealthy rector of Killinkere and Mullagh, and Letrice Digby. His mother, possibly the second daughter of Dr…

Cochrane, Sir Henry (1836–1904), 1st baronet, manufacturer and politician, was born 21 December 1836 at Virginia, Co. Cavan, the only son of William Cochrane, farmer, of Graughlough House, Co. Cavan, and his wife Sarah, daughter of Henry McQuade. After a rudimentary local education…

Cowan, Peadar (1903–62), soldier, solicitor, and politician, was born Peter Cowan on 23 October 1903 in Lacken, Arva, Co. Cavan, eldest son of Thomas Cowan, labourer, and Anne Cowan (née Rudden). Educated locally, he served with the Ballinagh Company, West Cavan Brigade,…

Coyle, James (c.1838–1920), Gaelic scribe and national schoolteacher, was born in Co. Cavan, south of Lough Ramore, on the Meath border, son of Patrick Coyle (1790–1862), scribe, local poet, and farmer. Growing up in one of the last pockets of native Irish speech in south…

Crowley, Vincent (1890–1965), businessman, was born 12 May 1890 in Farnham Street, Cavan town, the youngest of three sons of Patrick Crowley, a teacher hailing from Ballymore, Co. Cork, and his wife Bridget (née Halpin), who was from Co. Armagh. His father taught English at St Patrick…

Crozier, John Baptist (1853–1920), Church of Ireland archbishop of Armagh, was born 8 April 1853, eldest son of Rev. Baptist Barton Crozier, rector of Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan. He entered TCD at an early age and took an active part in…

Culme, Sir Hugh (d. 1630), army officer, was a younger son of Hugh Culme of Canonleigh, Devon, and his wife, Mary, daughter of Richard Fortescue of Filleigh, Devon; he had at least three brothers including Benjamin Culme, dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin. A relative of Lord Deputy…

Dease, William (1752–98), surgeon, was born in Lisney, Co. Cavan, into an ancient landed family, younger son of Richard Dease and Anne Dease (née Johnson). After a classical education at Dr Clancy's school in Dublin, he was apprenticed to a Dublin surgeon, Dr Keogh (most likely…

Donahoe, Patrick (1811–1901) editor, publisher, and businessman, was born 17 March 1811 in Munnery, Kilmore, Co. Cavan, the son of Terrence Donahoe and his wife Jane (née Christy). His mother died when he was an infant. In 1821 he emigrated, with his father, to Boston,…

Doonan, William (‘Willie’; ‘Bill’) (1920–76), Gaelic footballer, was born 16 April 1920 in Cavan town, one of thirteen children of John Doonan, a UDC employee from Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, and Mary Anne Doonan (née Dempsey) from Templeport, Co…

Duggan, George Chester (1885–1969), civil servant, was born 5 February 1885 in Parsonstown, King's Co. (Offaly), second son of George Duggan, born in Co. Fermanagh, manager of the Provincial Bank, College Green, Dublin, and Emily Duggan (née Grant). The family later lived at…

Duke, Philip James (‘P. J.’) (1925–50), Gaelic footballer, was born 22 April 1925 in Stradone, Co. Cavan, one of four sons and two daughters of Andrew Duke, farmer and shopkeeper, and Rose Anne Duke (née Donoghue). He was educated at Laragh national school, St Patrick's College,…

Fitzpatrick, Thomas (‘Broken Hand’) (1799–1854), American frontier fur trapper, guide, and agent to the tribes of the central plains, was born in Co. Cavan, one of three sons and four daughters of Mary Fitzpatrick (née Kiernan) and her husband, whose forename is not known. A catholic,…

Fitzpatrick, Thomas Joseph ('Tom') (1918–2006), politician and solicitor, was born 14 February 1918 in Scotshouse, Co. Monaghan, youngest among at least four children (three sons and one daughter) of John Fitzpatrick, farmer, and his wife Jennie (née Markey); he appears to have had a…

Fullerton, Andrew (1868–1934), surgeon, was born 20 March 1868 in Wesley Street, Cavan, the third son of the seven children of Rev. Alexander Fullerton, a methodist clergyman, and his wife Mary Jane (née Moffitt), a close relative of General Gordon of Khartoum. His paternal…

Godley, Alfred Denis (1856–1925), classicist and poet, was born 22 January 1856 at Ashfield, Co. Cavan, the eldest son of Rev. James Godley, rector of Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim, and Eliza Frances Godley (née La Touche). After attending Tilney Basset's preparatory school in Dublin, he…

Godley, John Raymond (1920–2005), 3rd Baron Kilbracken of Killegar , pilot, journalist, traveller, landowner and environmentalist, was born 17 October 1920 in Chester Street, Belgravia, London, England, the eldest of two sons (Wynne being the younger) and a daughter (Kathleen) of…

Hague, William (1836?–99), architect, was born probably in February 1836 at Cavan, the eldest of the five sons of William Hague (1806?–88), a builder and building materials merchant, and his wife Catherine. After schooling, probably at Kilmore Academy, Co. Cavan, he became an…

Hanly, Dáithi (1917–2003), architect and preservationist, was born David Patrick Hanly on 11 March 1917 at Glenview, Cavan town, one of at least five children (three sons and two daughters) of (Francis) Joseph Hanly (c.1880–1960), an instructor in the Department of…