Co. Londonderry

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, Francis (1812–89), catholic bishop of Derry, was born at Drudgeon in the parish of Drumragh (near Omagh), Co. Tyrone, on 6 April 1812, one of seven children of Edward Kelly, blacksmith and smallholder, and his wife, Mary. He was educated locally and learned classics from Father…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Kelly, Billy ('Spider'). View the original entry.

Kelly, John (Joseph) (1936–2007), republican activist and paramilitary, was born in the New Lodge area of Belfast on 5 April 1936, one of five sons and four daughters of William Kelly, retail and wholesale fruiterer, and his wife Margaret (née Maginness). Living off Carlisle Circus…

Knox, Alexander (1757–1831), theologian and private secretary, was born 17 March 1757 in Londonderry, son of a member of the city corporation, and a descendant of the Scottish reformer John Knox. Educated at home, he made the acquaintance of the founder of methodism,…

Lagan, Francis ('Frank') (1916–2005), policeman, was born 11 December 1916 in Lisnamuck, Maghera, Co. Londonderry, one of seven children of Francis Lagan and his wife Bridget (née O'Donnell), who were both schoolteachers; Bridget's father was a member of the…

Lawson, John (1708/9–1759), preacher, classical scholar and professor of oratory, was born in Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry, the son of the Rev. Alexander Lawson, curate of Omagh, Co. Tyrone. He was educated at the school of Mr MacMahon in Monaghan, before entering…

Locke, Josef (1917–99), singer and entertainer, was born Joseph McLaughlin 23 March 1917 at 19 Creggan St., Derry city, one of ten children of Patrick McLaughlin, butcher and cattle dealer, and Annie McLaughlin (née Doherty). Educated by the Christian Brothers and awarded for his…

Lowry, William (1884–1949), barrister and politician, was born 19 March 1884 in Limavady, Co. Londonderry, third son of Samuel Lowry of White Hall, Limavady, clerk of the petty sessions court, and Margaret Jane Lowry (née Gibson). He was educated at Foyle College (1896–1902), where…

Lyle, Sir Thomas Ranken (1860–1944), physicist, was born 26 August 1860 at Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, second among seven children of Hugh Lyle, merchant, and Jane Lyle (née Ranken) of ‘Greenmount’, Coleraine. He attended Coleraine Academical Institution, where ‘in every branch of…

Lyons, Francis Stewart Leland (1923–83), historian, was born in Londonderry on 11 November 1923, the elder of two sons of Stewart Lyons, an official of the Northern Bank, and Florence May Lyons (née Leland). Most of his schooling took place in England, at Rose Hill preparatory…

MacCarthy, Ethna Mary (1903–59), poet and paediatrician, was born 2 April 1903 in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, a granddaughter of the Young Ireland poet Denis Florence MacCarthy (qv), and daughter of Brendan MacCarthy (d. 1934),…

MacDevitt (McDavett, M'Davit, M'Devitt), Philip (1724–97), catholic bishop, was born in Crislagh, Inishowen, Co. Donegal, of unknown parents; he had at least two brothers. He received his doctorate from the Sorbonne, returned to Ireland, and, after serving as a priest, eventually…

MacDonagh (MacDonogh), Michael (1699?–1746), catholic bishop, was a native of Coleraine, Co. Londonderry. His parents' names are unknown. He joined the Dominicans of St Mary's convent in Coleraine (c.1715–16) and subsequently left for Italy to study in Pesaro, before…

MacKnight (McKnight), James (1801–76), journalist and agrarian reformer, was born 27 February 1801 near Grallagh House, Rathfriland, Co. Down, son of an Irish-speaking presbyterian smallholder; other details of his parents are unknown. As a youth he aspired to the presbyterian…

Maginn, Edward (1802–49), coadjutor catholic bishop of Derry, was born 16 December 1802 near Fintona, Co. Tyrone, eighth child of Patrick Maginn, a comfortable tenant farmer, and Mary Maginn (née Slevin; 1757/8–c.1850). Both sides of the family had produced catholic…

Maginnis, Charles Donagh (1867–1955), architect, was born 7 January 1867 in Derry city, son of Charles Maginnis and Bridget Maginnis (née McDonagh). He attended local schools there before entering Cusack’s Academy, Dublin. A period in the South Kensington Museum School of Art in London…

Marshall, William Forbes (1888–1959), presbyterian minister and writer, was born 8 May 1888 in Drumragh, near Omagh, Co. Tyrone, second among three sons of Charles Marshall, school principal at Sixmilecross, and Mary Marshall (née Forbes); his mother died when he was 5 years old.…

Massey, William Ferguson (1856–1925), prime minister of New Zealand, was born 26 March 1856 at Keenaught near Limavady, Co. Londonderry, elder son of John Massey and Mary Anne (née Ferguson). His father was a tenant farmer from a long-established planter family; his mother's…

May, William Morrison (1909–62), politician and accountant, was born 8 April 1909 at Limavady, Co. Londonderry, eldest son of William May, JP, of Marlborough Park, Belfast. He was educated at Methodist College, Belfast, where he won the…

McAteer, Edward Gerard (Eddie) (1914–86), politician, was born at Coatbridge, Scotland, in June 1914, the eldest of four sons of immigrants from Donegal. His parents were Hugh McAteer and Brigid McAteer, née O'Doherty. His father, a native Irish speaker from Fanad, moved the family to…

McAteer, Hugh (1916–70), republican activist, was born 13 August 1916 in Derry city, second among four sons of Hugh McAteer, dock labourer, of Fanad, Co. Donegal, and Brigid McAteer (née O'Doherty) of Buncrana, Co. Donegal. He was educated in the city by the Christian Brothers and…

McCauley, Leo Thomas (1895–1974), diplomat, was born 29 December 1895 in Derry city, the third son of William McCauley of Woolwich, London, and Agnes McCauley (née Heaney). He was educated at St Columb's College, Derry, and UCD, where…

McCausland, Dominick (1806–73), writer on biblical prophecy, anti-Darwinian polemicist, racial theorist, and barrister, was born 20 August 1806 at Roe Park, Co. Londonderry. He was the third of the four sons of Marcus Langford McCausland, landowner, and his wife, Elizabeth (née…

McClean, (John) Raymond (1933–2011), medical doctor, civil-rights activist and humanitarian, was born on 18 January 1933 in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, third in a family of three sons and one daughter of Charles McClean and his wife Kathleen (née King). Charles McClean, a trophy-winning…