Pollock, John (d. 1825), attorney and clerk of the crown for Leinster, was the third son of John Pollock (1718?–85), a linen merchant of Newry, Co. Down, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Carlile of Newry. John Pollock the elder, who had six other sons and four daughters…
Co. Meath
Pratt, Benjamin
Pratt, Benjamin (1669–1721), provost of TCD, was born at Garradice, Co. Meath, eldest son of Joseph Pratt (d. December 1705 or January 1706) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Audley Mervyn (qv) and widow of Nathaniel Poole. He…
Preston, Jenico
This is a co-subject for the entry on Preston, Anthony. View the original entry.
Preston, Robert
Preston, Robert (d. 1503), 1st Viscount Gormanston , administrator, was the son of Christopher Preston, 3rd Lord Gormanston. He came of age about 1450, when he entered into his considerable inheritance, centred on Gormanston in Meath. He married Jenet, daughter of Sir Richard…
Pringle, Seton Sidney
Pringle, Seton Sidney (1879–1955), surgeon, was born 6 July 1879, son of John Pringle, a merchant businessman, of Clones, Co. Monaghan, and Maria Adelaide Pringle (née King). He was educated at Campbell College, Belfast, the Coleraine Academical Institute, and…
Purdon, Katherine Frances
Purdon, Katherine Frances (1852–1920), author, was born at Hotwell, near Enfield, Co. Meath, second daughter among six children of Henry Purdon, a farmer, of a family originally from Co. Cork; her mother was the daughter of a Dublin clock maker. Educated at Alexandra college, Dublin,…
Schomberg (Schönberg), Frederick Herman von
Schomberg (Schönberg), Frederick Herman von (1615–90), 1st duke of Schomberg , soldier of fortune, and commander-in-chief of William III's army in Ireland, was born 6 December 1615 at Heidelberg, Germany, the only son of Hans Meinhard von Schönberg (1582–1616), marshal of the…
Sheridan, Monica
Sheridan, Monica (1912–93), cookery expert, broadcaster, and journalist, was born Monica Elizabeth Treanor on 29 January 1912 at Augher Castle, Co. Tyrone, daughter of Hugh Treanor, prosperous cattle- and sheep-farmer at nearby Killaney, and Mary Ann Treanor (née Devine). She had…
Sheridan, Niall Joseph
Sheridan, Niall Joseph (1912–98), writer and broadcaster, was born 26 July 1912 in Drumlerry, Co. Meath, the eldest child of William Sheridan, farmer, and Margaret Josephine Sheridan (née McSorley). He was educated at St Mary's college, Dundalk, and at…
Sheridan, Thomas
Sheridan, Thomas (1646–1712), writer, royal official, and Jacobite, was born in St John's, near Trim, Co. Meath, fourth son of Denis Sheridan (qv), a Church of Ireland clergyman from Co. Cavan, and an Englishwoman named Foster. In the rebellion of 1641…
Smyth, Edward
Smyth, Edward (1749–1812), sculptor, was born in Co. Meath, the son of a stonecutter who moved to Dublin in 1750. He was educated at the Dublin Society schools, before being apprenticed to Simon Vierpyl (qv) at Bachelor's Walk, whom he…
Smyth (Smith), John
Smyth (Smith), John (1791–1858), catholic priest and founder of the Magdalen asylum, Drumcondra, Dublin, was born in Kells, Co. Meath, to a poor but hard-working Kells family, of whom no more is known. He acquired some skill in carpentry, which allowed him to travel to Dublin to…
Stacey, William
Stacey, William (1926–81), trade unionist, was born 21 October 1926 at 59 Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin, the son of William Stacey, a labourer, and his wife Margaret (née McGauley). Growing up in East Wall, he attended St Laurence O'Toole's …
Stafford, Sir Thomas
Stafford, Sir Thomas (1857–1935), 1st baronet, doctor and medical commissioner, was born 3 May 1857 at Portobello, Co. Roscommon, the second son of John Stafford, JP, of Portobello. He qualified as licentiate of the…
Stearne (Sterne), John
Stearne (Sterne), John (1624–69), founder of the (Royal) College of Physicians of Ireland, was born 26 November 1624 at Ardbraccan, Co. Meath, the eldest of three sons of John Stearne, of Stapleford, Cambridgeshire, who came to Ireland as ‘officer’ to…
Stevenson, Sir John Andrew
Stevenson, Sir John Andrew (1762–1833), composer, was born in November 1761 at Crane Lane, Dublin, son of John Stevenson, violinist in the city's state band; his mother's name is not known. In 1771 he became a chorister at Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, and later sang (1775–80)…
Swift, Deane Theophilus
Swift, Deane Theophilus (1774–1858), United Irishman and author, was born in Co. Meath, eldest son of the writer and eccentric Theophilus Swift (qv) and his wife Charlotte (née Pead). He was a collateral descendant of…
Talbot, William (William of the Holy Spirit Talbot)
Talbot, William (William of the Holy Spirit Talbot) (fl. 1613–31), Dominican priest and political agent, was born near Navan, Co. Meath. He was a member of one of the most distinguished Old English catholic families, which had settled in Ireland in 1170 and resided…
Tully, James
Tully, James (1915–92), politician and trade unionist, was born 18 September 1915 in Carlanstown, Kells, Co. Meath, second youngest among ten children of John Tully, cattle-herd, and Ann Tully (née Flood). He was educated at Carlanstown national school and St Patrick's Classical School…
Ua Canannáin, Ruaidrí
Ua Canannáin, Ruaidrí (d. 950), king of Ailech, belonged to Cenél Conaill, a dynasty of the Uí Néill. He does not feature in the surviving genealogies, but his grandfather (or great-grandfather?) Canannán son of Flaithbertach was fourth in descent from…
Ua Dúnáin, Máel-Muire
Ua Dúnáin, Máel-Muire (1040–1117), possibly the first papal legate in Ireland, was appointed c.1100 by Pope Paschal II (1099–1118). He probably began his religious life as a monk at Clonard (Co. Meath), but his name is first documented in a charter (no. III) in the Book of…
Ua Ruairc, Tigernán
Ua Ruairc, Tigernán (d. 1172), son of Donnchad and king of Bréifne, who belonged to the dynasty of Uí Briúin, was one of the strongest and most colourful rulers of his line. Claimed by Gerald (qv) of Wales to…
Walker, George
Walker, George (1643×8–1690), clergyman and military governor of Derry during the siege of 1689, was born between 1643 and 1648, probably at Wighill, near Kirk Deighton, Yorkshire. His grandfather, the Rev. Gervase Walker (d. 1642), probably came to Ireland from Ruddington in…
Warren, Sir Peter
Warren, Sir Peter (1703–52), admiral in the British navy, was born 10 March 1703 at Warrenstown, Co. Meath, third son among three sons and two daughters of Michael Warren, Roman catholic landowner, and Catherine Warren (née Aylmer). Educated locally, he entered the Royal Navy in…
Wellesley (Wesley), Richard Colley
Wellesley (Wesley), Richard Colley (1760–1842), Marquis Wellesley , governor-general of Bengal and lord lieutenant of Ireland, was born 20 June 1760 at Dangan Castle, Co. Meath, eldest child of Garret Wesley (qv), 1st Viscount…