Co. Monaghan

Ancketill (Anketell), Henry (1855–1930), writer, journalist and politician, was born 4 May 1855 in Ancketill's Grove, Co. Monaghan, the fourth son of Major Matthew John Anketell, deputy lieutenant and JP, and his wife, Catherine Frances…

Averell, Adam (1754–1847), Primitive Wesleyan clergyman, was born 7 May 1754 at Mullan, Co. Tyrone, son of Adam Averell and Mary Averell (née Johnston). He spent some time in his childhood with his grandmother Johnston. His relation John Averell, bishop of Limerick, for whom his…

Boylan, James (1899–1982), footwear manufacturer and company director, was born 23 June 1899 in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, eldest son among five sons and six daughters of John Michael Boylan, small farmer at Ballybay, and Hannah Boylan (née Connolly). Educated locally, he left school (May…

Bury, John Bagnell (1861–1927), classicist and historian, was born 16 October 1861 in Co. Monaghan, eldest of three (possibly four) sons and one daughter of Rev. Edward John Bury and Anna Bury (née Rogers). He was educated at Foyle College, Derry, and…

Byrne, Patrick (c.1784–1863), harper, was born in Farney, Co. Monaghan, and was possibly the nephew or younger brother of harper Christopher Byrne (c.1775–1808). Blind from infancy, he was taught the harp by itinerant harpers from 1794 and by…

Carlile, Anne Jane (1775–1864), temperance pioneer and philanthropist, was born 8 April 1775 in Rooskey, Co. Monaghan, the youngest child of David Hamill , a farmer and linen merchant, and Martha Hamill (née Armstrong). Both her father and her brother John were connected with the…

Cleary, Eamon (1960–2012), businessman, was born Edward Joseph Cleary on 28 August 1960 in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, the eldest of six children of Bernard Cleary, a small farmer of Drumlane, Tullynahinera, near Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, and his wife Mary Ellen (née McBennett). Due to…

Clement, William (1707–82), academic and politician, was born at Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, the son of Thomas Clement, a merchant. Educated by a Mr Fowlds, he entered TCD as a pensioner on 28 April 1722, became a scholar in 1724, and…

Collie, George Joseph (1904–75), artist and teacher, was born 14 April 1904 at Greaghdrummit, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, the second child of George Collie, an Aberdeen-born chef, and Ellen Collie (née Donovan) of Carrickmacross. Brought up in Dublin, he was educated at St Kevin's…

Drumm, Peter John (1898–1952), chemist, was born 24 October 1898 in Drumard, Co. Monaghan, son of John Drumm, RIC constable based in Dundrum, Co. Down, and Bridget Drumm (née Connolly). His elder brother was…

Duffy, Bernard Joseph (1882–1952), barrister, playwright, and novelist, was born 19 June 1882 at Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, son of James Joseph Duffy, general merchant, and Mary Anne (Maryann) née McEntagart. Educated at Viscount Weymouth Grammar School, Carrickmacross, and…

Duffy, Patrick (d. 1675), Franciscan friar and catholic bishop of Clogher, was born in the early decades of the seventeenth century in the parish of Aghnamullan, Co. Monaghan. He was a member of a leading family of the old O'Duffy sept of Ballyduffy, Co. Monaghan, and nephew of…

Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan (1816–1903), politician and journalist, was born in Monaghan town on 12 April 1816, the sixth and youngest child of John Duffy (d. 1827), a shopkeeper and former United Irishman, and his wife, Anne (née Gavan). Formative years After the premature deaths of his…

Dunlop, Robert Frederick (1938–2014), baptist minister and writer, was born on 19 June 1938 at the family farm in the townland of Errigal Truagh, near Emyvale, Co. Monaghan, the eldest of at least two boys and two girls born to Henry Dunlop, and his wife Jean (Jeanne) Lyster Dunlop (née…

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…

Fleming, Patrick (Fléimionn, Pádraig) (d. 1678), tory, was the son of James Fleming of Siddan, Co. Meath, who had recovered his estates after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Nothing is known of his mother, and his early life remains obscure. According to tradition,…

Forrester, Ellen (Magennis) (1828–83), nationalist and poet, was probably born in Clones, Co. Monaghan, sixth child of a local schoolmaster; her mother was a presbyterian, who in later life converted to catholicism. At the age of 17 she moved to England, and after a period working…

Fox, William (‘Billy’) (1939–74), farmer and politician, was born in January 1939 in Cortubber, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, the only son of William Fox and his wife, Helen. He was educated at the local national school and Victor Weymount grammar school, Carrickmacross, and then worked…

Gallagher, (Robert David) Eric (1913–99), methodist minister and ecumenist, was born on 24 August 1913 in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, the eldest of five children (two sons and three daughters) of Robert Gallagher, a methodist minister from Co. Fermanagh, and his wife Helen (née McIlroy)…

Gray, Samuel (‘Sam’) (1782–1848), Orangeman and magistrate, was born 18 June 1782 in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, son of William Gray, innkeeper and property-owner, and his wife (name unknown). Soon after 1798 he joined the yeomanry and the Orange order; by the 1820s he was master of…

Gregg, John Robert (1867–1948), shorthand inventor and promoter, was born in Shantonagh, Co. Monaghan, youngest child among four sons and a daughter of George Gregg, stationmaster at Rockcorry, and Margaret Gregg (née Johnston). The family moved to Rockcorry when John was five. A…

Guthrie, Sir (William) Tyrone (1900–71), theatre director, was born 2 July 1900 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, one of two children of Thomas Clement Guthrie, a young Scottish doctor, and Norah Guthrie, daughter of General Sir William Power. His great-grandfathers were Thomas Guthrie, founder…

Haslett (Hazlett), Alexander (1883–1951), Orange leader and politician, was born 24 July 1883 in Derryvane, Glaslough, Co. Monaghan, youngest son among four sons and one daughter of James Haslett, farmer, and Mary Haslett (née Watt). Educated at Glaslough national school, while…

Johnston, William (1818–94), presbyterian minister and philanthropist, was born 2 January 1818 at his maternal grandfather's home, Crieve House, near Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, the eldest child of the Rev. John Johnston (qv) (d. 1862) of…

Jones, Richard (c.1810–p.1840), Ribbonman, was born in Farney, Co. Monaghan, coming to Dublin c.1825 to work for his uncle, one Clarke, a hay, straw, corn, and potato factor in Smithfield. He probably received an elementary education in Monaghan, as he…