Co. Roscommon

Perry, Patrick Joseph (‘Paddy’) (1909–83), handball player, was born 19 March 1909 in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, one of four children of Henry Perry, labourer, and Kate Perry (née Harte) of St Joseph's Terrace, Boyle. Educated locally, he grew up playing handball in Johnny Casey's ball-alley…

Plunkett, John Hubert (1802–69), lawyer and politician, was born in June 1802 at Mountplunkett, Co. Roscommon, younger of twin sons of George Plunkett, gentleman farmer, and Eileen Plunkett (née O'Kelly). He was related through his mother to St…

Reynolds, Albert Martin (1932–2014), businessman, politician and taoiseach, was born in Roosky, Co. Roscommon, on 3 November 1932, youngest of four children (three sons and one daughter) of John P. Reynolds and his wife Catherine (née Dillon) from Cloone, Co. Leitrim. Having emigrated…

Rhys, Grace Little (1865–1929), author, editor, and poet, was born 12 July 1865 at Knockadoo, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, youngest of three daughters of Joseph Bennett Little , landowner, and Emily Little (née White), of a wealthy Dublin family. Her father gambled his estate away and she…

Seymour, William Digby (1822–95), politician and judge, was born 22 September 1822 at Kilronan, Co. Roscommon, second of two sons of the Rev. Charles Seymour, vicar of Kilronan, and Beata Seymour (née Langley). Educated at TCD, he…

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…

Stritch, James , (1855/6?–1933), Fenian and founder of the National Graves Association, was born in Co. Roscommon, possibly to Thomas and Elizabeth Stritch. Towards the end of his life, during which he was the trusted treasurer of the Wolfe Tone Memorial Committee and a participant…

Sugrue, Elizabeth (‘Lady Betty’) (1740/50–1807), executioner, is thought to have been born in Co. Kerry into a tenant farming family between 1740 and 1750. The location of her birth and names of her parents are not known, and available details of her life are largely anecdotal or…

Thornton, Brigid Lyons (1896–1987), public health doctor and first female commissioned officer in the Irish Free State army, was born 13 May 1896 in Northyard, Scramogue, Co. Roscommon, the eldest child of the two daughters and one son of Patrick Lyons, farmer, and Margaret Lyons…

Walker, John (1768–1833), religious leader and classical scholar, was born in January 1768 in Co. Roscommon, son of the Rev. Matthew Walker, Church of Ireland clergyman. In January 1786 he entered TCD, being made a scholar in 1788,…

Walsh, William Pakenham (1820–1902), Church of Ireland bishop of Ossory and writer, was born 4 May 1820 at Moorpark, Co. Roscommon, eldest son of Thomas Walsh, gentleman, of St Helena Lodge, Co. Roscommon, and his wife Mary, daughter of Robert Pakenham of Athlone, Co. Westmeath.…

Whitney, Patrick Joseph (1894–1942), missionary priest, was born 7 July 1894 at Breenletter townland, Ballyfermoyle, between Keadue and Lough Key in Co. Roscommon, on the borders with Co. Sligo and Co. Leitrim, eldest child of Bernard Whitney, smallholding farmer, and Mary Anne Whitney…

Wilde, Sir William Robert Wills (1815–76), surgeon and polymath, was born in March 1815 at Kilkeevin, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, youngest of three sons of Thomas Wilde, a local physician, and Emily Wilde (née Fynne). He attended the Royal School, Banagher, and the Diocesan School, Elphin…

Young, Matthew (1750–1800), clergyman, Irish scholar, and natural philosopher, was born 3 October 1750 at Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, fourth son of Owen Young, a minor landowner who impoverished his family through dissolute habits, and Olivia Maria Young (née Bell). He was educated at the…