Co. Sligo

Algeo, Sir Arthur (1903–67), businessman, was born in April or May 1903 in George's St., Sligo, elder son among two sons and four daughters of Thomas Algeo, railway employee and later mayor of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, and Anne Jane Algeo (née Stockdale). Arthur was educated in…

Benson, Charles (1797–1880), physician, was born in Collooney, Co. Sligo, into an ancient family, son of Charles Benson, land agent, and Elizabeth Benson (née Gray). Educated at W. C. Armstrong's school in Sligo, he was then indentured (1815) to…

Booth, Eva Selina Gore- (1870–1926), poet, mystic, trade unionist and suffragist, was born on 22 May 1870 at Lissadell, Co. Sligo, the second of three daughters (and two sons) of Sir Henry Gore-Booth, 5th baronet and Arctic explorer, and his wife, Georgina (née Hill) of Tickhill castle…

Booth, Sir Henry William Gore- (1843–1900), 5th baronet, landlord, and Arctic explorer, was born at Lissadell House, Co. Sligo, second son among two sons and three daughters of Sir Robert Gore-Booth, 4th baronet, landlord, and MP for Sligo, and his second wife, Caroline Susan (née…

Bowles, Michael Andrew (1909–98), musicologist and founder of the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra (later the National Symphony Orchestra), was born 30 November 1909 at Riverstown, Co. Sligo, eldest son among six daughters and two sons of Patrick Bowles, a shopkeeper, and his wife…

Brennan, Martin (1900–56), revolutionary, doctor, politician, and film censor, was born 9 August 1900 in the family home at Rhue, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, sixth of thirteen children of Matthew Brennan (d. 1921), farmer and Fenian, and his wife Bridget (d. 1934), teacher, daughter of…

Carty, Francis Joseph (‘Frank’) (1897–1942), revolutionary and politician, was born 3 April 1897 in Clooncunny, Co. Sligo, the only son of John Carty, farmer, of Clooncunny, Ballymote, Co. Sligo, and Ellen Carty (née Rice). Educated locally, he became commandant of the Tubbercurry…

Clancy, John (1844–1915), republican and local government official, was born in Carricknagat, Co. Sligo, son of John Clancy, customs official; nothing is known of his mother. Educated locally, in the early 1860s he moved to Dublin where he worked as a printer with the Irish…

Clancy, John (1856–1912), catholic bishop of Elphin, was born 23 December 1856 at Ballygraney, Co. Sligo, son of Martin Clancy and Mary Clancy (née O'Connor). Educated at Kilross national school, the Marist Brothers school, Sligo, and the diocesan seminary, Summer Hill College,…

Cockran, William Bourke (1854–1923), lawyer and US congressman, was born 28 February 1854 in Carrowkeel, Co. Sligo, one of four sons and a daughter of Martin Cockran, landlord and horseman, and Harriet Cockran (née Knight-White). On the death of his father in a fall from a horse (…

Coleman, Michael (1891–1945), fiddle player, was born 31 January 1891 in Knockgrania, Killavil, Co. Sligo, youngest among five sons and two daughters of James Coleman (d. 1930), farmer, and Beatrice Ellen (Beesie) Coleman (née Gorman) (d. 1912). Educated at Killavil national school…

Colleran, Patrick (Paddy) (1901–75), Gaelic footballer, was born 10 February 1901 in Curracunane, Curry, Co. Sligo, fourth son among seven sons and two daughters of James P. Colleran (d. 1914), farmer, and Margaret Colleran (née McHugh). He was one of the most famous and travelled…

Collins, Patrick (1910–94), painter, was born 6 November 1910 at Dromore West, Co. Sligo, second of four children of William Collins, RIC constable, and Mary Collins (née McLaughlin), daughter of a businessman from Dowra, Co. Cavan.…

Colum, Mary Catherine (‘Molly’) (1887–1957), critic, editor, and teacher, was born 13 June 1887 in Co. Sligo, daughter of Charles Maguire of Derryhawlagh, Killesher parish, Co. Fermanagh, and Maria Maguire (née Gunning). After the death of her parents, she was raised by her…

Connellan, Owen (1797–1871), Gaelic scholar, royal historiographer, and scribe, was born in Tireragh, Co. Sligo, son of a farmer. He claimed descent from the kings of Ireland through the chieftains of Bunnyconnellan in Mayo, and was most likely related to another nineteenth-century…

Connellan, Thaddeus (‘Thady’) (Tadhg Ó Coinnialláin) (c.1780–1854), Irish-language scholar and scribe, was born at Corkhill, Templeboy, Co. Sligo. Little is known of his education except that he received instruction in the classics at a hedge school in Co. Clare. He…

Connellan, Thomas (1625/40–c.1700), harpist and composer, was born in Cloonamahon, Collooney, Co. Sligo. Though details of his life remain obscure, he was reputedly the most accomplished predecessor of…

Conyngham, Sir Albert (d. 1691), Williamite officer, was born at Mount Charles, Co. Donegal, son of the Very Rev. Alexander Conyngham, dean of Raphoe, and Maria Conyngham (née Murray). On the restoration of King Charles II (1660) he was made lieutenant-general of the ordnance in…

Cooper, Edward Joshua (1798–1863), astronomer and MP, was born in May 1798 at St Stephen's Green, Dublin, the eldest son of Edward Synge Cooper (1762–1830) of Markree castle, Co. Sligo, landowner and MP for Co. Sligo (1806–30), and his wife Anne, daughter of Henry Verelst,…

Cooper, Joshua (1732–1800), landlord and MP, was born at Markree Castle, Collooney, Co. Sligo, eldest son of Joshua Cooper (c.1696–1757) of Markree, landlord and MP for Co. Sligo 1719–57, and his wife Mary, daughter of Henry Bingham (1688–1743), MP and…

Corcoran, Michael (1827–63), brigadier-general in the American civil war and Fenian, was born in Carrowkeel, Co. Sligo, on 21 September 1827, son of Thomas Corcoran (d. 1845), a retired British army officer who had served in India, and Mary Corcoran (née McDonagh). In 1846 he joined…

Crichton, Brian Dodwell (1887–1950), paediatrician and farmer, was born 2/4 August 1887 at Carrowgarry, Beltra, Co. Sligo, second son (and second child among three sons and one daughter) of Alexander Joseph Crichton (1861–1934), landowner, supporter of the co-operative movement,…

Davitt, Michael (1950–2005), poet, was born Joseph Michael Davitt on 20 April 1950 in Mayfield, Cork city, the third child of four children (three girls and a boy) of Joe Davitt, a bus driver and native of Mallow, Co. Cork, and his wife Hilda (néae Parker), originally from Stoke-on-…

Dillon, Thomas Patrick (1884–1971), nationalist and chemist, was born 15 January 1884 in Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, first child among four sons and a daughter of John Dillon, engineer, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Kirby…

Duffy, Luke J. (1890–1961), trade unionist, was born 26 March 1890 in Gurteen, Co. Sligo, into a farming family. Educated at Cloonanure national school, he began an apprenticeship in the drapery trade in Moon's in Galway. He immediately became involved in the trade union movement…