Co. Clare

Arkins, Thomas Michael (1888–1913), founder of the Students' Representative Council, UCD, was born 14 September 1888 in Knockroe, Co. Clare, eldest of at least four sons and three daughters of John Arkins, farmer, and Bridget Arkins…

Barrett, James (1721?–1808), catholic priest, was born probably in 1721, presumably in the diocese of Killaloe (which takes in south and central Clare and north Tipperary), and obtained a licentiate in theology from the university of Paris. From 1762 until his death he was parish…

Barrett, Sylvester Aidan (‘Sylvie’) (1926–2002), politician, was born 18 May 1926 at Darragh, Ennis, Co. Clare, third among four children of Frank Barrett, CO of the IRA's mid-Clare brigade in the…

Barrington, Thomas (1881–1930), civil servant, was born 17 December 1881 at Carhuclough, Ennistymon, Co. Clare, eldest of ten children of Peter Barrington and Ann Barrington (née Barry), small farmers. Five of the children emigrated; seven never married. A bright student, he joined…

Blackwell, James Bartholomew (c.1765–1820), soldier, was born in Ennis, Co. Clare. Aged about ten, he was sent to Paris to be educated for the priesthood at the Irish College, where his maternal granduncle, Dr Bartholomew Murray, MD…

Brennan, Austin Joseph (1894–1983), revolutionary and soldier, was born 8 April 1894 at Meelick Cross, Co. Clare, near Limerick city, second son of Patrick Brennan and Mary Brennan (née Clancy), farmers. After his education at the local national school he worked on the family farm.…

Brennan, Michael (1896–1986), revolutionary and army chief of staff, was born 2 February 1896 in Meelick, Co. Clare, third son of Patrick Brennan, farmer, and Mary Brennan (née Clancy). Educated at St Munchin's College, Limerick, aged 15 he joined Fianna Éireann and was sworn into…

Bridgeman, Joanna (Sister Mary Francis) (1813–88), Sister of Mercy, educator, and Crimean war nurse, was born in Ballagh, Ruan, Co. Clare, one of four children (two sons and two daughters) of St John Bridgeman and his wife Lucy Reddan. Her mother was a relative of…

Brosnahan, Seán (1911–87), teacher and trade unionist, was born 26 August 1911 in Killaloe, Co. Clare, one of nine children of John Brosnahan, RIC sergeant, and Norah Brosnahan (née Ryan) (d. 1946). One of his brothers was Thomas J.…

Budd, Frederic Gardner Orford (1904–76), barrister and judge, was born 11 April 1904 in Ennis, Co. Clare, second son of Samuel Duguid Budd, later chief officer of the Provincial Bank of Ireland, and Fanny Beatrice, the daughter of Dr Orford of Leicestershire. Samuel Budd had five…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Bulger, Lawrence Quinlivan ('Larry'). View the original entry.

Bulger, Lawrence Quinlivan ('Larry') (1870–1928), rugby player and medical doctor, was born 5 February 1870 at his parents' home on Moore Street, Kilrush, Co. Clare, the youngest of five sons and two daughters of Daniel Scanlan Bulger (d. 1904), then a pawnbroker and draper, later a…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Bulger, Lawrence Quinlivan ('Larry'). View the original entry.

Burke, James (Jacques) (1739–1821), priest, was born in St Conald's parish (an area later known as Dromcliffe), near Ennis, Co. Clare, son of James Burke and Mary Burke (née Callery). Aged 17 he entered the Irish College, Bordeaux, where he was later joined by his brother, Thomas. In…

Burke, John (‘Sean’) (1899–1974), champion amateur golfer, was born 26 April 1899 in Moybeg, Ennistimon, Co. Clare, second among eight sons and a daughter of Patrick Burke, farmer, originally from Liscannor, Co. Clare, and Mary Burke (née Hayes) of Moybeg. He was educated at Moy…

Burke, Thomas (1876–1951), politician, farmer, and bonesetter, was born in Dunsallagh, Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare, son of Thomas Burke, farmer, and his wife Mary (née Burke). From age 16 he developed a wide reputation throughout Co. Clare and beyond for his putative skills as a…

Burton, Sir Frederic William (1816–1900), watercolour painter, was born 8 April 1816 at Clifden House, Corofin, Co. Clare, the third son of Samuel Frederic Burton, a wealthy landowner and amateur landscape painter, and Hannah Burton (née Mallet) of Dublin. An injury in childhood…

Butler, Sir Edwin John (1874–1943), plant pathologist, was born 13 August 1874 at Kilkee, Co. Clare, the second son of Thomas Butler (d. 1919) and his wife, Annie (d. 1898), the daughter of James Barry of Co. Limerick. Thomas Butler's brother was Sir…

Byrne, Robert (‘Bobby’) (1889–1919), trade unionist and republican, was born 28 November 1889 at 5 Upper Oriel St., Dublin, one of three sons of Robert Byrne, fitter, of North Strand, Dublin, and Annie Byrne (née Hurley) of Limerick. He was a cousin of…

Cainner (Cannera) (6th cent.?), foundress of Cluain Cláraid and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged to the old north Munster population group of Corcu Óchae. Despite a degree of genealogical confusion, it seems reasonable to identify her with Cainner daughter of Fintan. According…

Canny, Patrick ('Paddy') (1919–2008), traditional musician, was born 9 September 1919 in Glendree, Tulla, Co. Clare, youngest of three sons of Patrick ('Pat') Canny, a small farmer, and Catherine ('Kate') Canny (née McNamara), from nearby Feakle. He was reared in a household steeped…

Clancy, Michael (c.1704–1776), writer, was born in Co. Clare, son of Daniel Clancy, a soldier (or possibly a doctor) and a man of letters. His life, as recounted in his Memoirs (an incomplete and somewhat fanciful account), is dedicated to the earl of Kildare. He…

Clancy, Peadar (1886–1920), revolutionary, was born Peter Clancy in the family home at Carrowreagh East, Cranny, Co. Clare, youngest in the large family of James Clancy and Mary Clancy (née Keane). Educated at Cranny national school (1893–1902) he was apprenticed to a draper, Dan…

Clancy, William (‘Willie’) (1918–73), musician, was born 25 December 1918 in Moy, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, into the large family of Gilbert Clancy, carpenter and musician, from Islandbawn, and Ellen Clancy (née Killeen), from an Ennistymon family renowned for their singing ability…

Clare, Richard de (d. 1318), magnate, was the son of Thomas de Clare (qv), who was a younger brother of Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester and of Hertford. Thomas had in 1276 received a speculative grant of Thomond (the rump of the O'…