Co. Kilkenny

Denieffe, Joseph (1833–1910), Fenian, was born in Kilkenny city, eldest son of an artisan (d. 1855); other details of his family are not known. He had a fringe involvement with one of the Young Ireland confederate clubs set up in the early summer of 1848. Emigrating to the USA (June…

Donovan, Michael (1790–1876), chemist and pharmacist, was born in Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny, son of John Donovan. He received his diploma (1811) from Apothecaries' Hall, Dublin, and opened an apothecary's shop in Townsend St. He was a founder member (1812) of the Kirwanian Chemical and…

Dowling, Margaret (Sister Mary Dominic) (1853–1900), Dominican Sister and foundress, was born in Ballyconra, Co. Kilkenny, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Dowling. Margaret received a rudimentary education locally and emigrated to New York in 1869. On 23 June 1876 she entered the…

Downey, Richard Joseph (1881–1953), catholic archbishop of Liverpool, was born in Kilkenny on 5 May 1881, the eldest of three children and the only son of Thomas Downey, a chemist, and his wife, Minnie Downey (née Casey). He was educated at the…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Doyle, Richard (‘Dick’). View the original entry.

This is a co-subject for the entry on Doyle, Richard (‘Dick’). View the original entry.

Doyle, Richard (‘Dick’) (1886–1959), hurler, was born 4 February 1886 in Dournane, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, third among nine surviving children of William Doyle, farmer, originally from Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, and Ellen Doyle (née Dunphy) from Dournane. He was educated at Mooncoin…

Doyle, Sir Charles William (1770–1842), general, was born at Bramblestown, Co. Kilkenny, eldest son of William Doyle, KC and master in chancery, and his second wife, Cecilia Doyle (née Salvini). He entered the army as an ensign (28 April 1783),…

Ellison, William Frederick Archdall (1864–1936), clergyman and astronomer, was born 28 April 1864 in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, eldest among eight sons and three daughters of the Very Rev. Humphrey Eakin Ellison of Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow, dean of Ferns, and Letitia Ellison (née…

Fitzsimon, Henry (1566–1643), Jesuit priest and controversialist, was born on 31 May 1566 at Swords, Co. Dublin, son of Nicholas Fitzsimon, merchant, and alderman of the city of Dublin, and Anna Fitzsimon (née Sedgrave), one of the Sedgrave family of Killeglan and Cabra, Co.…

Flood, Sir Frederick (1741–1824), politician, was born in Co. Kilkenny, second son of John Flood, MP, and his wife Jane, daughter of Samuel Crompton of Co. Wexford. Educated in Kilkenny, he entered TCD in 1757, graduating…

Flood, Warden (1694–1764), lawyer and politician, was born at Burnchurch, Co. Kilkenny, eldest son among eight sons and one daughter of Francis Flood, MP for Callan, Co. Kilkenny (1703–5, 1713–14, 1715–27), and his wife Anne, daughter and heiress of John Warden. Educated at…

Freney, James (c.1719–1788), robber, was born in Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, son of John Freney, bailiff, and Alice Freney (née Phelan). John Freney was taken into the employment of Joseph Robbins at Ballyduff near Thomastown at the age of 10, was apprenticed as a gardener,…

Gaffney, Henry Michael (1895–1974), Dominican priest and writer, was born 31 May 1895 in Cuffe's Grange, Co. Kilkenny, the son of Michael Gaffney, publican, and Bridget Gaffney (née Kenna). He entered the Dominican order in Tallaght, Co. Dublin, on 14 September 1915 and was…

Geary, Francis (‘Frank’) Joseph (1891–1961), journalist and newspaper editor, was born 2 August 1891 in Kilkenny city, youngest son of Patrick Geary – grocer, GAA stalwart, and supporter of…

Gibbons, James M. (‘Jim’) (1924–97), government minister, was born 2 August 1924 in Bonnettsrath, just outside Kilkenny city, the son of Martin Gibbons, a local farmer, and his wife Agnes (née Bowe). An uncle, Sean Gibbons (1881–1952), was a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Carlow–…

Gilmartin, John Joe (‘Gil’) (1914–80), handball player, was born 9 June 1914 at Maudlin St., Kilkenny city, son of Joseph Gilmartin, printer for the Kilkenny Moderator, and Martina Gilmartin (née McNally). His uncle, Joe McNally of Westport, Co. Mayo, won the All-Ireland…

Grace, John (‘Jack’) (1884–1915), Gaelic footballer and hurler, was born 8 February 1884 at Gaulstown, Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny, one among eleven children of Nicholas Grace, farmer, of Gaulstown, and Catherine (‘Kate’) Grace (née Keoghan) of Purcellsgarden, Threecastles, Co.…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Grace, John (‘Jack’). View the original entry.

This is a co-subject for the entry on Grace, John (‘Jack’). View the original entry.

Graves, James (1815–86), clergyman, archaeologist, and historian, was born 11 October 1815 in Kilkenny town, son of Rev. Richard Graves (1785–1857), rector of Coolcullen, Co. Kilkenny, and vicar choral (1817–26) of St Canice's cathedral, Kilkenny, and Joanna Graves (née Anderson…

Gregg, Sir Cornelius Joseph (‘Con’) (1888–1959), civil servant, was born 26 January 1888 in Kilkenny city, eldest among three children of James Gregg, greengrocer and JP, and Marianne Gregg (née Gleeson). The family lived at Abbeyview and…

Grierson (Crawley), Constantia (c.1705–1732), editor, scholar, and one of Swift's female literary circle, was born Constantia Crawley in Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, into a poor family. Little is known of her early life or education, save from the memoirs of her friend…

Hackett, Francis (1883–1962), novelist, historian, and journalist, was born 21 January 1883 at 34 Patrick St., Kilkenny city, one of six sons and three daughters of John Byrne Hackett, a Kilkenny-born doctor, and Bridget Hackett (née Doheny), daughter of a prosperous farmer of…

Hamilton, Hugh (1729–1805), Church of Ireland bishop and scientist, was born 26 March 1729 at Knock, Co. Dublin, eldest of four sons of Alexander Hamilton, attorney and later MP for Killyleagh (1739–60), and his wife Isabella, a Maxwell of Finnebrogue, Co. Down; there were also two…