Co. Laois

Bailey, Wellesley Cosby (1846–1937), worker for leprosy sufferers, was born 28 April 1846 near Abbeyleix, Queen's Co. (Laois), his father being agent to a local estate. He was educated at Kilkenny College. Having been unsuccessful in attempts to make a career in Australia and New…

Barrett, John (‘Jacky’) (1753–1821), eccentric scholar, was born in Ballyroan, Queen's Co. (Laois), son of the Rev. Daniel Barrett, Church of Ireland clergyman, and his wife Rossamund Gofton. Educated by a Mr Sheils in Dublin, he entered TCD…

Barrington, Sir Jonah (1756/7–1834), memoirist, judge, and MP, was born at Knapton, near Abbeyleix, Queen's Co. (Laois), third son among sixteen children of John Barrington, country gentleman, and his wife Sibella, daughter of Patrick French of Peterswell, Co. Galway. He spent his…

Barr, (Sarah) Venie (1875–1947), political and community activist, was born 3 October 1875 in Abbeyleix, Queen's Co. (Laois), daughter of James Moyles , trader, and Eliza Jane Moyles (née Pratt). Active in unionist organisations, she was an original member of the Ulster Women's Unionist…

Burrowes, Peter (1753?–1841), barrister and politician, was born at Portarlington, Queen's Co., the first son of Thomas Burrowes, whose family was long established there. He entered TCD (1772), graduated …

Cahill, Daniel William (1796–1864), catholic priest and public lecturer, was born at Ashfield, in the parish of Arles, Queen's Co. (Laois), on 28 November 1796, the youngest of three sons of Daniel Cahill (1754?–1836), a civil engineer and (it was stated in 1864) a local United Irish…

Carney, James Patrick (1914–89), Celticist, was born 17 May 1914 in Maryborough (Port Laoise), son of Patrick Francis Carney, a customs officer originally from Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo and his wife, Constance Grace, from Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. His father died while Carney was still a…

Carrigan, William (1860–1924), catholic priest and historian, was born at Rothestown House, Muckalee (Ballyfoyle), Co. Kilkenny, probably in August 1860, the youngest of thirteen children of James Carrigan, a substantial farmer, and his wife Johana Brenan. Educated at St Kieran's…

Carroll, Patrick Joseph (1903–75), Garda commissioner, was born 15 September 1903 in Ballyrider, Stradbally, Co. Laois, third among six children of Michael Carroll (d. c.1920) and Julia Carroll (née Buggy) (d. c.1939), farmers. Educated at the…

Clear, Thomas (1911–94), forester, was born on 22 December 1911 at 50 Main Street, Portlaoise, the son of Thomas Clear, a carpenter, and Lizzie Clear (née Scott). Educated at a local secondary school in Portlaoise, he obtained a county council scholarship in 1930 to study agriculture at…

Cosby, Pole (1703–66), ‘improving’ landowner, was born 14 April 1703, the only son of Dudley Cosby, landowner, and Sarah Cosby (née Pole), of Stradbally Hall, Queen's Co. (Laois). The Cosbys were among the first planter families in Queen's Co. in the 1550s, and became one of the…

Davin, William (1890–1956), trade unionist and politician, was born 19 February 1890 at Grogan, Rathdowney, Queen's Co. (Laois), son of Timothy Davin, farmer, and Ellen Davin (née Costigan). He was educated at Rathdowney national school, at St Kieran's College, Kilkenny, and later…

Delany, Daniel (1747–1814), catholic bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, and founder of the Patrician and Brigidine orders, was born in Paddock, Mountrath, Queen's Co. (Laois), the elder of two sons of Daniel Delany, a prosperous farmer, and Elizabeth Delany (née Fitzpatrick), also from…

Delany, Patrick (1685?–1768), clergyman and writer, was born in Rathcrea, Queen's Co. (Laois), probably on 15 March 1685. His father, Dennis Delany, is reputed to have been a servant to the Irish judge Sir John Russell. Delany was educated in Athy, Co. Kildare, at the school of Mr…

Digby, Simon (c.1645–1720), miniature-painter and bishop of Elphin, was born at Kilminchy, Queen's Co. (Laois), youngest son of Essex Digby and his wife Thomasine, daughter of Sir William Gilbert of Kilminchy, Queen's Co. Essex Digby became dean of Cashel in 1661 and…

Dowling, Vincent (1756–1825), parliamentary reporter and satirist, was born in Queen's Co. (Laois); there are no details of his parents. He began his long and successful journalistic career in Dublin in the 1780s, where he became a parliamentary reporter, memorising speeches and…

Drury, Michael Ivo Francis (1920–88), physician, was born 17 July 1920 at Mountrath, Co. Laois, the son of Thomas Francis Drury, victualler, and Bridget Drury (née Dunne). Educated at the Patrician School, Mountrath, he later entered University College, Dublin (1937), where he…

Dunne, Michael (‘Mick’) (1929–2002), GAA broadcaster and journalist, was born 27 May 1929 in Clonaslee, Co. Laois, one of two sons of Francis Dunne, insurance agent, and Agnes Dunne (née Foley), schoolteacher. Educated at Clonaslee national school and Knockbeg College, Co. Carlow,…

Dunphie, Charles James (1820–1908), poet, author, and art critic, was born 4 November 1820 at Rathdowney House, Rathdowney, Queen's Co. (Laois), elder son of Michael Dunphy, merchant, and Kate Dunphy (née Woodroffe). He attended TCD…

Edmundson, William (1627–1712), quaker leader, was born c. 4 October 1627 in Little Musgrave, Westmorland (Cumbria), England, youngest of six children of John Edmundson (d. 1635), a well-to-do yeoman, and Grace Edmundson (d. 1632). Orphaned at an early age, he was reared…

Eithne (d. 795), daughter of Donnchad Midi and queen-consort of Leinster, belonged to the Clann Cholmáin dynasty of the Southern Uí Néill. Her marriage to Bran Ardchenn (qv), an early representative of the Uí Muiredaig lineage of Uí…

Fagan, Sir John (1843–1930), surgeon and inspector of reformatory and industrial schools, was born 16 July 1843 at Lismacaffrey, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath, the eldest son of James Fagan, esq. Educated at St Vincent's College, Castleknock, Co. Dublin (1858–61), and the Catholic…

Fitzpatrick, Sir Bernard Edward Barnaby (1848–1937), 2nd Baron Castletown , landlord, soldier, sportsman, and adventurer, was born 29 July 1848 in London, only son and eldest of six children of John Wilson Fitzpatrick, 1st Baron Castletown, soldier and landlord, of Abbeyleix, Queen'…

Flanagan, Oliver Joseph (1920–87), politician and catholic lay activist, was born 22 May 1920 in Mountmellick, Co. Laois, eldest of three sons of Charles Flanagan, stonemason, and Mary Flanagan (née Kelly); of his brothers, Ted became a carpenter and Charles a missionary priest.…

Franks, (Gertrude) Lucy (1878–1964), president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, was born 27 February 1878 in Westfield, Queen's Co. (Laois), daughter of Matthew Henry Franks, landowner, JP and DL…