Co. Mayo

Gallagher, Denis (Ó Gallchóir, Donncha) (1922–2001), government minister and community activist, was born 29 December 1922 in Currane, within the parish, though not the island, of Achill, Co. Mayo, the son of John Gallagher, merchant, of Currane, and his wife Catherine (née Gallagher).…

Gann, Thomas William Francis (1867–1938), archaeologist and explorer, was born 13 May 1867 in Murrisk Abbey, Co. Mayo, son of William Gann, gentleman, and Elizabeth Rose Gann (nèe Garvey). His family moved to England and he was educated at King's School, Canterbury, Kent, before…

Gildea, Sir James (1838–1920), philanthropist, was born 23 June 1838 in Kilmane, Hollymount, Co. Mayo, third son of the Rev. George Robert Gildea (1803–87), provost of Tuam, and Esther Gildea (née Greene) of Greenmount, Co. Wexford. The Gildeas had settled in Mayo in the early…

Gilmartin, Thomas Patrick (1861–1939), catholic archbishop of Tuam, was born on 18 May 1861 at Rhinshinna, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, son of Michael Gilmartin and his wife Mary (née McHale), who had a family of two sons and five daughters. With fosterage of children from large families then…

Gray, Moses Wilson (1813–75), lawyer and politician, was born 26 March 1813 in Claremorris, Co. Mayo. Known as Wilson Gray, he was the second son of John Gray of Claremorris, a farmer and excise officer, and his wife Elizabeth Wilson. He was an elder brother of Sir…

Hardiman, James (1782–1855), historian and librarian, was born in February 1782 at Westport, Co. Mayo, only son of Tomás (or Richard) Ó hArgadáin or Hartigan, a small estate owner, originally from Co. Meath, and his wife Marcella or Margery (née Hall). Hardiman, according to his friend…

Haughey, Charles James (C. J.) (1925–2006), politician and taoiseach, was born in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, on 16 September 1925, third of seven children (four sons and three daughters) of Sean Haughey (1899–1947), commandant in the Free State army, and his wife Sarah (née McWilliams). Both…

Healy, John (1930–91), journalist, author, and editor, was born 22 April 1930 in Charlestown, Co. Mayo, eldest among three sons and two daughters of Stephen Healy, insurance agent, of Charlestown, and Nora Healy (née O'Donnell), nurse. He was educated at the primary school,…

Higgins, Frederick Robert (1896–1941), poet, was born 24 April 1896 in Foxford, Co. Mayo, eldest son of Joseph Thomas Higgins, engineer, and Annie Higgins (née French), protestant middle-class parents of solid unionist stock, who were originally from Higginstown, Trim, Co. Meath. After…

Higgins, Patrick ('Pat') (1923–2007), baker and businessman, was born on 5 August 1923 at the family home in Kilmore near the village of Kilkeely, Co. Mayo, one of four children of Patrick Higgins, farmer, and his wife Mary (née O'Grady). He worked in a number of bakeries in Mayo and…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Hinkson, Pamela. View the original entry.

Horan, James (1911–86), priest, community activist, and airport developer, was born 5 May 1911 at Tooreen, Partry, Co. Mayo, eldest of three sons and four daughters of Bartley Horan, farmer and builder, of Partry, and Catherine Horan (née Casey) of Kilkieran, Co. Mayo. After education…

Kelly, Kevin (1941–2012), businessman, was born John Kevin Kelly on 5 June 1941 in Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, the son of John Kelly, a tax inspector of Castlebar, and his wife Mary (née Crowe). When he was five, his family moved to Cork city where he attended the Christian…

Kenney, James Christopher Fitzgerald- (1878–1956), politician and lawyer, was born 30 April 1878, in Ballyglass, Co. Mayo, second surviving son of James Christopher Fitzgerald-Kenney of Kilcloger, Co. Galway, and his wife Helena, daughter of Maj. Patrick Crean-Lynch of Clogher House, Co…

Kenny, Henry Francis (1913–75), Gaelic footballer and politician, was born 7 September 1913 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, youngest child among three sons and one daughter of Anthony Kenny, publican, and Bridget Kenny (née McHale) of Rush St., Castlebar. He was educated at St Patrick's…

Kenny, Patrick Dermott (1862–1944), journalist and cultural critic, was born at Lismagansion, Dugorry, Aghamore, near Kilkelly in south-east Mayo, where his parents farmed 33 acres. He knew some Irish. Kenny claimed he received only one year's formal education at the local…

King, Richard (1907–74), stained-glass artist and illustrator, was born 7 July 1907 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, elder of two sons of John J. King, sergeant in the RIC, and Margaret King (née Brereton). He was educated by the De la Salle…

Knight (Hope-Connolly), Olivia Mary (1828?–1908), poet, translator and teacher, was born at Rathbawn, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, probably on 29 September 1828, the only daughter of Simon Knight, a civil engineer, and his wife, possibly Sarah D'Alton of Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon. Olivia…

Lally, Mick (1945–2010), actor, was born on 10 November 1945 in Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo, the eldest of seven children (two sons and five daughters) of Thomas Lally, a hill farmer with thirty acres, and his wife May (née McGing). The district was bilingual and Lally grew up as a native…

Larminie, William (1849–1900), poet and folktale collector, was born 1 August 1849 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, youngest son of William Larminie, who seems to have been a land agent or bank official, and was protestant, of Huguenot descent, and his wife Bridget (‘Beda’), daughter of Col.…

Lavan, John Thomas (‘Sean’) (1898–1973), athlete, footballer, and medical doctor, was born 22 September 1898 in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, eldest of four children of Michael Lavan, landholder, and Bridget Lavan (née O'Brien). Educated locally at Ballyglass national school, he won a king…

Lavelle, Patrick (1825–86), catholic priest and agitator, was born at Mullagh, a townland between Westport and Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, the eldest child in the family of three sons and two daughters of Francis Lavelle (d. 1862) and his wife Mary (née MacManus). Francis Lavelle held a 25-…

Logan, Joseph (1914–1999), physician and medical administrator, was born 15 December 1914 at Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, son of John Logan, victualler, and Mary Logan (née Logan). His brother was the author Dr Patrick Logan. Educated first at St Mary's College, Dundalk, he then…

Lynchehaun, James (1858/60–1937/46?), criminal, was born in Tonregee, Corraun, parish of Achill, Co. Mayo, son of Neal Lynchehaun, substantial sheep farmer, and Bridget Lynchehaun (née Cafferky). Having attended the village school, he was appointed class monitor at 14 and progressed…

Lynch, Henry Blosse (1807–73), explorer, was born 24 November 1807 at Partry House, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, third among eleven sons of Maj. Henry Blois Lynch, a soldier who had served with distinction in Portugal, and Eliza Lynch (née Finnis). At the age of 15 he joined the Indian…