Co. Westmeath

McNamara, Brinsley (John Weldon) (1890–1963), novelist and playwright, was born 6 September 1890 at Ballynacor, Hiskinstown, Co. Westmeath, the eldest son of James Weldon, a schoolteacher, originally of Ballinea, Mullingar, and Fanny Weldon (née Duncan). John attended his father's…

Mulchrone, Kathleen (‘Kate’) (Ó Maolchroín, Ní Maolchroín, Caitlín) (1895–1973), Celticist, was born 22 November 1895 in Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath, youngest among four daughters of Patrick Mulchrone, RIC sergeant, originally from Co.…

Nolan, Christopher (1965–2009), writer and advocate for the disabled, was born 6 September 1965 in the county hospital in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, second and youngest child (he had an elder sister) of Joseph Nolan, psychiatric nurse and small farmer, and his wife Bernadette (née Martin…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Nugent, George Frederick. View the original entry.

Nugent, Robert Craggs (1702–88), 1st Earl Nugent , poet, and politician, was born in Carlanstown, Co. Westmeath, second son of Michael Nugent (d. 1739) of Carlanstown and his wife Mary (d. 1740), fifth and youngest daughter of Robert Barnewall, 9th Lord Trimlestown. Frequently…

Nugent, William (Uilliam Nuinseann) (1550–1625), nobleman and poet, was born in 1550 in Co. Westmeath, the younger son of Richard Nugent, 13th Baron Delvin. His elder brother was Christopher Nugent (qv), 14th…

O'Connor, Thomas Power (1848–1929), journalist and politician, was born 5 October 1848 in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, eldest son of Thomas O'Connor, shopkeeper and billiard-saloon keeper, and Teresa O'Connor (née Power), daughter of a non-commissioned officer in the British army. His…

This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Doherty, (Michael) Kevin. View the original entry.

Ó Domhnalláin, Tomás (Donlon, Tom) (1913–2005), teacher and linguist, was born 30 March 1913 in Delvin, Co. Westmeath, the youngest of five sons of John Donlon of Ballyhealy, near Delvin, a shepherd and land agent, and his wife Mary (née Kelly), a post office worker and native of Navan…

O'Donoghue, Daniel (1833–89), ‘The O'Donoghue of the Glens’, politician, was born in Glenfesk, Co. Kerry, only child of Charles O'Donoghue (1806–33), landowner, and his wife, Jane (1812–97), daughter of John O'Connell, and niece of Daniel O…

O'Reilly, Andrew (1742–1832), general in the Austrian army, was born 3 August 1742 at Ballinlough, Co. Westmeath, youngest among three sons of James O'Reilly, Roman catholic farmer, and Barbara O'Reilly (née Nugent). In 1763 he joined the Imperial army with his brother, James, and…

This is a co-subject for the entry on O'Rourke (Ó Ruairc), Ualgharg. View the original entry.

O'Shiel, Owen (Eoghan Ó Siadhail ) (1596–1650), physician, was born in Co. Westmeath, the son of James O'Shiel, of the barony of Moycashel in that county. The family had been prominent physicians in Westmeath since the sixteenth century. Nothing is known of O'Shiel's life until 1618,…

Pakenham, Sir Richard (1797–1868), diplomat, was born 19 May 1797 at Pakenham Hall, Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath, fifth son of Admiral Sir Thomas Pakenham and Louisa Anne Pakenham (née Staples), granddaughter of William Conolly of Castletown, Co. Kildare. He was the nephew of…

Pakenham, William Lygon (1819–87), 4th earl of Longford , army officer, and politician, was born 31 January 1819 at Pakenham Hall, Co. Westmeath, second son of Thomas Pakenham, 2nd earl of Longford, and his wife Georgiana Emma Charlotte (d. 12 February 1880), fifth daughter of…

Parsons, Alfred Robert (1864–1952), physician, was born 23 September 1864 in Victoria Place, Athlone, son of John Parsons, bootmaker, and Mary Parsons (née Leney). He was the second of seven children; he had three brothers (William, b. 1862; George Thomas, b. 1868; and Charles Frederick…

Patterson, John Henry (1867–1947), army officer, game hunter, and Zionist, was born 10 November 1867 at Forgney, Ballymahon, Co. Westmeath, the son of a protestant father, Henry Patterson. He joined the British army at Dublin in 1885 and was posted with the 3rd dragoon guards to…

Robinson, Sir Hercules George Robert (1824–97), colonial governor and 1st Baron Rosmead , was born 19 December 1824 at Rosmead, Co. Westmeath, second among six sons of Adm. Hercules Robinson, and Frances Elizabeth Robinson (née Widman Wood); he was the…

Rochfort, Sir Cecil Charles Boyd- (1887–1983), racehorse trainer, was born 16 April 1887 in the family home, Middleton Park, Co. Westmeath, seventh of eight children of Major Rochfort Hamilton Boyd (who assumed the additional name of Rochfort 1888) of the 15th Hussars, high sheriff…

Russell, Thomas O'Neill (Tomás Ó Néill Ruiséal) (1828–1908), author and founder member of the Gaelic League, was born in May 1828 at Lissanode, Moate, Co. Westmeath, son of Joseph Russell (1762–1837), a quaker farmer, and his wife, Sarah Broadman (1791–1873). He was educated at the…

Ryle, Maurice P. (1868–1935), journalist, was born in Co. Kerry and began his career as a journalist at Tralee. He supported Charles Stewart Parnell (qv) in the split, and in 1891 left Kerry for Dublin as a reporter on the newly…

Shaw, Francis (1907–70), Jesuit priest, Celtic scholar and historical polemicist, was born 26 March 1907 in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, the fourth child among four sons and two daughters of Patrick Walter Shaw (1872–1940), merchant, and his wife Mary 'Minnie' (née Galligan). The Shaws…

Shea, Patrick (1908–86), civil servant and author, was born 27 April 1908 at Delvin, Co. Westmeath, second son of Patrick Shea, RIC district inspector, and Mary Catherine Shea (née McLaughlin). Shea's childhood was spent in Athlone,…

Sheehan, Patricia (née Bailey) (1928–94), medical doctor, speech therapist, and campaigner against nuclear power, was born 30 July 1928 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, the younger of two sisters. Her father was a marine engineer on the White Star Line, frequently away from home…

Stokes, George Thomas (1843–98), clergyman and historian, was born 28 December 1843 in Athlone, eldest son of John Stokes, merchant, of Athlone, and Margaret Stokes (née Forster). Educated at Galway Grammar School and QCG, he entered…