Seán O Faoláin, master of the short story and man of letters, was born John Francis Whelan in Cork city on this day, February 27, 1900. At age 18, he began to learn Irish and subsequently changed his name to Seán O Faol&aa…
Katherine Cecil Thurston, best selling Edwardian era author, was born Kathleen Annie Josephine Madden in Cork on April 18th, 1874. Her family circumstances were comfortable, her nationalist father Paul Madden was a banker and served twice as mayor o…
John Millington Synge, one the most the preeminent playwrights of the Irish Literary Revival, was born in Rathfarnham, Dublin on April 16th, 1871. His father, John Hatch Synge was a barrister and landlord and died a year after his last son's birth. …
19th century etching of the Battle of Kilrush On April 15th 1642, on the road between Athy and Dublin, two opposing armies faced off at Kilrush, Kildare. The ensuing battle between Irish Catholic Rebel Confederates and Protestant Royalist for…
Louis Henry Sullivan, modernist architect, was born in Boston on September 3rd, 1856. His parents were both immigrants, his mother Andrienne List was a Swiss pianist and his father Patrick Sullivan was a Cork born dancing instructor from Clonakilty.…
Hugh Carey, the 51st Governor of New York, 7-term member of the US House of Representatives and grandson of Irish immigrants, was born in Brooklyn on Apr 11th, 1919. Have you listened to our podcast? Get the latest on our Episode Page. Carey w…
At Irish Stew, our podcast episodes are lengthy. We make no apology for that, we don't think we come to grips with a person's life in 15 minutes. In truth, it is ridiculous to believe that we can do so in an hour, which is roughly the duration of ti…
Oliver Sheppard was born in Cookstown, Tyrone on April 10th, 1865. He emerged as a prominent sculptor in Irish art during a period of cultural and political transformation. His artistic journey mirrored the complexities of a nation grappling with it…
Thomas D'arcy McGee, Canadian politician, author, journalist, conservative and revolutionary, was born on the April, 3rd, 1825 in Carlingford, Louth. His mother died when he was 8 years old and the family moved to Wexford where he showed a pro…
Frances Power Cobbe, author, feminist, suffragettist, animal rights pioneer and LGBTQ icon was born in Donabate, Dublin on December 4th, 1822. Her predisposition against convention emerged early and caused conflict with her father, Charles, when she…
Oliver goldsmith by Sir Joshua Reynolds The exact place and year of Oliver Goldsmith's birth is a matter of dispute. Traditionally the author is listed as being born on November 10th, 1728 at Pallas Longford. Westmeath also lays claim to his birthp…
Dionysus Lardner, polymath, writer, lecturer and popularizer of science was born in Dublin on April 3rd, 1793. Lardner’s father was a solicitor and his son was initially expected to pursue the family trade in law, however the work did not appe…
Michael Davitt, refugee, physically disadvantaged, revolutionary, agrarian agitator, parliamentarian, journalist, author and servant of his people was born on the 25th March, 1846 in Sraide, Mayo during the Great Hunger to a family of Irish speaking…
Sarah Purser as drawn by John Butler Yeats in the early 1880s Sarah Henrietta Purser (1848 - 1943) was born in Dublin into a larger family of 11 children on March 22nd, 1848. Her family was prosperous with a background in brewing and milling. …
Nora Barnacle the great love and muse of James Joyce was born in Galway’s workhouse on March 21st, 1884. Her family circumstance were clearly challenging as her parents separated some 12 years after she was born. Have you listened to our po…
Patrick McGoohan was born in Astoria, Queens, New York City on March 19th, 1928. The actor’s Irish parents were from Carrigallen, Leitrim to which they returned shortly after McGoohan’s birth before moving to Sheffield, England. Have …
Ambrosio O'Higgins - Governor of Chile Ambrosio O'Higgins was born in Sligo c.1720. At an early age, he was sent to Spain to be educated and ultimately settled in Cadiz in 1751 where he worked in a number of unsuccessful enterprises. In 1756 he emi…
Portrait of Harry Clarke by his wife Margaret Crilley Clarke Harry Clarke was born in Dublin on St Patrick's Day on March 17th 1889. Clarke was best known for his revolutionary work in stained glass and brilliance as an illustrator. His work in gl…
Daniel Patrick Moynihan was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 16th, 1927. His grandfather John Conners Moynihan emigarated from Kerry in Ireland in the late 19th century. At the age of 6, Moynihan’s Irish Catholic family moved to Hell&rsq…
At Irish Stew, our podcast episodes are lengthy. We make no apology for that, we don't think we come to grips with a person's life in 15 minutes. In truth, it is ridiculous to believe that we can do so in an hour, which is roughly the duration of ti…
Cover of the first edition of At Swim-Two-Birds. Published by Longman's Green & Co., (1939) On March 13th, 1939, just six months before the of World War II, Longman's Green published "At Swim Two Birds". The book had been recommended to the Bri…
The remains of Nelson's Pillar before it's final destruction At 1:32 AM on March 8, 1966, many Dubliner's were woken by an explosion emanating from O'Connell Street, the Pillar was no more. A substantial chunk of the column was left, but the …
Eilís Dillon occupies a significant position within Irish literature with an extensive body of work spanning five decades. Born in Galway on March 7th. 1920, she was immersed in the traditions and struggles of the Irish nation. Her family a…
Battle of Tallaght from the London Illustrated News On March 5th 1867, a planned uprising by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, also known as the Fenians, resulted in a brief skirmish near Dublin. The Fenians, aiming to overthrow British rule in Ir…