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John O'Shanassy (1818 - 1883) was born on this date, February 18th, in Thurles, Tipperary. O’Shanassy’s education was cut short when his father died prematurely and at age 13 he was apprenticed to a draper and wine merchant. Have you …

Lola Montez (1821 - 1861) is an unlikely name for an Irishwoman. She was born Eliza Rosanna Gilbert in Sligo on February 17, 1821. Despite her privileged background, the family was resident in Limerick's Castle Oliver; Montez refused to conform to e…

Mainie Jellett (1897 - 1944) Despite her short life, Mainie Jellett, made significant contributions to the arts in Ireland. Mainie was a pet name; she was born Mary Harriet Jellett on April 29, 1897, into a prosperous Dublin family. Have you li…

Mary Agnes Lee (1821 - 1909) was born in Monaghan and at at age 58, following the death of her husband, emigrated to Australia to care for an ailing son. Sadly her son Benjamin died the following year in 1880. Have you listened to our podcast? Ge…

Frank Aiken (1898 - 1983) was born into a staunchly Republican family in Camlough, County Armagh, on February 13, 1989. By age 16, Aiken had become a member of the local Irish Volunteers. That group chose not to participate in the 1916 Rising, but b…

Computer programming pioneer Kay McNulty (1921 - 2006) was born on Feb 12, 1921, in Cresslough, part of the Donegal Gaeltacht. At age 3, McNulty's family emigrated to Philadelphia, her father, James, had opposed the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty and opted…

Charles Algernon Parsons (1854 - 1931) was born in London, the youngest child of William Parsons, the 3rd Earl of Ross. Like his remarkable father, builder of the Leviathan Telescope at the family seat in Birr Castle, Charles decided to pursue a car…

Agnes Mary Clerke (1842 - 1907) was born in Skibbereen, County Cork, on February 10, 1842. Her father, John William Clerke, introduced her to astronomy at an early age, undoubtedly abetted by the possession of a family telescope. Have you listene…

Brendan Behan was born in Dublin on February 9, 1923. Behan, an enfant terrible of the Irish literary scene, is remembered as much for his notorious displays of alcoholism as his literary talent. He was both adored and reviled in his native Dublin. …

Kate Chopin (1850 - 1904), an important foundational figure in American feminist literature, was born Katherine O'Flaherty on February 8, 1850, in St Louis, Missouri. Her father, Thomas, was an immigrant from Galway. Her mother, Eliza Farris, was a …