Mayo People F-M
Important Mayo People
This section of our website contains information on notable Mayo people abstracted from Mayo Library's local studies reference material including information taken from the rare A Concise Dictionary of Irish Biography by John S. Crone, M.R.I.A. published in 1928. Additional articles are included on some historical figures taken from local newspapers and journals.
The Mayo people listing is organized by surname - please select a person of interest: A-E : F-M : N-Z
MAYO PEOPLE F-M:
FITZGERALD, GEORGE ROBERT, duellist, “fighting Fitzgerald”; b. Turlough, Co. Mayo about 1748; ed. at Eton; nephew of Hervey, Earl-Bishop of Derry; commanded company of volunteers; freeman of Derry, 1784; a wild desperado; killed an attorney, and hanged at Castlebar, 1786.
FLANNERY, THOMAS, Irish scholar; b. Co. Mayo, 1840; one of the earliest Gaelic revivalists, he taught the language for nearly forty years; published For the Tongue of the Gael, 1896, and Dunaire na Macoine, 1911; besides editing some Gaelic texts, and a metrical translation of The Lay of Oisin; d. London 1916.
GILDEA, SIR JAMES, philanthropist; b. Kilmaine, Co. Mayo, 1838; ed. Cambridge; served with ambulance, Franco-Prussian war, 1870-1; raised large sums for widows and orphans of soldiers killed in various wars, and for homes for officers’ widows and daughters; one of the founders of St. John’s Ambulance Association; almoner of Order of St. John of Jerusalem; C.B., 1898; K.C.V.O., 1908; d. 1920.
GRAY, SIR JOHN, journalist and publicist; b. Claremorris, 1816; ed. Glasgow, M.D., 1839; editor and part proprietor of Freeman’s Journal, 1841; sole proprietor, 1850; tried and sentenced with O’Connell in state trials, 1844; to his energy when town councillor Dublin owes its fine water supply; knighted, 1863, and inscribed “Vartry” on the coat of arms granted; returned three times unopposed for Kilkenny; d.Bath, 1875.
HARDIMAN, JAMES, historian; b. Connaught, 1782; studied law in Dublin; appointed sub-commissioner of public records; M.R.I.A., published History of Galway, 1820; a native speaker, he brought out Irish Minstrelsy, with translations, 2 vols., 1831; The Statute of Kilkenny, 1843; edited O’Flaherty’s Iar Connaught for I.A.S., 1846; librarian, Queen’s College, Galway; d. there 1855.
HAVERTY, MARTIN, historian; b. Co. Mayo, 1809; half brother of above; ed. Irish College, Paris; became sub-librarian, King’s Inns Dublin; wrote Wanderings in Spain, 1844, and a History of Ireland, 1860, frequently reprinted; d. Dublin, 1887.
HENRY, SIR EDWARD RICHARD, police commissioner; b. Co. Mayo, 1850; ed. Ware and U.C., London, entered Indian Civil Service, 1873; retired 1901, appointed assistant, and in 1903, commissioner of Police in London; introduced finger print system of identification; had to deal with many outrages and strikes; was shot in 1912; a strike of police in August, 1918, caused his resignation when he was created a baronet; d. Ascot, 1931.
Kenney, James Christopher Fitzgerald- (1878–1956), politician and lawyer, born 30th April, 1878, in Ballyglass, Co. Mayo.
KILMAINE, CHAS. EDWARD JENNINGS, soldier; b. Dublin, 1744; entered French army at 15, taking name of “Kilmaine” from his ancestral home in Mayo; rose rapidly; serving under the king, the republic, and Napoleon, with whom he crossed the Alps, and shared his Italian victories; general-in-chief in Switzerland, 1798; resigned through failing health; d. Paris, 1799.
King, Richard (1907–74), stained-glass artist and illustrator, born 7th July, 1907 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo
LUCAN BINGHAM GEORGE CHARLES, 3rd EARL OF; soldier; b. Dublin, 1800; entered army, 1816; colonel, 1826; M.P. Mayo, 1826-30; succeeded, 1839; commanded cavalry division in Turkey, 1854; directed charge of heavy brigade at Balaclava, and followed light brigade to cover its retirement; wounded in the action; censured and recalled, 1855; general, 1865; field-marshal, 1887; d. 1888.
LYNCH, HENRY BLOSSE, explorer; b. Partry, Co. Mayo, 1807; entered navy, 1823; interpreter to squadron, 1829; crossed Nubian desert, 1833; with F.R. Chesney explored Euphrates route to India; traversed Tigris from Armenia to Bagdad; commanded flotilla, 1843; commodore Indian navy, 1851; C.B., retired, 1856; d. Paris, 1873.
LYNCH, PATRICK EDWARD, soldier; b. Partry about 1805; entered Indian army, 1826; served with native infantry in many local engagements; was political resident, Afghanistan, 1840-1; retired with rank of major-general, 1878; d. Partry, 1884.
LYNCH, THOMAS KERR, explorer; b. Partry, 1818; ed. T.C.D., joined his brother Blosse on Euphrates expedition, 1837-42; established specially constructed line of steamers between Bagdad and India; travelled extensively, and on return was consul-general for Persia; d. London, 1891.
MACDONNELL, ANTHONY PATRICK, 1st Lord; statesman; b. Shraigh, Mayo, 1844; ed. Summerhill, and Q. Coll., Galway; entered Bengal civil service, 1865; rose to be acting-governor; K.C.S.I., 1893; P.C., 1902; went as under-secretary to Dublin to carry out a policy of devolution and land purchase; his hopes frustrated, retired, 1908, when raised to peerage; d. London, 1925.
MCDONNELL, ENEAS, author; b. Westport, 1783; d. Laragh, 1858; ed. Tuam and Maynooth; bar; edited Cork Chronicle in 1816, and imprisoned six months for an article; and in Kilmainham in 1828, at suit of Archbp Trench of Tuam; went to London as parliamentary agent of Catholic association, and wrote hosts of pamphlets in its behalf; one novel, and Letters, 8vo, 1837. Norbury, seeing him leave Archbp. Troy’s house, said: “There’s the pious Eneas coming from the ‘sack’ ofTroy”
MACHALE, MOST REV. JOHN, archbishop; b. Tobbernavine, Mayo, 1791; entered Maynooth, 1807; ordained 1814; consecrated bishop, 1825; archbishop of Tuam, 1834; became very popular; “The Lion of St. Jarlath’s” as O’Connell called him; opposed Newman and his Catholic university, and quarrelled with Cardinal Cullen over it; visited Rome Twice; a native speaker, he translated the Pentateuc, , Moore’s Melodies and the Iliad into Irish, and wrote Irish verse; voluminous letter writer; d. Tuam 1881. (Life by Rev. B. O’Reilly)
MAXWELL, WILLIAM HAMILTON, novelist; b. Newry, 1792; ed. T.C.D., B.A., 1812; ordained, Carlow, 1813; curate of Clonallon, 1813; rector of Balla, 1820; wrote O’Hara, Wild Sports of the West; Stories of Waterloo, Brian O’Linn, and other popular fictions; History of Irish Rebellion of 1798, and Life of Wellington; contributed to leading periodicals; d. Musselburgh, 1850.
MOORE, GEORGE AUGUSTUS, novelist, b. Moore Hall, Ballyglass, Mayo, 1852; eldest son of G.H. Moore, M. P. (q.v.); ed. Oscott; studied art in Paris, 1870-80; settled in London; suppressed his early poems, and his earlier novels were banned by libraries; returned to Ireland; High Sheriff of Mayo, 1905; describes his life there in his trilogy, Hail and Farewell, 1911-14; The Brook Kerith (1916) established his reputation as a master of English prose; d. Chelsea, 1933.
Moore, Maurice George (1854–1939), soldier and politician, born 10th Aug., 1854 at Moore Hall, Ballyglass, Co. Mayo
MOORE, GEORGE HENRY, politician; b. Moore Hall, Co. Mayo, 1810; ed. Oscott and Cambridge; M.P., Mayo, 1847; his brilliant oratorical gifts brought him to the front; led tenant right movement after 1855; unseated, 1857; was out of Parliament until 1868, when re-elected for Mayo; supported amnesty and Home Rule; d. Co. Mayo, 1870; his son is the well-known novelist. (Life by Maurice Moore.)
Contact Information:
Ivor Hamrock, Local History Department, Castlebar Central Library, John Moore Rd, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.Email: ihamrock@mayococo.ie Phone: +353 (0)94 9047953