Dictionary of Irish Biography

The female Irish golfer who wasn't afraid to take a stand

She was a brilliant golfer who kept her day job and stood by her principles. In this extract from the Dictionary of Irish Biography's new book Irish Sporting Lives, Linde Lunney tells the story of Philomena Garvey

The Irish female motor racer who became a Nazi sympathiser

She was the Offaly-born daredevil who became an unashamed Nazi. In this extract from the Dictionary of Irish Biography's new book Irish Sporting Lives, Niav Gallagher tells the story of Fay Taylour

Gentleman Johnny: the Irish soccer star who became a legend

He was the Dublin soccer player who became an international football star, captaining Manchester United and Ireland. In this extract from the Dictionary of Irish Biography's new book Irish Sporting Lives, James Quinn tells the story of Johnny Carey

The Irish Wimbledon finalist who was convicted of murder

He was the privileged tennis player who went all the way to the Wimbledon finals and ended his days in a French penal colony. In this extract from the Dictionary of Irish Biography's Irish Sporting Lives, Tom Higgins tells the story of Vere Goold

Peadar O'Donnell: socialist writer who was a rebel until the end

He was the radical socialist and republical rebel who co-founded one of Ireland's most influential literary magazines. In this entry from the Royal Irish Academy's Dictionary of Irish Biography, Fearghal McGarry tells the story of Peadar O'Donnell

Diarmuid O'Hegarty: the civil servant of the revolution

He was a civil servant turned revolutionary and became the focus of "republican bitterness" in the Civil War. In this entry from the Royal Irish Academy's Dictionary of Irish Biography, Marie Coleman and William Murphy tell his story

Katherine Moloney: Kevin Barry's sister was activist in own right

Her commitment to activism was galvanised by her brother Kevin's death and she later became a campaigning trade unionist. In this entry from the Royal Irish Academy's Dictionary of Irish Biography, Lawrence William White tells her story

Mary MacSwiney: trailblazer who became a "threat to stability"

She was the suffragist whose brother Terence's hunger strike shook the world. But her increasingly radical views estranged her from her former comrades. In this entry from the Royal Irish Academy's Dictionary of Irish Biogra

Vincent Byrne: the last survivor of Michael Collins's Squad

He was the teenage rebel who became the last man standing in Michael Collins's squad. In this extract from the Dictionary of Irish Biography, Lawrence William White and Pauric J. Dempsey tell his story.

John Joseph O'Kelly: devout Catholic and republican purist

He was the devout Catholic and Irish-language activist who played a vital role in the struggle for republican purity. In this extract from the Dictionary of Irish Biography, Brian P. Murphy tells the story of John Joseph O'Kelly

William O'Brien: labour activist who dreamed of socialist Ireland

He was the radical labour activist who became part of the struggle for Irish independence. In this entry from the Royal Irish Academy's Dictionary of Irish Biography, Arthur Mitchell tells the story of William O'Brien

Peadar Clancy: the charismatic "superman" who played a key role

Laurence Ginnell: "highly strung" T.D. who followed his own path

He was the radical Home Ruler M.P. who eventually became an anti-Treaty T.D. In this entry from the Royal Irish Academy's Dictionary of Irish Biography, Pauric J. Dempsey and Shaun Boylan tell the story of Laurence Ginnell

Máire Comerford: the life-long radical who never stopped fighting

Witnessing the 1916 Rising led to her political awakening and she remained true to her beliefs for the rest of her life. In this entry from the Royal Irish Academy's Dictionary of Irish Biography, Frances Clarke tells the story of Máire Comerford.

Oscar Traynor: rebel goalkeeper who became Minister for Defence