First woman veterinary surgeon in Britain and Ireland

Aleen Cust was the daughter of a baronet, but a life of ease was not for her. When her father died in 1878, her new guardians – also...

Missionary from Millisle, Co. Down

Amy Carmichael was born into a prosperous, middle-class Ulster Presbyterian family, but when her father died in 1885, her education came to an abrupt halt. From...

US Open tennis champion, writer and actor

Mabel was twelfth of the thirteen children of landowner and barrister Michael Cahill of Ballyconra House, Ballyragget and his wife, Margaret Mangan....

The founder of the Royal Ballet who was always "of Ireland"

To this day, the Irish born dancer, Dame Ninette de Valois is still described as the doyenne of the dance, the grand dame of English...

EPIC STORIES

The first female stockbroker in the world, joining the Dublin Stock Exchange in 1925

Una Mary Irene Keogh was born in Dublin in 1903 to Joseph Chapman Keogh of Wicklow and Annie Kathleen Doyne of...

A labour rights activist from Cork who was once declared "the most dangerous woman in the United States"

Mary Harris Jones (aka "Mother Jones") was a union activist. She founded the Social...

Performed the first caesarean section in British Empire, from Cork

It’s fair to say that in 2016 we have arrived at a time where the complex issues of “gender fluidity” and “transgender” have...

The first female computer programmer, and a pioneer in the field

We have Kathleen ‘Kay’ McNulty and six other people to thank for our modern day computers. Kay was one of the six original...

Record-breaking aviator, athlete, and campaigner for women’s rights

Before Amelia Earhart and Amy Johnson, there was Lady Mary Heath, the original heroine of the skies. Born Sophie Pierce-Evans in...

A walk along the River Liffey always lifts the spirits, no matter what time of year. Not only does it show off the sheer vibrance and character of the Irish capital, but it also reveals many...