Distinguished People of Castlebar

Canon Ulick Bourke (1829-1887)

Gaelic scholar and author several works. He was dedicated to the preservation of the Irish Language and his works include: A College Irish Grammer (1856)  and Pre-Christian Ireland (1887)

Olivia Knight (1830-1908)

A poet whose work regularly appeared under the pen name Thomasine in Thomas Davis's newspaper The Nation

James Daly (1838-1910)

He was organiser of the great demonstration of tenants at Irishtown, Co Mayo in 1879 and a founder member of the Land League of Mayo in the same year. As editor of the Connaught Telegraph he was a powerful force in promoting land reform.

William Larminie (1849-1900)

Writer of a number of published peotic works. Also a folklorist, his best known work is West Irish Folk-Tales and Romances (1893)

Louis Brennan (1852-1932)

Inventor of the dirigible torpedo and the gyrostat monorail. He pioneered the early development of helicopters.

Matthew Archdeacon (d1853)

Proprietor of a classical school in Castlebar and author of several works including Connaught: A Tale of 1798 (1830), Legends of Connaught (1839) and The Priest-Hunter (1844)

Margaret Burke Sheridan (1889-1958)

A world famous soprano, she made her debut in Rome as Mimi in La Boheme. She performed at La Scala in Milan and made sereral appearances at Covent Gardens in London.

Ernie O'Malley (1898-1957)

Revolutionary and writer. He fought in the Rising of 1916, the War of Independence and Civil War being wounded serveral times. Two of his books On Another Man's Wound (1936) and The Singing Flame (1978) are his memoirs of that period.

Stephen Garvey (1902-1962)

One of the best impresarios of his time, his orchestra was renowned all over Ireland. He produced musicals and operas of the highest professionalism.

Richard King (1907-1974)

Artist and Illustrator. His stained glass works are to be found all over the worls. His designs were featured on several Irish postal stamps.

Charles J. Haughey (1928-2006)

Politician. First elected to Dail Eireann in 1957. He served several terms as a cabinet minister in Governements formed by Fianna Fail. He became Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fail in 1979. He served three periods as Taoiseach between 1979 and 1992.