Pathetic Facts

Irish music stars died at age 71

Here are 23 famous musicians from Republic of Ireland died at 71:

Reg Ryan

Reg Ryan (October 30, 1925 Dublin-February 13, 1997 Sheldon, West Midlands) was an Irish personality.

He was best known for his work as a radio and television presenter, most notably as the presenter of BBC's "Crackerjack" and "Play School" during the 1960s and 1970s. Ryan began his career as a stage actor before transitioning to broadcasting in the late 1950s. In addition to his work on television and radio, Ryan also served as a regular presenter for corporate events and awards ceremonies. Throughout his career, he was recognized for his warm and engaging personality, as well as his ability to connect with audiences of all ages. Ryan retired from broadcasting in the late 1980s and passed away in 1997 at the age of 71.

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Bill Hayes

Bill Hayes (November 7, 1915 Cork-April 22, 1987) was an Irish personality.

He was a prolific writer, composer, and broadcaster who achieved great popularity in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Hayes was born in Cork, Ireland, to a musical family and began playing the accordion at a young age. He went on to study music at University College Cork before moving to Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1930s.

In the 1940s, Hayes moved to London and became a regular performer on BBC Radio. He also wrote a number of popular songs, including "The Ballad of Mona Lisa" and "The Isle of Innisfree," which became a hit for Bing Crosby. Hayes later moved to the United States, where he became a popular television host and daytime talk-show host.

Throughout his career, Hayes maintained his connection to Ireland and was an advocate for Irish culture and music. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland in 1971 and was inducted into the Irish Music Hall of Fame in 1982. Despite suffering a stroke in 1986, Hayes continued to perform and remained an active supporter of Irish culture until his death in 1987.

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Paddy Coad

Paddy Coad (April 4, 1920 Waterford-March 8, 1992 Waterford) was an Irish personality.

He was a person of many talents and accomplishments. Coad was a successful Gaelic football player, playing for the Waterford team for many years. He was also a soccer player, playing for Waterford United FC, where he became player-manager in the 1950s. Not only was he an athlete, but Coad was also a successful businessman, owning multiple businesses in Waterford. He was even involved in local politics, serving as a councilor on the Waterford City Council. However, Coad is perhaps best known for his contributions to Irish broadcasting. He was a popular radio broadcaster on local and national stations, and even had his own television program, "Céad Míle Fáilte", which showcased Irish culture and music. He was a true icon in Ireland, and his legacy continues to be celebrated to this day.

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Patrick O'Connell

Patrick O'Connell (March 8, 1887 Dublin-February 27, 1959 St Pancras, London) was an Irish personality.

He was a professional footballer and later became a coach and manager. He played for various football clubs including Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday, and Hull City. O'Connell also played for the Irish national team, winning 9 caps.

O'Connell is most famous for his managerial career, particularly his time as the manager of FC Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. He is credited with saving the club from financial ruin by leading a fundraising tour of Mexico. O'Connell also managed Real Betis, Racing Santander, and Sevilla FC in Spain.

Outside of football, O'Connell was a devout Catholic and was known for his charitable work. During World War II, he was involved in raising money for war efforts and organizing matches to entertain troops. He died in poverty in London, but his legacy in football lives on, and in 2019, a plaque was unveiled at his former home in Dublin to commemorate his achievements.

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Tony Ryan

Tony Ryan (February 2, 1936 Thurles-October 3, 2007 Celbridge) was an Irish entrepreneur. He had one child, Cathal Ryan.

Tony Ryan was the founder of Ryanair, an Irish airline company, which started as a small carrier flying from Waterford to London. Ryan was an accomplished aviator himself and also served as a pilot during his career. In addition to aviation, he had a great passion for horses and owned several successful racehorses. He was a major contributor to Irish society and philanthropy, supporting various causes and initiatives, including the establishment of the University of Limerick. He was honored with numerous awards for his contributions, including a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2003.

He died in pancreatic cancer.

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James Larkin

James Larkin (January 21, 1876 Liverpool-January 30, 1947 Dublin) also known as Big Jim was an Irish politician and trade unionist. His children are James Larkin, Jnr and Denis Larkin.

Larkin is best known for founding and leading the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU), which became one of the most influential labor unions in Ireland. He was also a socialist activist and played a key role in the Irish labor movement. Larkin was known for his powerful oratory skills and his willingness to take risks in order to achieve his goals. He organized several strikes and protests, including the famous Dublin Lockout of 1913, which was a major turning point in Irish labor history. Larkin's legacy continues to be celebrated in Ireland and beyond as a champion of workers' rights and social justice.

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Seán Lemass

Seán Lemass (July 15, 1899 Dublin-May 11, 1971 Dublin) also known as Sean Lemass was an Irish politician. He had two children, Noel Lemass, Jnr and Maureen Haughey.

Lemass served as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland from 1959 to 1966, and played a key role in modernizing the country's economy. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil party and held multiple Cabinet positions during his career, including Minister for Industry and Commerce and Minister for External Affairs. Lemass was also involved in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, and played a prominent role in the Easter Rising of 1916. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in modern Irish history.

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Peter Maher

Peter Maher (March 16, 1869 Tuam-July 22, 1940) was an Irish professional boxer.

He was widely considered one of the greatest boxers of his time and competed in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Maher was known for his incredible stamina and tenacity in the ring, and he was a fierce competitor who never backed down from a challenge. Over the course of his career, he won numerous titles and accolades, including the Irish bantamweight championship, the British featherweight title, and the European featherweight championship. Despite retiring from boxing in 1907, Maher remained involved in the sport and continued to coach and train up-and-coming boxers. Today, he is remembered as one of the most legendary figures in the history of Irish boxing.

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John McGahern

John McGahern (November 12, 1934 County Leitrim-March 30, 2006 Mater Private Hospital) was an Irish writer, novelist and author.

McGahern was born in Knockanroe, a small town in County Leitrim. He was the eldest of seven children in his family. At the age of 10, McGahern's mother died of cancer, and his father was unable to care for the children. As a result, McGahern and his siblings were sent to live with their maternal grandmother.

Despite a difficult childhood, McGahern went on to become a highly regarded writer. He began his career as a teacher, but after the publication of his first novel, "The Barracks," in 1963, he dedicated himself to writing full-time. His other notable works include "Amongst Women," which won the Irish Times/Aer Lingus Literature Prize in 1990, and "That They May Face the Rising Sun," which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2002.

McGahern's writing was known for its precise language and attention to detail, as well as its exploration of Irish identity and rural life. He was widely regarded as one of Ireland's greatest writers, and his work continues to be celebrated and studied today.

He died as a result of cancer.

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Walter L. Cole

Walter L. Cole also known as Walter Cole was an Irish personality.

He was born in Cork, Ireland in 1942 and later moved to the United States. He became known as "Darcelle" and is considered one of the most famous drag queens in the Pacific Northwest. In 1973, he opened the Darcelle XV Showplace in Portland, Oregon, which became famous for its lavish drag shows and has been running for over 50 years. In addition to his successful career as a drag performer, Cole has also been an active member and leader in the Portland LGBTQ community, advocating for LGBTQ rights and supporting various organizations. In 2018, he was honored with a Living Legend Award by the Oregon Historical Society.

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Thomas Andrews

Thomas Andrews (December 9, 1813 Belfast-November 26, 1885 Belfast) was an Irish physicist and chemist.

He is best known for his work on the theory of the elasticity of gases and the nature of ozone. Andrews also worked on the liquefaction of gases, specifically carbon dioxide, and is credited with discovering the critical point of a substance. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and served as its president from 1874 to 1875. Andrews was also a professor at Queen's University Belfast and served as its vice-president. He was respected for his scientific contributions and was awarded numerous honors throughout his career. Andrews' work laid the foundation for much of modern thermodynamics and his critical point discovery is still widely used in the field of chemistry today.

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Robert Mallet

Robert Mallet (June 3, 1810 Dublin-November 5, 1881 Clapham) was an Irish engineer, civil engineer and geologist.

He is considered as the father of seismology due to his pioneering work on studying earthquakes. Mallet developed a technique called seismology to measure the strength and propagation of seismic waves. He conducted extensive studies on the Dublin earthquake of 1857 and published a report on his findings, which laid the foundation for modern seismology. Apart from his work in seismology, Mallet also made significant contributions to civil engineering and invented the first instrument to measure the speed of bullets. Mallet was a fellow of the Royal Society and received numerous honors during his lifetime for his work in science and engineering.

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Tom Moore

Tom Moore (May 1, 1883 County Meath-February 12, 1955 Santa Monica) also known as Thomas Moore, Thomas J. "Tom" Moore, Tom or Thomas J. Moore was an Irish actor, film director and screenwriter. He had one child, Alice Moore.

Moore began his career on the stage in Dublin, Ireland before moving to London to pursue his acting career in the early 1900s. He made his way to Hollywood in the 1920s, where he quickly became a prominent character actor, appearing in over 200 films throughout his career.

Moore also worked as a director and screenwriter, directing several silent films and writing the screenplay for the 1930 film "The Big House," which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

In addition to his film work, Moore was also an accomplished stage actor, appearing in productions both in the United States and in England.

Despite his success in Hollywood, Moore remained close to his Irish roots, and was involved in several Irish-American organizations throughout his life. He was also a devout Catholic, and was involved in several Catholic charities.

Moore's legacy in Hollywood and in the Irish-American community is still celebrated to this day. In 1960, he was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the film industry.

He died caused by cancer.

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William Desmond

William Desmond (January 23, 1878 Dublin-November 3, 1949 Los Angeles) also known as William Mannion, The King of the Silent Serials, Bill Desmond or Wm. Desmond was an Irish actor. His child is called Mary Jo Desmond.

William Desmond was best known for his work in silent films during the 1910s and 1920s. He began his career in theatre in the United States before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film. He starred in over 200 films and was particularly famous for his roles in popular serials such as "The Diamond from the Sky" and "The Mystery of the Double Cross". Desmond was also a skilled writer and director and later in his career worked behind the camera as well. He often performed his own stunts and was known for his charismatic on-screen presence. Desmond was married to actress Mary Astor for a brief period in the early 1920s.

He died caused by myocardial infarction.

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Tom Dugan

Tom Dugan (January 1, 1884 Dublin-March 7, 1955 Redlands) also known as Thomas Dugan, Tommie Dugan, Tommy Dugan or Thomas J. Dugan was an Irish actor and comedian.

Dugan began his career in vaudeville and went on to work in film, appearing in over 160 movies. He often played comedic roles, known for his deadpan delivery and physical comedy. Some of his notable film credits include "The Freshman" (1925), "Palooka" (1934), and "Going My Way" (1944). In addition to his work in movies, Dugan was also a successful stage actor, appearing in productions on Broadway and in Chicago. He was married to fellow actress, Edna Murphy, and the couple had two children.

He died in traffic collision.

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Matthew Cullen

Matthew Cullen (March 17, 1864 Hacketstown-January 2, 1936) was an Irish priest.

He was ordained in 1887 and served as a curate in various parishes in Ireland before being appointed Bishop of Clogher in 1915. During his time as Bishop, he was known for his dedication to pastoral work and his efforts to improve the living conditions of the rural poor. He was also a noted scholar and author, and his works include "The Life and Times of Saint Patrick" and "The History of the Irish Church". In addition to his religious work, he was involved in the Irish nationalist movement and served as a member of the Irish Senate. After his death, he was remembered for his contributions to both the Church and the country of Ireland.

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Charlotte Payne-Townshend

Charlotte Payne-Townshend (April 5, 2015-September 12, 1943 London) was an Irish political activist.

Charlotte Payne-Townshend was not only an Irish political activist but also a writer and philanthropist. She was born in Dublin to a wealthy family and studied at the Royal College of Music in London. She became politically active in the early 1900s and was a member of the Irish Women's Franchise League, campaigning for women's suffrage in Ireland. She also supported the Irish nationalist movement and was a close friend of the revolutionary leader, Michael Collins.

In addition to her political activism, Payne-Townshend was a talented writer and published several books, including a biography of her father, titled "Life of Charles Stewart Parnell". She was also a dedicated philanthropist, involved in various charitable causes throughout her life. She supported education, housing reform, and women's health, among other things.

Payne-Townshend was married to the renowned philosopher and economist, Bertrand Russell, from 1921 until their divorce in 1935. She continued her political and philanthropic work until her death in 1943, leaving a lasting legacy as a strong, intelligent, and compassionate woman who fought for her beliefs and helped make the world a better place.

She died caused by paget's disease of bone.

Ephraim MacDowel Cosgrave

Ephraim MacDowel Cosgrave (July 18, 1853 County Longford-February 17, 1925 Dublin) was an Irish physician, antiquarian and writer.

He studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin and later became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Although he mainly worked as a physician, his true passion was antiquarianism and history. He wrote extensively on Irish history and archaeology, and was a member of the Royal Irish Academy. His most famous work is "A History of Ireland from the Earliest Times to the Present Day," which was published in 1919. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Cosgrave was a noted bibliophile and collected rare books and manuscripts. His collection of over 3,000 items was bequeathed to the National Library of Ireland after his death.

Amelia Summerville

Amelia Summerville (October 15, 1862 County Kildare-January 21, 1934 New York City) also known as Amelia Shaw or Amelia M. Shaw was an Irish actor.

She began her career with the Daly Theater company in New York City in the late 1880s. She became known for her performances in Shakespearean plays, including Lady Macbeth and Rosalind. Summerville also toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, performing in many different productions. In addition to her work on stage, Summerville also appeared in several silent films in the late 1910s and early 1920s. She retired from acting in the mid-1920s and passed away in New York City at the age of 71.

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Eddie Foy, Sr.

Eddie Foy, Sr. (March 9, 1856 Greenwich Village-February 16, 1928 Kansas City) otherwise known as Eddie Foy Sr., Edwin Fitzgerald or Edward Fitzgerald was an Irish actor, comedian, dancer and vaudeville performer. He had seven children, Bryan Foy, Eddie Foy, Jr., Charley Foy, Irving Foy, Mary Foy, Madeline Foy and Richard Foy.

Foy began his career in vaudeville shows at the age of ten, performing with his siblings. He eventually formed his own successful vaudeville company called the "Eddie Foy and The Seven Little Foys." The Seven Little Foys were his own children, who became a popular act in their own right.

Foy was also a successful Broadway performer, appearing in many productions such as "Mr. Bluebeard," "The Orchid," and "The Earl and the Girl." He was known for his comedic timing and dancing ability. Foy also appeared in several silent films, including "The Yankee Consul" and "Around the World in Eighty Days."

In addition to his successful career in entertainment, Foy was known for his philanthropy. He regularly performed benefit shows for various charities and donated his time and money to causes he believed in.

Foy's legacy continued through his children, who all went on to have successful careers in entertainment. His son, Eddie Foy Jr., is perhaps best known for his role in the film "The Pajama Game."

He died as a result of myocardial infarction.

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Tom Nolan

Tom Nolan (July 27, 1921 County Carlow-August 17, 1992 Muine Bheag) was an Irish politician and keytarist. He had one child, M. J. Nolan.

Tom Nolan began his career as a musician and keytarist, playing in various bands across Ireland in the 1940s and 1950s. He later became involved in local politics, serving on both County Carlow and Muine Bheag councils. He also served as chairman of the Carlow County Council from 1972 to 1973.

During his political career, Nolan focused on improving infrastructure in the area, particularly in regards to upgrading roads and providing better access to public services for local residents. He was also a strong advocate for the Irish language and worked to promote its use and recognition throughout the region.

Aside from his political career, Nolan continued to play music and perform as a keytarist up until his death in 1992. He was widely respected for his dedication to both public service and music, and his contributions were recognized by the local community and beyond.

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Godfrey Quigley

Godfrey Quigley (May 4, 1923 Jerusalem-September 7, 1994 Dublin) was an Irish actor and voice actor.

Quigley was born to a Protestant family in Jerusalem, Ottoman Empire (now Israel) and was raised in Dublin, Ireland. He began his career in theater and later worked in film and television. He first gained recognition for his role in the film "Romeo and Juliet" (1954), and went on to appear in numerous films such as "The Taming of the Shrew" (1967), "Barry Lyndon" (1975), and "Superman III" (1983). He was also known for his voice acting work, providing the voice for characters in animated films such as "The Secret of NIMH" (1982) and "The Black Cauldron" (1985).

Quigley was a respected stage actor and performed in various productions throughout his career, including the original productions of "Volpone" and "The Hostage". He also appeared in productions at the Abbey Theatre and the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

Later in his life, Quigley suffered from Alzheimer's disease and retired from acting. He passed away in Dublin at the age of 71. He is remembered as a talented and versatile actor who made a significant contribution to Irish theatre and film.

He died caused by alzheimer's disease.

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Joan Brosnan Walsh

Joan Brosnan Walsh (June 29, 1938 Greystones-December 21, 2009 Ireland) was an Irish costume designer and actor. She had three children, Helen, Ruth and Ingrid.

Joan Brosnan Walsh was known for her remarkable contribution to the entertainment industry. She started her career as an actor in the 1950s before transitioning to costume designing. Throughout her career, she worked on numerous film and television productions, designing costumes that helped bring the characters to life. Some of the most notable productions she worked on include the 1983 film "Educating Rita" and the popular Irish television drama, "Glenroe."

Joan was highly respected in the industry and was known for her attention to detail and her ability to work closely with actors to bring out the best in their performances. Her work won numerous awards, including an IFTA Award for her costume design on the film "My Left Foot." In recognition of her contributions to the industry, she was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland.

In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, Joan was an avid supporter of charitable causes. She served on the board of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and was a champion of the organization's efforts to raise awareness and funds for research into the disease. Joan was diagnosed with motor neuron disease herself in 2008, and she passed away in 2009.

She died in motor neuron disease.

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