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Shrewsbury, John Talbot, 1st earl of

(Encyclopedia)Shrewsbury, John Talbot, 1st earl of shrōzˈbərē, shro͞ozˈ– [key], 1388?–1453, English soldier. As lieutenant of Ireland (1414–19, 1445–47) he quelled unrest in that country, but he achie...

Cuchulain

(Encyclopedia)Cuchulain kəho͝olˈən, –ho͞oˈlən [key], Irish legendary hero of Ulster, of prodigious strength and remarkable beauty. He is the central figure of the Ulster legends, the greatest work of which...

Culdees

(Encyclopedia)Culdees kəldēzˈ [key] [Irish,=servants of God], ancient monks of Ireland and Scotland, appearing after the 8th cent. Little is known of their origin, and their relationship to the monks of the Celt...

chalice

(Encyclopedia)chalice [Lat.,=cup], ancient name for a drinking cup, retained for the eucharistic or communion cup. Its use commemorates the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper. Celebrated examples are the Great Ch...

Glendalough

(Encyclopedia)Glendalough glĕnˈdəlōˌ [key], wooded valley, Co. Wicklow, E Republic of Ireland, W of Wicklow. It is noted for the ruins of several churches of the 11th and 12th cent. (part of the center of Iris...

Grace, William Russell

(Encyclopedia)Grace, William Russell, 1832–1904, American financier, b. Queenstown, Ireland. He was in business in England and Peru before establishing (1865) W. R. Grace & Company in New York City. After Per...

Fitzgibbon, James

(Encyclopedia)Fitzgibbon, James, 1780–1863, Canadian soldier, b. Ireland. As an officer in the War of 1812, he distinguished himself in the battle of Beaver Dams (1813) on the Niagara frontier. Warned by Laura Se...

Pollock, Oliver

(Encyclopedia)Pollock, Oliver, 1737–1823, American merchant, b. Ireland. He arrived in America at the age of 23 and became a successful merchant. After moving to New Orleans, Pollock speculated advantageously in ...

Forster, William Edward

(Encyclopedia)Forster, William Edward, 1818–86, British statesman. He entered Parliament as a Liberal in 1861. As vice president of the council in William Gladstone's first ministry (1868–74), he introduced the...

Foyle

(Encyclopedia)Foyle foil [key], river, c.10 mi (16 km) long, formed by the junction of the Mourne and Finn rivers at Strabane, which is on the border between Limavady and Derry dists., W Northern Ireland. It flows ...