Frank O’Brennan was born in Tullamore c.1985, the younger brother of Séamus and Alo O’Brennan. He was active in the Tullamore Volunteers from 1913 and is listed on the charge sheet of those present during the Tullamore Incident of March 1916, after which he was arrested and court-martialled in relation to the wounding of RIC Sergeant Ahearn. After his release in June 1916, he rejoined the Irish Volunteers and took part in the usual activities. In 1919 he watched the movement of British forces and carried dispatches. In June 1920 he was in charge of road blocking during attacks on Geashill and Clara Barracks, and was involved in an armed attack on British forces at Ballycommon Bridge in which a civilian was killed. He took part in three raids for mail. In the autumn of 1920 he brought Seán McGuinness and members of his Active Service Unit (Flying Column) from Kilbeggan to Geashill where they killed an RIC Head Constable, but O’Brennan took no part in the shooting. He died in 1964.
Ribbonman active in Geashill 1859-1860. Ejected from Geashill Estate by land agents, W.S. and T. W. Trench in 1860 and left with his family for Australia.
Sir Patrick O'Brien, 2nd Baronet, was an Irish politician. He was elected in 1852 as a Member of Parliament for King's County and held the seat until the constituency was divided at the 1885 general election. He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. He held the title of 2nd Baronet of Merrion Square and Borris-in-Ossary.
William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, Baron of Oxmantown, 6th Baronet of Birr Castle, was born in June of 1800 to Lord Laurence Parsons, 2nd Earl of Rosse, and Lady Alice Lloyd. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1821-1834. Lord Rosse married Lady Mary Field, daughter of John Wilmer Field on 14 April 1836. Upon the death of his father, Laurence Parsons, 2nd Earl of Rosse in 1841, William became the 3rd Earl of Rosse. He was also President of the British Association from 1843-1844. Lord Rosse was president of the Royal Society from 1845-1854, while he also served as an Irish representative peer. From 1862-1867 he was chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin. Lord Rosse was an avid scientist, a passion that he shared with his wife, Mary Rosse, and is best known for building the 'Leviathan of Parsonstown,’ a 72-inch telescope. It was built in 1845 and was the largest telescope in the world. As an astronomer, he was first to discover the spiral nature of some nebulae (now called spiral galaxies), and naming the Crab Nebula. He died 31 October 1867, and was succeeded by his son, Laurence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse.
James Dillon was born in Clara in 1788 to Simon and Catherine Dillon. His father, Simon, was involved in property and his mother ran a shop and also had extensive property on New St. In the 1820s and 1830s he was politically active in opposing tithes, supporting Daniel O'Connell and the cause of Catholic Emancipation. He was appointed coroner for King's County in July 1836. In 1847, the county was split into two districts and he was assigned the Tullamore district serving the northern half of the county. He had married Alice Kelly in the 1820s and they had 10 children, 6 daughters and 4 sons. He died at the age of 71 in 1859 while on the way to Edenderry to undertake another inquest. He was succeeded in the post by William A. Gowing of Tullamore.