Ellen Scanlan

Born to a Limerick farming family in 1803, her murder at age 15 became the subject of books, plays, films, songs, and an opera,[1] using the nickname given to her locally, "the Colleen Bawn," (an Anglicized spelling of the Irish Cailín Bán), which translates literally to "white girl," with "white" symbolically meaning purity, innocence, gentleness, or beauty.

Born in the village of Bruree,[clarification needed] in Ireland, Ellen’s mother died when the girl was no more than six years old.

Upon her father's remarriage, Ellen moved in with her uncle, a ropemaker who lived at Ballycahane, near Croom, County Limerick.

[2] Her beauty attracted the attention of John Scanlan, a member of the Anglo-Irish minor aristocracy, a former Royal Marine and a gambler, whose family lived in Ballycahane Castle, less than a mile from her uncle's home.

[4] On 6 September 1819, Ellen's bound body washed ashore near Money Point at Burrane, on the Clare coast.

Ellen Scanlan was buried in the grave of Irish scholar Peter O'Connell, and a bronze plaque identifies both.

Velasquez, Captain Nemo, Tristan and Isolde, the first Prince of Wales, Thomas Cook and Son, the Bold Soldier Boy, Arrah na Pogue, Dick Turpin, Ludwig Beethoven, the Colleen Bawn, Waddler Healy, Angus the Culdee, Dolly Mount, Sidney Parade, Ben Howth, Valentine Greatrakes, Adam and Eve, Arthur Wellesley, Boss Croker, Herodotus, Jack the Giantkiller, Gautama Buddha, Lady Godiva, The Lily of Killarney, Balor of the Evil Eye, the Queen of Sheba, Acky Nagle, Joe Nagle, Alessandro Volta, Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, Don Philip O’Sullivan Beare.