Patricia Donlon: key obituary facts
Is Patricia Donlon dead? Yes. Patricia Donlon died on July 23, 2026, at age 83.
Cause of death: Patricia Donlon's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Patricia Donlon known for?
She was an Irish librarian.
More about Patricia Donlon
Born: 1 January 1943.
Gender: female.
Occupation: librarian.
Also known as: Pat Donlon.
Patricia Donlon, the Irish librarian and academic who served as director of the National Library of Ireland, died on July 23, 2026, at the age of 83.
Known as Pat Donlon, she was the first woman to hold that post and the first woman appointed director of an Irish national institution. Born Patricia Anne McCarthy on January 28, 1943, in Dublin, she studied French and Spanish at University College Dublin, graduating with honours in 1964.
She later completed a doctorate in Spanish literature in 1974 and a diploma in Library and Information Studies in 1979, both at UCD.