This is a 'list of famous Irish people'.
It covers
★ People who were born on the ''island of
Ireland'' and/or who have lived there for most of their lives.
★ People who, though not necessarily ever having been born or lived in Ireland, have been raised as Irish, and/or have adopted Irish citizenship (e.g.,
Daniel Day-Lewis).
'Use of the term "Irish"'.
It should be remembered that not everyone born on the island of Ireland sees themselves as Irish, as is commonly assumed by outsiders. Particularly in Northern Ireland, some also regard themselves as
British or do not regard themselves as Irish at all. In Northern Ireland in particular, there is no common consensus on what the term "Irish" entails. Because Northern Ireland is part of the UK, those born in the province are automatically entitled to British and/or Irish citizenship.
'It should not be assumed that all individuals on this list consider themselves "Irish"'.
:''See also:
Demographics and politics of Northern Ireland''
:''See also:
Northern Ireland''
Perhaps because of the extent of
Irish emigration, talented people of
Irish birth or descent have become known throughout the world.
''See also
List of Northern Irish people.''
Art
''Main list of visual artists:
List of Irish artists''
Architecture
★
George Ashlin
★
George Drumgoole Coleman
★
Sir Thomas Drew
★
James Gandon
★
Eileen Gray
★
James Hoban, designer of
White House
★
Francis Johnston
★
James Joseph McCarthy
★
Thomas Parke
★
Edward Lovett Pearce
★
Kevin Roche
★
Michael Scott
Actors
★
★
Patrick Bergin
★
Stephen Boyd, Actor
★
Kenneth Branagh - Actor
★
George Brent Hollywood actor
★
Pierce Brosnan
★
Gabriel Byrne
★
Catherine Cusack
★
Cyril Cusack, born in
South Africa
★
Niamh Cusack
★
Sorcha Cusack
★
Daniel Day-Lewis,
British-born
Oscar winner
★
Roma Downey, actress best known for her role as Monica in the TV series ''
Touched By An Angel''
★
Hilton Edwards, co-founder of the
Gate Theatre, born in
UK
★
Colin Farrell
★
Barry Fitzgerald,
Abbey Theatre actor turned Hollywood star
★
Fionnuala Flanagan, Actress
★
Brenda Fricker,
Oscar winner
★
Bronagh Gallagher, Actress
★ Sir
Michael Gambon
★
Brendan Gleeson, actor
★
Richard Harris, (actor)
★
Evanna Lynch (actress), Cast as Luna Lovegood in ''
★
Dropkick Murphys
★
The Dubliners, singers/songwriters
★
The East Coast Angels
★
Energy Orchard
★
Fat Lady Sings
★
Fatima Mansions
★
Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band
★
Flogging Molly
★
Fish Go Deep
★
Flook
★
Foster & Allen
★
Four Men and a Dog
★
Four to the Bar
★
The Frames
★
The Fureys
★
Future Kings of Spain
★
Geasa
★
God Talking Soul
★
The Golden Horde
★
Gráda
★
The Groovin' Reels
★
Hal
★
The High Llamas
★
The Hitchers
★
Horslips
★
Hothouse Flowers
★
Kerbdog, rock band
★
InFOCUS
★
In Tua Nua
★
The IRS
★
JJ72
★
Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club
★
Jetplane Landing
★
The Johnstons
★
Kíla
L - P
★
Language of Flowers
★
LeperKhanz
★
Lluther
★
Lúnasa
★
Mama's Boys
★
Marxman
★
The Mascara Story
★
Mellow Candle
★
Microdisney
★
The Middlewich Paddies
★
Minor Detail
★
Mixtwitch
★
The Moondogs
★
Mourning Beloveth
★
Moving Hearts
★
The Mumbles
★
My Bloody Valentine
★
Na Casaidigh
★
Nightnoise
★
The Nolans
★
Oppenheimer
★
OTT, boyband
★
Owen's, frenchirish band
★
The Outcasts
★
Panda Kopanda
★
Pangur Bán
★
Patrick Street
★
Pay
★ Ola
★
Planxty
★
The Pogues
★
The Popes
★
Poor Man's Fortune, traditional Irish band
★
Power of Dreams
★
Primordial
★
The Punters
Q - Z
★
The Radiators From Space
★
Rare
★
Real Friends Break Chairs
★
The Redneck Manifesto
★
Republic of Loose
★
Rodrigo y Gabriela
★
Rollerskate Skinny
★
Ryan's Fancy
★
Sack
★
St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band
★
The Saw Doctors
★
Self Aid
★
Seraphim
★
Six
★
Sixstarhotel
★
Skara Brae
★
Skelpin
★
Skid Row
★
Skindive
★
Snow Patrol,
rock band
★
Solas (group)
★
Solas (liturgical)
★
Something Happens
★
Stalag 17
★
The Starjets
★
Stiff Little Fingers,
punk band
★
Stockton's Wing
★
The Sultans Of Ping FC
★
Surly
★
Sweeney's Men
★
Sweet Savage
★
Tamalin
★
Taste
★
Téada
★
That Petrol Emotion
★
Them
★
Therapy?
★
The Thrills
★
Those Nervous Animals
★
Thin Lizzy
★
Tír na nÓg
★
Toasted Heretic
★
Toxic Waste
★
Trinití
★
Turn
★
The Undertones
★
U2
★
Venus Envy
★
The Answer
★
The Vipers
★
The Virgin Prunes
★
The Waterboys
★
The Watertower Conspiracy
★
Waylander
★
Wendimiller
★
Westlife, boy band
★
Whipping Boy
★
Whoopsadaisies
★
Wilt
★
Wolfe Tones
★
Wreck of the Hesperus
Dance
★
Jean Butler, Irish Dancer
★
Lola Montez (Eliza Gilbert), dancer, courtesan
★ Dame
Ninette de Valois, ballet
★
Bill Whelan,
composer
Writing
''See also:
List of Irish novelists''
A - C
★
Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander
★
William Allingham, poet
★
John Banville, novelist
★
George Barrington
★
Sebastian Barry, novelist,
Aosdána
★
Samuel Beckett,
Saoi
★
Brendan Behan, playwright, novelist
★
Dermot Bolger, novelist,
Aosdána
★
Clare Boylan,
Aosdána
★
Patrick Brontë, poet
★
J. B. Bury, historian
★
William Carleton, novelist
★
Marina Carr,
Aosdána
★
Seathrún Céitinn (Geoffrey Keating)
★
Austin Clarke
★
Brian Coffey,
poet
★
Eoin Colfer, author
★
Eoghan Corry, journalist and author
★
Anthony Cronin,
Aosdána
D - K
★
Seamus Deane,
Aosdána
★
Eamon Delaney
★
Denis Devlin,
poet
★
Roddy Doyle, novelist
★
Margaretta Eagar,
memoirist
★
Garth Ennis, comic writer
★ Sir
Samuel Ferguson, poet
★
Roderick Flanagan, Historian
★
Brian Friel,
playwright,
Aosdána
★
Oliver Goldsmith,
novelist and
dramatist
★
Oliver St. John Gogarty
★
Augusta, Lady Gregory, playwright and founder of the
Abbey Theatre
★
Hugo Hamilton, author
★
Dermot Healy,
Aosdána
★
Randolph Healy,
Poet
★
Seamus Heaney,
Saoi of
Aosdána,
Nobel Laureate
★
Aidan Higgins,
Aosdána
★
Pat Ingoldsby, poet, playwright, etc.
★
Jennifer Johnston,
Aosdána
★
Neil Jordan, author, film director,
Aosdána
★
James Joyce, novelist
★
Trevor Joyce,
poet
★
Herminie Templeton Kavanagh, author
★
Patrick Kavanagh,poet
★
Benedict Kiely,
Saoi of
Aosdána
★
Caitlín R. Kiernan, American novelist and paleontologist
★ Sister
Mary Frances Cusack, the "Nun of Kenmare", patriot and controversialist
L - P
★
Mary Lavin,
Saoi of
Aosdána
★
Francis Ledwidge, poet
★
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, gothic novelist
★
C. S. Lewis (author of the Chronicles of Narnia)
★
Michael Longley,
Aosdána
★
Walter Macken, novelist
★
James Clarence Mangan, poet
★
Malachi Martin, horror writer
★
Edward Martyn, playwright, art patron and political activist
★
Frank McCourt, writer
★
Martin McDonagh, playwright
★
John McGahern, novelist,
Aosdána
★
Frank McGuinness,
Aosdána
★
Gerard McKeown, writer
★
John Montague, poet
★
Thomas Moore, poet
★
Paul Muldoon, poet
★
Richard Murphy, poet,
Aosdána
★
Christopher Nolan, poet,
Aosdána
★
Edna O'Brien,
novelist,
Aosdána
★
Seán O'Casey, playwright
★
Frank O'Connor, short story writer
★
Ulick O'Connor,
Aosdána
★
Máirtín Ó Díreáin, great Irish-language poet,
Aosdána
★
Seán Ó Faoláin,
Saoi of
Aosdána
★
Liam O'Flaherty, novelist, short story writer
★
Brian O'Nolan (aka
Myles na gCopaleen,
Flann O'Brien), novelist/columnist
★
James Plunkett,
Aosdána
R - Z
★
George William Russell, (known under the pen-name AE), writer and critic
★
Maurice Scully, poet
★
George Bernard Shaw, novelist, playwright
★
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, playwright
★
James Simmons poet
★
Michael Smith, poet
★
Geoffrey Squires, poet
★
Laurence Sterne, novelist
★
Bram Stoker, author of
Dracula
★
Francis Stuart,
Saoi of
Aosdána
★
Jonathan Swift, Dean of
St. Patrick's Cathedral,
Dublin, novelist and
satirist
★
John Millington Synge,
dramatist
★
William Trevor, writer,
Aosdána
★
William Wall, novelist, poet
★
Oscar Wilde, novelist, poet, satirist
★
William Butler Yeats, poet and
Nobel laureate
Business
★
Donie Cassidy, businessman and
TD
★
Niall FitzGerald, honorary
KBE, chief executive
Unilever
★
Arthur Guinness -
brewer
★
Eddie Hobbs, financial guru, presenter of ''
Show Me the Money'' and ''
Rip-Off Republic''
★
Pat McDonagh, founder of
Supermac's
★
Dermot Mannion,
CEO of
Aer Lingus
★
Denis O'Brien, highly successful entrepreneur and founder of
Esat Telecom
★
Michael O'Leary, colourful CEO of
Ryanair
★
Anthony J F O'Reilly -
Independent Newspapers and head of
Heinz, 1979-1996
★
Seán Quinn - multi-millionaire entrepreneur
★
Tony Ryan, founder of
Ryanair and
Guinness Peat Aviation
★
Peter Sutherland, Chairman of
BP Plc, and Chairman of
Goldman Sachs International and formerly Ireland's representative at the
European Commission
Politics
''Main list:
List of Irish politicians''
Drew Cameron Holden
Science, Education and Technology
''Main list:
List of Irish scientists, engineers and inventors''
Sport
★
Packie Bonner, footballer
★
Andre Botha (cricketer)
★
Jeremy Bray (cricketer)
★
Andrew Bree, swimmer
★
John Pius Boland - double Olympic medal-winner/tennis,1896
★
Kenny Carroll, cricketer
★
Michael Carruth, Olympic gold medal winner/boxing
★
Eamonn Coghlan, runner
★
Liam Daish, footballer
★
Gordon D'Arcy,
rugby player
★
Paul Darragh - showjumper
★
Ronnie Delany - Olympic medal winner/athletics
★
Ken Doherty, former
World Snooker champion
★
Mick Doyle -
rugby player
★
Mick Doyle -
Muay Thai and
kickboxing
★
Damien Duff, footballer
★
Eamon Dunphy, former soccer player, media commentator and broadcaster
★
Seamus Elliott, professional cyclist
★
Dave Finlay, current
WWE wrestler
★
Sharon Foley, track and field athlete
★
Mick Galwey, rugby player and coach
★
Shay Given, footballer
★
Johnny Giles, footballer
★
Peter Gillespie, cricketer
★
Pádraig Harrington, golfer
★
Elizabeth Hawkins-Whitshed, 19th century mountaineer
★
Denis Hickie, rugby player
★
Ellen Hutchins, botanist
★
Eddie Jordan, racing driver and Formula 1 team owner
★
Trent Johnston, cricketer
★
Robbie Keane, footballer
★
Roy Keane, footballer
★
Seán Kelly,
cyclist
★
Andy Keogh, footballer
★
Michael Kinane, jockey
★
Ham Lambert -
rugby and
cricket player
★
Dave Langford-Smith, cricketer
★
Alan Lewis, rugby referee
★
Eddie Macken, horse showjumper
★
Dave McAuley,
boxer
★
Kevin McBride, boxer
★
Willie John McBride -
rugby player
★
Kyle McCallan, cricketer
★
Mick McCarthy - former Republic of Ireland football manager
★
Wayne McCullough - Olymic Silver Medalist/Boxing
★
Paul McGinley, golfer
★
Paul McGrath, footballer
★
Barry McGuigan,
boxer
★
Catherina McKiernan,
athlete
★
Jimmy McLarnin,
boxer
★
John Mooney (cricketer)
★
Paul Mooney (cricketer)
★
Eoin Morgan, cricketer
★
Geordan Murphy -
rugby player
★
Kevin O'Brien (cricketer)
★
Niall O'Brien (cricketer)
★
Pat O'Callaghan - Olympic gold medal/hammer, 1928, 1932
★
Patrick O'Connell -
Real Betis/
FC Barcelona manager, 1930s
★
Paul O'Connell, rugby player
★
Cian O'Connor - show jumper who had Olympic gold medal taken from him
★
Brian O'Driscoll -
rugby player
★
Ronan O'Gara,
rugby player
★
Malcolm O'Kelly,
rugby player
★
Jonjo O'Neill,
jockey
★
Tony O'Reilly -
rugby player
★
William Porterfield, cricketer
★
Peter O'Sullevan -
horse racing commentator
★
Sonia O'Sullivan, Olympic silver medalist
★
Niall Quinn, footballer
★
Boyd Rankin, cricketer
★
Stephen Roche,
cyclist
★
Alain Rolland, rugby referee
★
Glenn Ross,
Strongman
★
Tom Sharkey,
boxer
★
Michelle Smith - Multi gold medalist 1996 Olympics
★
Des Smyth - golfer.
★
Steve Staunton, footballer
★
Jim Stynes - Champion
Australian rules footballer
★
Bob Tisdall - Olympic gold medal/400mH, 1932
★
John Treacy - Olympic silver medal/marathon, 1984
★
Ruby Walsh, jockey
★
Andrew White (cricketer)
★
Keith Wood,
rugby player
★
Eddie Irvine - Formula 1 Pilot
Other
★
St. Aidan of Lindisfarne
★
Eamonn Andrews - TV personality, producer and businessman
★
Todd Andrews -
civil servant
★
Sir Alfred Chester Beatty
★
George Berkeley - philosopher
★
Seán Brady -
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and
Primate of All Ireland
★
St. Brigid - Irish saint and bishop
★
Gay Byrne - broadcaster and presenter of the
Late Late Show (1962-1999)
★
Nellie Cashman, gold prospector in the United States; born in County Cork
★
Harry Clarke -
stained glass artist
★
Desmond Connell -
Roman Catholic Cardinal of Ireland
★
Jose de Ribas, Imperial Russian Admiral, wars with Ottomans
★
Bishop James Doyle known as 'JKL'.
★
Jim Duffy - Irish advisor to Australia's
Republic Advisory Committee
★
Margaretta Eagar - Limerick Born Governess to the last Russian Royal Family
★
Robin Eames -
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and
Primate of All Ireland
★
Johannes Scotus Erigena - theologian (b. 810)
★
Michael Anthony Fleming - Bishop of
St. John's, Newfoundland
★
Lady Mary Heath - early aviator
★
Sir William Johnson
★
Pat Kenny - broadcaster & presenter of the
Late Late Show (1999-present)
★
Lord Killanin, former head of the
International Olympic Committee
★
Peter Lacy - Russian
Field Marshal
★
James Larkin - labour leader
★
Eliza Lynch, mistress of
Francisco López, Paraguayan dictator
★
Catherine McAuley - founder the
Sisters of Mercy
★
Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh
★
Catherine McGuinness - Justice of the
Supreme Court of Ireland, President of the Law Reform Commission -
[1]
★
Edward McLysaght -
Chief Herald of Ireland, 1943-54
★
Martin Maher - Famed cadet instructor at United States Military Academy at
West Point
★
Diarmuid Martin -
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and
Primate of Ireland
★
Edward Martyn - co-founder of the
Irish Literary Theatre
★
Dermot Morgan - satirist and star of
Father Ted
★
Kevin Murphy,
Ombudsman and
Information Commissioner
★
Graham Norton - TV personality and actor
★
Grace O'Malley -
Granuaile, pirate queen
★
Emily O'Reilly - journalist,
Ombudsman and
Information Commissioner
★
Kitty O'Shea - mistress of
Charles Stewart Parnell
★
St. Patrick - British born Irish patron saint
★
Sir Horace Plunkett - founder of co-operative movement
★
Ernest Shackleton - explorer
★
Gerard Slevin -
Chief Herald of Ireland, 1954-81
★
Timothy Smiddy - academic, economist, Ireland's first ambassador
★
Philip Treacy - milliner
★
Ryan Tubridy - entertainer
★
Terry Wogan - TV and radio "personality"
★
Nina Williams - An assassin from the
Tekken series.
★
Kevin J. Rooney - Martial Artist and Financial Services Professional
Criminals
★
John Crowell- member of
The Westies
★
William Walker- member of The Westies
★
Danny Greene- mobster associate
★
Kevin Weeks- Irish mobster
★
John Connolly-
FBI agent turned mobster associate
★
Vincent Coll- mobster assassin
★
Martin Brennan- member of The Gopher Gang
★
Owen Madden -mobster and
Al Capone rival
★
George McLaughlin- brother of Edward, mobster
★
Edward McLaughlin- brother of George, mobster
★
Bernard "Bernie" McLaughlin- brother of George and Edward, mobster
★
Russell Nicholson- ex-cop turned reputed mobster
★
Cornelius Hughes- mobster
★
James J. Bulger- mobster and fugitive
★
Mickey Spillane -independent Irish mobster
★
Jimmy Burke -mobster associate in
New York
★
Frank James Burke- mobster son of
Jimmy Burke
★
James Coonan - leader of The Westies
★
Henry Hill mobster associate of
Jimmy Burke
★
Howie Winter leader of the Winter Hill Gang
★
Mickey Featherstone - member of The Westies turned informant
★
Kevin Kelly- member of The Westies
★
James Reilly- member of The Westies
★
Edward Sullivan- member of The Westies
★
William Beattie- member of The Westies
★
Hughie Mulligan- member of The Westies
See also
★
Irish cities and Towns
★
★
List of Cork people
★
★
List of Donegal people
★
★
List of Dublin people
★
★
List of Galway people
★
★
List of Kilkenny people
★
★
List of Limerick people
★
★
List of Sligo people
★
Irish universities
★
★
List of Dublin City University people
★
★
List of National University of Ireland, Galway people
★
★
List of Queen's University, Belfast people (
Northern Ireland)
★
★
List of University College Dublin people
★
★
List of University of Dublin people
★ Other lists
★
★
List of people on stamps of Ireland
★
★
List of people by nationality
★
★
Lists of Irish-Americans
★
★
Irish American
★
★
Irish Australian
★
★
Irish Canadian
★
★
Irish Quebecers
Related links
★
Irish people
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