1. Jonathan Swift (1667)

Anglo-irish Writer

Irish author of the satirical Gulliver's Travels and the famous essay, A Modest Proposal. He also served as Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

2. Edmund Burke (1729)

Politician

English politician and member of the Whig party who is widely considered the philosophical founder of modern Conservatism. He served in the British Parliament as a member of the House...

3. Wolfe Tone (1763)

Irish Politician

Irish politician who was one of the founding members of the United Irishmen and was known as the father of Irish republicanism.

4. Catherine McAuley (1778)

Religious Leader

In 1831, this Irish Catholic nun established the order of the Sisters of Mercy and dedicated the last ten years of her life to education-centered charity efforts. During her time...

5. Robert Emmet (1778)

Irish Rebel

Leader of the 1803 Irish rebellion who became a martyred hero after his execution.

6. Bono (1960)

Irish Singer Songwriter

Born Paul David Hewson, he is the frontman of U2, known for such hits as "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Beautiful Day." The band has earned over 20 Grammy Awards and has...

7. Edward Sabine (1788)

British Army General

Astronomer and naturalist who worked to study the earth's magnetic field as well as rocks, birds and weather patterns. He was the 30th President of the Royal Society.

8. Jennifer Maguire (1980)

TV Show Host

Contestant on the fourth season of The Apprentice who later appeared on Fáilte Towers and hosted the clip show Republic of Telly.

9. Jane Wilde (1821)

Ireland Writer

Nineteenth-century poet, Irish nationalist, and fairy tale enthusiast. She began her literary career by publishing political poems in The Nation.

10. Richard Corrigan (1964)

Irish Chef

Accomplished executive chef who earned a Michelin star in 1998 and has worked at Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill and Bentley's Sea Grill.

11. Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848)

American Artist

Irish-born American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who was seen as embodying the ideals of the American Renaissance.

12. Oscar Wilde (1854)

Irish Writer

Irish playwright, poet, and novelist who is best known for The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray. He is also famous for his memorable, witty epigrams.

13. George Bernard Shaw (1856)

Irish Playwright Critic And Poli

Irish author and playwright who valued socialism and women's rights. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925.

14. Columba Marmion (1858)

Irish Monk

Irish monk who was the third abbot of Maredsous Abbey, a monastery in Belgium.

15. Katharine Tynan (1859)

Irish Poet

Prolific Irish author of more than a hundred novels, numerous poems, and five autobiographical works. Her publications include Three Fair Maids, or the Burkes of Derrymore; The Land of Mist...

16. Michael McElhatton (1963)

Actor

Irish actor and writer who is best known for playing the role of Roose Bolton in the HBO series Game of Thrones in both season 2 and season 6. 

17. Victor Herbert (1859)

American Composer

Best known for composing numerous operettas that were fixtures of Broadway from the 1890s until World War I.

18. Roger Casement (1864)

Irish Nationalist Activist Patri

Irish revolutionary, diplomat, and writer who was hanged in 1916 on charges of treason. As British Consul for both Rio de Janeiro and the Eastern French Congo, he investigated human...

19. Robbie Keane (1980)

Irish Footballer

One of the top goalscorers in the history of the Premier League, where he spent most of his career with Tottenham Hotspur. He was named Tottenham Hotspur Player of the...

20. David Kelly (1929)

Actor

Late Irish actor best remembered as Grandpa Joe in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He was also known for his roles in Stardust, Into the West, and The Jigsaw Man....

21. Mary Lou McDonald (1969)

Irish Politician

From 2004 until 2009, this high-ranking member of Ireland's Sinn Fein political party was a Member of the European Parliament. In 2011, she became a Teachta Dala (member of the...

22. Brian McFadden (1980)

Irish Singer

Irish singer and one-time member of the boy band Westlife. He also pursued a successful solo career with several #1 hit songs, including "Real to Me" and "Almost Here."

23. Lola Ridge (1873)

American Poet

Feminist, anarchist poet and editor known for such poetry collections as The Ghetto (published in 1918) and Sun-Up (published in 1920). Her later works include Firehead and Dance of Fire....

24. Michael Mallin (1874)

Irish Rebel And Socialist

Irish socialist who became known for his role in the 1916 Easter Rising, and was Chief Training Officer of the Irish Citizen Army.

25. Patrick Pearse (1879)

Irish Revolutionary

Irish activist, author, and teacher who became known for his role in the 1916 Easter Rising.

26. Amy-Joyce Hastings (1980)

Irish Actor

Irish actress best known for her role as Kate Loughlin in The Callback Queen. She was also in the horror film Little Deaths.

27. Samuel Beckett (1906)

Irish Novelist Playwright And Po

Irish postmodernist writer who is most famous for his absurdist plays, Waiting for Godot and Endgame, and for novels such as Molloy, Malone Dies, and The Unnamable. He received the...

28. Chloë Agnew (1989)

Musician; Singer

Member of the group Celtic Women who performs her songs in four different languages, including in Italian and German.

29. Wilfrid Brambell (1912)

Irish Actor

Irish stage and screen actor who most notably appeared in a popular English sitcom called Steptoe and Son. He was also part of the cast of A Hard Day's Night,...

30. Jay Duffy (1996)

Soap Opera Actor

Famous for his portrayal of Declan Brady on the popular Irish soap opera Hollyoaks, he also appeared in a 2014 episode of the television series Vikings.

31. Emma Bolger (1996)

Irish Actor

She played Ariel in the film In America, which was directed by Jim Sheridan.

32. Keelin Shanley (1968)

Journalist

Irish journalist who was best known for her work at RTE, the national public service broadcaster of Ireland. She began working there in 1995.

33. Maeve Brennan (1917)

Journalist

Remembered for her essays and short stories for The New Yorker, she penned numerous pieces that were later compiled in collections such as The Long-Winded Lady: Notes from the New...

34. Johnny Kelly (1968)

American Drummer

American musician best known as the drummer for the metal band Type O Negative. After joining the band in 1994, he recorded gold-selling albums with the band like "October Rust."

35. Graham Linehan (1968)

Writer

Irish comedy writer and director known for his work on the sitcoms Father Ted, Black Books, and The IT Crowd. In 1996 he won a BAFTA Award for Best Comedy,...

36. Barry Andrews (1967)

Actor

Known as the chief executive officer of the international charity aid organization GOAL. He was appointed to the position in November 2012. In June 2014, he gave a Ted Talk...

37. Iris Murdoch (1919)

British Writer And Philosopher

A twentieth-century Irish-born novelist who wrote about timeless themes such as good vs. evil, sexual relationships, morality, and the unconscious, her best known works include Under the Net (1954), An...

38. Johnny Carey (1919)

YouTube Star

Full back who made more than 400 professional appearances for several teams, including Manchester United. He became manager of a number of teams after retirement.

39. Rejjie Snow (1993)

Rapper

The alter ego of Irish rapper Alex Anyaegbunam, he released his Rejovich EP in 2013. The music video for his track "Lost in Empathy" has earned over 800,000 views on...

40. Richard Todd (1919)

Actor

Remembered for his work on both stage and screen, he rose to fame after starring as Yank in the London stage production of The Hasty Heart and subsequently earned an...

41. Johnny Sexton (1985)

Rugby Player

Rugby fly-half who led Leinster Rugby in the Celtic League to an unprecedented three European Cups in four years. In 2013 he began playing for the British and Irish Lions...

42. Yaakov Herzog (1921)

Politician

Irish-born Israeli diplomat associated with the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as the director-general of the Prime Minister of Israel's office from 1965 to 1972.

43. Kevin Roche (1922)

Architect

Irish-American architect who won the Pritzker Prize in 1982. He designed and master planned more than 200 international projects, including devising the Metropolitan Museum of Art master plan in 1967. 

44. Eamonn Andrews (1922)

Irish Tv And Radio Personality

UK radio and television host and presenter who brought state television to the Emerald Isle.

45. Jill Whelan (1966)

American Actor And Singer

Late '70s and '80s star who is best remembered for her longtime role as Vicki Stubing on The Love Boat.

46. Brendan Behan (1923)

Irish Poet Short Story Writer No

Talented Irish poet and playwright who died of alcoholism. He wrote The Quare Fellow, The Hostage, and Borstal Boy.

47. Caitriona Balfe (1979)

Irish Model And Actress

Model turned actress best recognized for her role as Claire Randall in the television series Outlander. She has also had roles in the films Money Monster, Escape Plan and Now You...

48. Amy Shiels (1991)

Actress

Film and television actress well known for roles in the movies Citadel, Cowboys & Angels, Shattered and Slaughter who would join the long list of cast members in the revival...

49. Mark McKenna (1996)

Actor

Actor and singer with a starring role in the 2016 coming-of-age musical comedy Sing Street. He'd go on to star as the titular character on the YouTube series Wayne in 2019.

50. Nadia Forde (1989)

Model

Actress, model, singer, and television personality who appeared on the sketch comedy show The Republic of Telly and top rated Celebrity Salon. She released a single titled "BPM" in the...