Read more: The top ten Irish Americans on Twitter - SEE PHOTOS

Just one week after Twitter’s fifth birthday TIME magazine has announced the "top 140 Twitter feed that are shaping the conversation". We sifted through their results from an extensive survey and found the 15 Irish and Irish Americans who made the cut.

Over the past five years the micro-blogging site has racked up more than 175 million users and over a billion tweets per week. It has become and international forum for sharing information and creating debate.

A brilliant example of how this site has made the world even smaller is the speed at which it allows us to communicate. At the beginning of March Twitter set a record of 6,939 tweets per second immediately after the 9.0 earthquake in Japan, 177 million tweets were posted that day.

Here's a low down of our most influential Irish and Irish american tweeters and their latest tweets:

1. Sarah Palin- former governor of Alaska

465,192 followers

"Hope FOX re-airs Greta's special. Very good. MT "@gretawire: re-air tape of Ferraro responding, called a racist..fox news channel to see it""


2.  Neil Patrick Harris- actor "How I Met Your Mother"

1,305,231 followers

" Muu haa haa! Muu HA haaa haaaaaa! First the book, then... the WORLD!! http://twe.ly/Jfhb"

3. Stephen Colbert- political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor

2,143,778 followers

"I'm glad I did that segment about unions, though I would've walked out in the middle if it spilled over into my break time."

4. Maureen Johnson - children's author

28,136 followers

"I have lots of good things coming up for the RELEASE of The Last Little Blue Envelope. SO MANY GOOD THINGS . . . *smiles*"  

5. Conan O’Brien - television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer

2,774,801 followers

“Had that dream again last night where the GEICO lizard makes me hold his legs down while he does sit-ups.”

6. Sean Hannity - radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator

144,63 followers

“@LyndaMick & @ElishaKrauss are jealous. RT @AndreaTantaros Me & Bradley Cooper at Fox. Talk about job perks! http://twitpic.com/4eoby7


7.  Ellen DeGeneres - stand-up comedienne, television host and actress

6,292,943 followers

“I think the dictionary people might be spending too much time on Twitter.http://ellen.tv/hKi2w

8. Ashton Kutcher - actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian

6,503,003 followers

“Primitive communication. As a twin I appreciate this-> http://bit.ly/eRSVff

9. Jimmy Fallon    - actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host

3,363,451 followers

“Thanks so much to my BFF for 6 months @stephenathome for doing this. what a great guy. http://bit.ly/hfu1ST

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website/page</a>


10.Bill Maher - stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor

456,852 followers

“Latest set of #NewRules from last week’s episode of #RealTime(@HBO) - http://say.ly/JgxdmL

11. John McCain - senior United States Senator from Arizona

1,713,611 followers

“The President made a good case for US involvement in #Libya, but I believe the US must remain strongly engaged 2 force Qaddafi 2 leave power”

12. Rory McIlroy - professional golfer

162,929 followers

“Big match at the bears club today. @haza136 and myself taking on @Luke_Donald and camilo Villegas.”

13. Danny Sullivan - technologist

119,505 followers

“@fivethirtyeight never mind, found it at http://bit.ly/iayYmf - don't think you're pulling stats accurately. have idea if you want em, DM”

14. Ann Curry - television news journalist and news anchor

1,053,180 followers

“‘My wish for you is that you fall into love like a burning coal that falls into water and keeps burning.’-Rumi”

15. Ana Marie Cox - author and blogger

1,418,117 followers

“Hello, goodbye! Off the grid through April -- @lehmannchris will be providing #puppyporn,#grumblyculturalcommentary in my stead. Much love”

Read more: The top ten Irish Americans on Twitter - SEE PHOTOS