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The top ten Irish people of all time - PHOTOS

IrishCentral’s list of influential male and female Gaels

FRIEDA KLOTZ,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, August 29, 2011, 7:03 AM

Updated Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 4:24 PM

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Literary genius, author of 'Ulysses' James Joyce

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SEE PHOTOS - The top ten Irish people of all time

An Irish magazine just came out with a list of the top ten Gaels of all time. We know it’s hard to include all the right people in a list, but we were surprised to see this one had not a single woman.

Ever since Queen Maeve took up arms against her husband, Conor, because he had a bull that she wanted, Ireland has been known for its strong women. Female activists and artists have long had a role in Ireland’s culture.

What women would you include in a list of great Irish Gaels?

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We thought about about former president Mary Robinson, who was high commissioner at the UN and continues to work to promote human rights. And Samantha Powers, a journalist, public policy professor and former advisor to Obama. And Veronica Guerin, a reporter dogged in her pursuit of Dublin criminals until they gunned her down in 1996.

What about Sinead O’Connor for her musical talent and controversial public gestures? (Ok, we’re not going to include her in the top 10 – but she’d make it into a top 50 list, for sure).

We’d also like to include Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Betty Williams who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for their work in Belfast. Going back in time a little, there’s Maud Gonne, Yeats’ muse and an actress and feminist in her own right, and Countess Markievicz, who wore pants and carried a gun in the 1916 rising.

Here’s IrishCentral’s list, a mix of influential male and female Gaels. We probably haven’t got everyone, and there are more we’d like to add.

1. William Butler Yeats
2. Mary Robinson
3. Veronica Guerin
4. Samuel Beckett
5. James Joyce
6. Michael Collins
7. Eamon De Valera
8. Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Betty Williams (joint)
9. Samantha Powers
10. Heck, why not Queen Maeve!

Who do you think is worthy of a place in the top ten?

SEE PHOTOS - The top ten Irish people of all time

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32 Comments

15 - 32 | See all comments

Brolaur | Aug 30, 2011, 02:16 PM EDT

"Klotz" speaks or itself.

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sirpeter | Aug 30, 2011, 12:40 PM EDT

JamesDempsey!! You beat me to it.I would leave out de Valera as well.He did cause the civil war and his big argument was taking the "Oath of Allegience to the crown"Oaths were a big deal in those days.Then later he took the oath himself to get into government.That's a big minus towards Dev in my opinion.

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JamesDempsey | Aug 30, 2011, 04:35 AM EDT

@ Searlit Once again I would like to say that de Valera was a power hungry sneak who defied the democratic will of the people and caused a civil war which still divides the country to some degree even today!

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JohnJoe4444 | Aug 30, 2011, 04:28 AM EDT

Usual standard of top 10 isms. Daniel O Connell, Eamon DeValera, John Redmond, Wolfe Tone, Charles Parnell, Padraig Pearse, Admiral John Barry, Archbishop Mannix... There are countless thousands of Irish men and women who toiled all their lives for the country but did so without seeking fame or fortune.

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tullow1955 | Aug 29, 2011, 11:31 PM EDT

Well I am with Brian Boru, Daniel O Connell....etc. but what about Garrett Fitzgerald.....

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Searlit | Aug 29, 2011, 07:46 PM EDT

I would choose Brian Boru, Art MacMurragh, Red Hugh O'Neil, Grace O'Malley, Daniel O'Connell, James Connelly, Michael Collins, Bobby Sands, Gerry Adams, & Eamon DeValera (someone had to take a stand, even if he turned the government into cronies). I could add a priest, Father John Murphy. There were many great Irishmen and women who gave their all for Ireland, too many to name, sadly.

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Liamkeyes | Aug 29, 2011, 07:45 PM EDT

I really didnt expect to make it this time but definitely next time.

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Rebelforce | Aug 29, 2011, 06:40 PM EDT

Mary Robinson on the list but not Daniel "The Liberator" O'Connell? Samantha Powers, but not King Brian Boru? Veronica Guerin, but not Rosemary Nelson? Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland left off the list entirely. So much for this list.

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seanomelbourne | Aug 29, 2011, 06:29 PM EDT

Klotz by name and Klotz by nature Frieda has no concept of Ireland or it,s history the above list is borne out of ignorance. Maguire and Williams allowed themselves to become a tool of the British propoganda machine I remember their disgraceful visit to Melbourne,BTW their contact address's in Australia were the British diplomatic missions.

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JamesDempsey | Aug 29, 2011, 06:26 PM EDT

Sirpeter, agreed for both comments

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sirpeter | Aug 29, 2011, 05:59 PM EDT

Sinead O’Connor for her musical talent?? She has a good singing voice that's it.Ireland doesn't have any shortage of vocal talent.I could list 300 Irish artists who would leave her standing when it comes to musical talent

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sirpeter | Aug 29, 2011, 05:46 PM EDT

I'd have General Tom Barry on that list.Without him there would never have been a truce which lead to independence.He defeated a British force of 1500 men to Barrys 300 at Crossbarry.He would never ask a soldier to do anything that he wouldn't do himself.The man was a tactical genius.

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cillowen | Aug 29, 2011, 05:02 PM EDT

Niall of the Nine Hostages has to be numero uno. Without his taking of Patrick as slave what else is more noteworthy than that. The others are johnny come lately - mostly Anglos.

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JamesDempsey | Aug 29, 2011, 03:51 PM EDT

Literary genius, author of 'Ulysses' and 'Waiting for Godot' James Joyce Waiting for Godot was samuel beckett! Very very sloppy work indeed Miss Klotz.

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JamesDempsey | Aug 29, 2011, 03:17 PM EDT

What a joke! Veronica Guerin ! Eamon de Valera ! and Samantha "who" Power! What a silly list mixed in with a few good ones. Not to take away from Veronica Guerin's brave nature, but she has no place on the list of greatest ever Irish people. de Valera ! where to begin ? fair enough he was cunning enough to see the chance to declare a republic and seperate from the UK but this man went against the democratic will of the people of Ireland and caused a civil all for the sake of him gaining power, using the excuse of the conditions of the free state, a state which he was happily in charge of for many years to come after. how in the hell can u put him on this list? politics in Ireland are still divided by civil war politics because of him

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