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The top ten Irish of all time

By
Frieda Klotz
,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, November 21, 2009, 10:25 AM
Updated Saturday, November 21, 2009, 3:05 PM

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The top ten Irish of all time | IrishCentral




Read more: Mary Robinson, Ireland, William Butler Yeats, Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan
James Joyce comes in at number five
James Joyce comes in at number five

As we near the end of a decade, it’s that time again – the time for top 10 lists.

We’re not the only  ones to be thinking about it. An Irish magazine just came out with a list of the top 10 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?

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

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!

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The top ten Irish of all time | IrishCentral


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Most recent comments - See all comments

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Posted by Rebelforce on Jan 05, 2010, 05:22 PM EST
Samantha Power is on the top ten list but no Daniel O'Connell, or Edmund Burke, or Saint Brendan the Navigator? This is a joke right?
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Posted by HeadHoncho on Jan 05, 2010, 05:21 PM EST
Queen Maeve! by Bill Murphy gets my vote.
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Posted by TomSwinford on Jan 05, 2010, 12:26 PM EST
I'm at a complete loss to understand how some of these people (or mythical characters) made it to your top ten most influential in Irish history. Queen Maeve - heck! why not Fionn Mac Cumhaill? Samantha Powers - who is she? Veronica Guerin - yes, worthy of our respect and admiration but hardly amongst the ten most influential in Irish history. Where is "Swaggering, Blathering" Dan O'Connell, largely responsible for Catholic Emancipation in 1829? What about Charles Stewart Parnell, the "Uncrowned King of Ireland?" Let's try again, huh?
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Posted by erieshark on Jan 03, 2010, 12:15 PM EST
In recent decades, American and English Irish should be included in the list so I would add John Fitzgerald Kennedy and a joint entry of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Of "all time", surely must include Saint Patrick himself.
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Posted by jimmy12003 on Dec 21, 2009, 06:38 PM EST
i checked out this page, just to make sure that they didnt add the one ar-sehole who is responsible for the mess in ireland at the moment! Bertie Ahern! the difference is, michael collins died for the people of ireland! the bertie is responsible for the murder of irish jobs, health care and self respect, of the people who trusted him to provide a future! a complete cu-nt!
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Posted by thesurf on Nov 24, 2009, 12:04 PM EST
How about Father Murphy,Father Michael, Kelly, Plunket, Conlin. I agree with Yates,Collins and maybe even Joyce, but lets put the ones in that realy gave up something for all the Worlds Irish. We should never forget, and start saying that two faced politicians, and movie stars are the best we can do.






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