1. Hillary Clinton - No Irish roots but her role in Irish peace process and her involvement with Irish American causes will never be forgotten.
2. Sarah Palin - Descended from Irish Catholic family the Sheerans from County Roscommon. Michael Sheeran emigrated in the 1840s. Second woman on a presidential ticket.
3. Maureen Dowd - Top columnist in America, Irish born father, Irish American mother. The New York Times' most popular writer.
4. Diane Sawyer - Scots Irish, ABC anchor, and all round news maven. Used to work for President Nixon.Traced her roots to Banbridge, County Down.
5. Rosie O'Donnell - Parents from Donegal. One of America's best known talk show hosts. Traced her Irish roots for NBC series.
6. Mary Higgins Clark - America's most popular novelist. New York Parade Grand Marshal and Ellis Island Medal Winner
7. Soledad O'Brien - CNN anchor with multiple ethnic roots, but often stresses her Irish side. Her father, Edward, was Australian Irish
8. Great Van Susteren - Said on Fox news "Yes, I know, my last name sure does not hint that I might be Irish….but my Mother was 100 per cent Irish!! I even went to school in Ireland for a time while in college.”
9. Peggy Noonan - Wall Street journal columnist. Former Reagan script writer credited with some of his greatest lines. Brooklyn Irish roots.
10. Margaret Brennan - Bloomberg anchor. Rising star, does many key interviews on Irish economy. Connecticut Irish roots.
15 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Ofearghail | Mar 21, 2012, 12:52 AM EDT
After reading this list, I am sorely tempted to drop my membership in Irish Central. What a sorry, embarrassing and inaccurate excuse for a "top ten list." I thought this site would be better than this.
doyathink | Mar 20, 2012, 11:19 AM EDT
Your editorial staff must have celebrated St. Pat's day pretty hard to come up with that list. Hillary and Palin in the top slots? Surely you jest. I thought this was to encourage people to celebrate their Irish roots, not hide them. I agree with katie55418. Caroline Kennedy should have been on the list. Glad to see Diane Sawyer and Maureen Dowd were included.
hughoneill | Mar 20, 2012, 12:14 AM EDT
Please, enough with all these idiotic list on Irish Central. Many of us, Irish or not, would put our mothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, nieghbors, coaches, teachers above all others. Celebrate the common, unsung heros, not celebrities.
SingleDonald | Mar 18, 2012, 06:11 PM EDT
I'm going to name my early grade school classmate. She made the 75 Most Influential Irish Women in America, in 2009. Well, maybe the Top 10 is asking a bit much. However,she should be considered for the top 25, or 30. I'm referring to the advertising executive, who runs PK Network Communications, in NYC-Patricia Kehoe!
Murph46 | Mar 18, 2012, 03:25 PM EDT
citizen69 that makes Michelle eligible as she is married to that Irishman from Moneygall!
katie55418 | Mar 18, 2012, 01:59 PM EDT
Sarah Palin. . . FOR REAL????? I think Caroline Kennedy should have made the list. With quiet dignity she has shown that she can raise a family, survive the tragedies in her life and lead by example; not necessarily because of who she is but rather in spite of who she is. My hero.
citizen69 | Mar 18, 2012, 01:33 PM EDT
So now even Hillary Clinton is Irish because she is a friend of Irish Americans!
Murph46 | Mar 18, 2012, 12:19 PM EDT
OK we will censor it just for you irishultraliberalcoffeekid kinda like when Hitler burned the books-just to make you happy.
irishcoffeekid | Mar 18, 2012, 12:13 PM EDT
please take sarah palin off the list - it galls me to think she could be as thick as she is and have any irish roots!!!
mikeallen | Mar 18, 2012, 11:22 AM EDT
Neither Sarah Palin nor Geraldine Ferraro were the first woman candidate on a presidential ticket. It was Victoria Claflin Woodhull who was a presidential candidate for the Equal Rights Party in 1872. Of course, don't forget Gracie Allen who ran for president for the Surprise Party in 1940.
Murph46 | Mar 18, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT
How about Michelle O'Bama she is married to an Irishman!lol
natton | Mar 18, 2012, 11:07 AM EDT
You forgot Christine Quinn, New York City Council President whose father is Irish and who is the second most powerful person in NYC
Murph46 | Mar 18, 2012, 11:07 AM EDT
And guess what,you can't even spell the name right of the conservative Fox broadcaster!
francisquinn | Mar 18, 2012, 10:15 AM EDT
You have listed a few that Iam embarassed to even think they are Irish...Rose O'D....she is an embarrassment. Maureen Down could wright for the Cuban Press....
haasny007 | Mar 18, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT
Sarah Palin was NOT the first woman on presidential ticket. Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman on a presidential ticket in 1984.