Gerry Adams (born 6 October 1948) is an Irish Republican politician and abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, which is the second largest political party in Northern Ireland and fourth largest party in the Republic of Ireland.
John O'Hara (January 31, 1905–April 11, 1970) was an American writer born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He initially made a name for himself with his short stories and later became a best-selling novelist whose works include Appointment in Samarra and BUtterfield 8. He was particularly known for an uncannily accurate ear for dialogue. O'Hara was a keen observer of social status and class differences, and wrote frequently about the socially ambitious.
T.K. Whitaker (born December 8, 1916) is a former Irish economist and public servant, credited with a pivotal role in the economic development of Ireland.
Oscar Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish playwright, poet and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day.
William Brown was born in Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland on June 22, 1777 and died in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 3, 1857. Brown's victories in the Independence War, the Argentina-Brazil War, and the Guerra Grande in Uruguay earned the respect and appreciation of the Argentine people, and today he is regarded as one of Argentina's national heroes. Creator and first admiral of the country's maritime forces, he is commonly known as the "father of the Argentine Navy".
Ned Kelly (3 June 1854 – 11 November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, and, to some, a folk hero for his defiance of the colonial authorities.His daring and notoriety made him an iconic figure in Australian history, folk lore, literature, art and film.
This week's famous Irishman is Sir Roger Casement. Sir Roger Casement (1 September 1864 – 3 August 1916) was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary and nationalist. He was a British consul by profession famous for his reports and activities against human rights abuses in the Congo and Peru, but better known for his dealings with Germany before Ireland's Easter Rising in 1916.
This week's famous Irishman is John Ford. John Ford (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973) was an American film director of Irish heritage famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach and The Searchers and adaptations of such 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath.
John Barry (1745 – 1803) was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later in the United States Navy. He is often credited as "The Father of the American Navy". Barry was born in Tacumshane, County Wexford, Ireland and appointed a Captain in the Continental Navy 7 December 1775.
This week's famous Irish woman is Maria Edgeworth.
Maria Edgeworth (1 January 1767 – 22 May 1849) was an Anglo-Irish novelist. She was explicit about the fact that all her stories had a moral purpose behind them, usually pointing out the duty of members of the upper class toward their tenants.
This week's famous Irishman is F. Scott Fitzgerald.
F. Scott Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American writer of novels and short stories, whose works are evocative of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the twentieth century's greatest writers.
James T. Farrell (February 27, 1904 - August 22, 1979) was an American novelist. One of his most famous works was the Studs Lonigan trilogy, which was made into a film in 1960 and later into a television miniseries in 1979.
This week's famous Irishman is Richard Martin. Richard Martin (15 January 1754 – 6 January 1834) was an Irish politician and animal rights activist. He was also nicknamed the "Wilberforce of Hacks"and "Humanity Dick".
This week's famous Irishman is Thomas Francis Meagher. Thomas Francis Meagher (August 3, 1823 – July 1, 1867) was an Irish nationalist, a Union Army general during the American Civil War, and American politician. In his younger years he was an Irish revolutionary, fighting for Ireland's independence from British rule. He was known as "Meagher of the Sword" due to his fiery revolutionary speeches. During this time Meagher introduced the flag that is now the national Flag of Ireland.
Joe McGrath (1887 – 1966) was an Irish politician. He was also a Sinn Féin and later a Cumann na nGaedhael Teachta Dála for various constituencies in Dublin and County Mayo and developed widespread business interests.
This week's famous Irishman is Archbishop John Joseph Hughes.
Archbishop John Joseph Hughes (June 24, 1797 – January 3, 1864) was the fourth bishop and first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. He founded St. John's College (now Fordham University) and began construction of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
This week's famous Irishman is Charles Gavan Duffy. Charles Gavan Duffy (12 April 1816 – 9 February 1903) Irish nationalist and Australian colonial politician, was the 8th Premier of Victoria and one of the most colorful figures in Victorian political history.
This week's famous Irishman is Turlough Carolan. Turlough Carolan (1670 – 1738) was a blind, itinerant early Irish harper, composer and singer whose great fame is due to his gift for melodic composition. He was the last great Irish harper-composer and is considered by many to be Ireland's national composer.
