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".
