Ireland Political System, Famous People, Animals and Plants

By | January 15, 2023

Ireland: Political System

According to COMPUTERMINUS.COM, Ireland is a parliamentary democratic republic. The Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of two chambers, the House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann) with 166 seats and the Senate (Seanad Éireann) with 60 seats. The head of the country is the president, who is directly elected for seven years and for a maximum of two terms. The Prime Minister is elected by Parliament every five years. He appoints the ministers of his cabinet and has extremely strong political authority. See AbbreviationFinder for more information about Ireland politics, and acronyms as well.

The official name of the country is:

Ireland

National anthem

The national anthem of Ireland was written by Peadar Kearney in 1907. The music is from Kearney and Patrick Heeney. The chorus of the song, which was sung during the Easter Rising in 1916, was officially recognized as the national anthem in 1926.

In English In the English translation
The Soldier’s SongWe’ll sing a song, a soldier’s song,

With cheering rousing chorus,

As round our blazing fires we throng,

The starry heavens o’er us;

Impatient for the coming fight,

And as we wait the morning’s light,

Here in the silence of the night,

We’ll chant a soldier’s song.

Refrain:

Soldiers are we

whose lives are pledged to Ireland;

Some have come

from a land beyond the wave.

Sworn to be free,

No more our ancient sire land

Shall shelter the despot or the slave.

Tonight we man the gap of danger

In Erin’s cause, come woe or weal

‘Mid cannons’ roar and rifles peal,

We’ll chant a soldier’s song.

In valley green, on towering crag,

Our fathers fought before us,

And conquered ‘neath the same old flag

That’s proudly floating o’er us.

We’re children of a fighting race,

That never yet has known disgrace,

And as we march, the foe to face,

We’ll chant a soldier’s song.

(Refrain)

Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!

The long watched day is breaking;

The serried ranks of Inisfail

Shall set the Tyrant quaking.

Our camp fires now are burning low;

See in the east a silv’ry glow,

Out yonder waits the Saxon foe,

So chant a soldier’s song.

(Refrain)

The soldier’s songWe sing a song, a soldier’s song,

In the fiery and roaring choir,

While we gather around our campfires.

The starry sky lies above us;

Longing for the approaching battle

As we wait for daybreak,

Here in the stillness of the night

we sing this soldier’s song.

Refrain:

We are soldiers, our life belongs to Ireland;

Some came from a land beyond the waves.

We want to be free, nothing else is what our Irish people want.

Let the oppressors and the oppressed hide;

Tonight we are fighting for our Irish homeland!

For Ireland, whether in victory or defeat,

With the thunder of cannons and the crack of rifles;

We sing this soldier’s song.

In the green valleys and on the mountain heights

, our fathers fought before us.

And conquered under the same venerable flag,

Which now proudly blows over our heads.

We are children of a constantly defensive nation that

has not yet been shamed.

Marching and looking the enemy in the face,

let’s sing this soldier’s song.

(Refrain)

Sons of the Gael! Men of the morning!

The long-awaited day is breaking;

The brave fighters of Ireland

will put the enemy to flight.

Our campfires have now burned down;

See the silvery glow in the east.

The Saxons are already waiting over there,

so tune in to our soldier’s song!

(Refrain)

National flag

The national flag of Ireland was officially introduced on December 29, 1937. Based on flag descriptions by Countryaah.com, the colors of the flag can be interpreted as follows:

– Green symbolizes the green island and the Catholics

– White symbolizes peace between the religions

– Orange symbolizes the Protestants based on William of Orange

  • Check top-mba-universities for public holidays, sports events, UNESCO world heritage sites and major places to visit in Ireland.

Ireland: Known People

Doctors and natural scientists

Robert Boyle (1627-1692)

natural philosopher, chemist, physicist. Robert Boyle was born in Lismore Castle in 1627 and studied mathematics and philosophy in all cities in Europe. He discovered the relationship between pressure and volume of a gas, published several important scientific papers (including on qualitative chemical analysis) and helped create the Royal Society. Boyle died in London in 1692.

William Cecil Campbell (born 1930)

Nobel Laureate. William Cecil Campbell was born on June 28, 1930 in Ramelton. After graduating from high school, he studied medicine at Trinity College, University of Dublin, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1952. He then went to the USA, where he received his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1954 and his doctorate in 1957. He then worked at the Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research in Kenilworth, New Jersey, until 1990.

Together with the Japanese Satoshi Omura, he received half of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine 2015 for his work on a therapy with the active ingredient avermectin against infections with roundworms

The other half of the award went to Youyou Tu from China for her advances in malaria research.

Ernest Walton (1903-1995),

physicist and, together with a colleague, Nobel Prize laureate from 1951 “for their pioneering work in the field of atomic nucleus conversion by artificially accelerated atomic particles”. Ernest Thomas Sinton Walton was born in Dungarvan in 1903 and studied experimental physics in Dublin, among other things. He went to Cambridge to do research. He later taught natural philosophy and experimental physics as a professor at Trinity College in Dublin. Walton died in Belfast in 1995.

Musician

Boyzone

pop band. In 1993 the boy band of Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Mike Graham, Keith Duffy and Stephen Gatley was founded in Dublin and landed several worldwide hits. Her first was “Love Me For A Reason” in 1994. “No Matter What” and “Picture Of You” followed later. The cover version of “Words” was also a huge success. In 2000 the band broke up, but came back together in 2007 – but without Stephen Gatley, since he has passed away.

Moya Brennan (born 1952)

pop singer. In 1952, Máire Ní Bhraonáin was born in Gweedore. Singer Enya’s sister studied singing and harp at the Dublin Royal Irish Academy of Music and became a member of Clannad’s band. From 1992 a solo career followed, which started with the debut album “Máire”. Her ballads often have a Christian background. For example, she sang at the World Youth Day in Cologne alongside Pope Benedict XVI.

Chris de Burgh (born 1948)

Singer and composer. Christopher John Davison was born in Argentina in 1948 – his father worked there as a diplomat. He later graduated from Trinity College in Dublin and devoted himself to music. His two biggest hits are called “Don’t Pay The Ferryman” (1982) and “The Lady In Red” (1986). To date, de Burgh has received around 200 gold and platinum honors. In his songs, which are popular around the world, the singer and composer usually tells warming stories and fairy tales.

Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738)

Composer, harp player. Turlough O’Carolan was born in County Meath in 1670 to a farmer and went blind in his youth after a devastating smallpox disease. Nevertheless, he achieved worldwide fame for his compositions, which are somewhere between Irish folklore and Italian baroque and were almost exclusively written in the Irish language. O’Carolan, who rose to the rank of Irish national composer, died in 1738.

Clannad

folk music band. In 1970 Clannad in Gweedore was founded by Máire Brennan, Ciarán Brennan, Noel Duggan and Padraig Duggan – all members of the Brennan family of musicians. Your style is world music. With the 1997 album “Landmarks”, the band won a Grammy in the New Age category. Clannad is considered an innovator in Irish folk music.

Sinéad O’Connor (born 1966)

pop singer. Sinéad O’Connor was born in Glenageary in 1966. The polarizing singer had her breakthrough in 1990 with the hit album “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” and of course with the single “Nothing Compares 2 U” (a cover by the musician Prince). She was controversial because she shaved her hair and opposed the Catholic Church, but also harbored sympathy for the IRA.

The Corrs

pop group. The Corrs was founded in Dundalk in 1990 and celebrated their breakthrough in 1995 with the album “Forgiven, Not Forgotten”. Members include the siblings Andrea (born 1974), Caroline (born 1973), Sharon (born 1970) and Jim (born 1964). In Germany her song “Breathless” was probably most noticed in the early 2000s and played in clubs. The Corrs is one of the most famous pop bands in Ireland.

The Cranberries

rock group. Founded in Limerick in 1989, the rock band celebrated international success five years later with the album “No Need To Argue”. The single “Zombie” got the greatest approval from the audience. The song dealt with the conflict in Northern Ireland and convinced with intense guitar sounds. Members include Dolores O’Riordan (born 1971), Noel Antony Hogan (born 1971), Michael Gerard Hogan (born 1973) and Fergal Patrick Lawler (born 1971). In 2003 the band broke up, but in 2009 they reappeared on the musical stage.

The Dubliners

Folk Band. The group “The Dubliners” was formed in 1962 at O’Donoghue’s Pub in Dublin as The Ronnie Drew Folk Group and had become one of the most popular Irish groups over the years.

But not only the Irish were enthusiastic about their sentimental, wistful music. But in 1974 Ciarán Bourke suffered a cerebral haemorrhage during a performance in Bournemouth, of which he died in 1988.

Luke Kelly died in 1984 of complications from a brain tumor and Ronnie Drew died of throat cancer on August 16, 2008 in Dublin.

The last founding member, eccentric singer and banjo player Barney McKenna, collapsed at his home and died on April 5, 2012 on his way to a Dublin hospital.

After his death, John Sheahan (born 1939) announced that the Dubliners had broken up after the concert on December 31, 2012.

Anyone who experienced it personally will never forget it – the group’s live concert in Dublin in 1984.

The most successful songs include “The Wild Rover” (Klaus & Klaus made it into “An der Nordseeküste” in Germany) and a cover version of “Whiskey in the Jar”. Usually it is so-called pub songs that the band plays.

Enya (born 1961)

new age singer. Eithne Patricia Ni Bhraonáin was born in 1961 in Gweedore into a family of musicians. After she was initially a member of the band Clannad, she started a solo career.

With the hits “Only Time” (2000) or “May It Be” (2002) she landed at number 1 in the German charts. But already in 1988 she caused a sensation worldwide with the song “Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)”. Over and over again, Enya addresses nature in her mostly calming songs.

Rory Gallagher (1948-1995)

guitarist and songwriter. William Rory Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon in 1948 and began playing the guitar at the age of nine. The great Irish musician was in his element with the electric guitar in the blues-rock genre. His most important albums include “Blueprint” (1972), “Tattoo” (1973) and “Against the Grain” (1975). Gallagher, who was discovered in a London club in the late 1960s and became one of the most influential guitarists in the world, died in the British capital in 1995.

Rea Garvey (1973)

Singer, guitarist. Raymond Michael Garvey was born in Tralee in 1973, but moved to Germany in the late 1980s. There he started a career as a singer – until 2010 as the front man of the pop band Reamonn, with whom he had the hit “Supergirl”. He is often on stage with different musicians. In 2006, for example, he landed at number 1 in the charts when he sang “All Good Things (Come To An End)” with Nelly Furtado. His first solo album, “Can’t Stand The Silence”, was released in 2011 and landed at number four in the German charts.

Bob Geldof (born 1954)

Singer, songwriter, guitarist. Robert Frederick Geldof was born in Dun Laoghaire in 1951 and later caused a sensation with his band Boomtown Rats. Geldof and his band celebrated their international breakthrough with songs like “I Don’t Like Mondays” (1979). In 1985 and 2005 the musician organized the famous Live 8 concert for the benefit of the Third World. Numerous prizes and an accolade vouch for the quality of the great Irishman.

Jedward

pop band. The Duo Jedward consists of the twins John Paul Henry Daniel Richard and Edward Peter Anthony Kevin Patrick Grimes, who were both born in Dublin in 1991. In 2009 they had their breakthrough on the talent show “The X Factor”. Since then, the two performers with tower hairstyles, known for their jumps and whirls on stage, have celebrated numerous successes and also took part in the Eurovision Song Contest. In Germany her hit “Lipstick” is best known.

Johnny Logan (born 1954)

Singer, composer. Born in 1954 as Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard O’Hagan in Melbourne, the musician is the son of a famous tenor from Ireland. He had his breakthrough in the 1980s with songs like “Hold Me Now” (1987). Logan has already released over 20 albums. The world knows him primarily through his 80s appearances at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Phil Lynott (born 1949-1986)

Singer and songwriter, rock bassist. Philip Parris Lynott was born in West Bromwich in 1949 and started his musical career in 1969 with the formation of Thin Lizzy in Dublin. Success came with his songs about outsiders. One of his famous hits was “Out In The Fields”. Lynott died in Salisbury in 1986 as a result of too much alcohol and drugs.

Christy Moore (born 1945)

Singer, musician and songwriter. Christy Moore was born on May 7, 1945 in Newbridge, County Kildare.

With his school friend Dónal Lunny he founded the band Rakes of Kildare in 1964. In addition, he did an apprenticeship as a banker and moved to England in 1966, where he was active in the London pub and music scene and made contacts with other Irish musicians. His debut album “Paddy On The Road” was released in 1969 and resulted in the formation of Panxty in 1972 – one of the most famous Irish folk bands of the 1970s, with which he was the front man.

He had returned to Ireland in 1971.

The band broke up 1975 but appeared again briefly in 1979 and 2004.

In the course of the 1970s and 1980s he recorded a large number of records, but was also toured with other bands, such as Planxty, which he co-founded, and the Moving Hearts.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, he struggled with health problems and therefore rarely performed, but released other albums. His most successful album was “Listen”, which he released in 2009 and thus conquered number 1 in the Irish charts.

The Pogues

folk punk band. The Pogues was founded in 1981 and has had changing band members since then. Her biggest hits include “Fairytale of New York” and “The Irish Rovers”. The band flourished in the 1980s and established the folk punk genre for the first time. In this country, The Pogues is more known to people outside of the mainstream.

U2

rock band. The members of the rock band, founded in Dublin in 1976, include Paul David Hewson alias Bono (born 1960), who actively campaigns for aid in Africa, David Howell Evans (The Edge) (born 1961), Larry Mullen Junior (born . 1961) and Adam Clayton (born 1960). Most of her albums landed at number 1 on the charts, which led to countless awards. Blockbuster hits are songs like “Beautiful Day” or “With Or Without You”. The band’s few critics accuse frontman Bono of presenting himself as a do-gooder.

Westlife

boy band. The pop band was founded in 1998 and lasted until 2012. The members included Nicholas Bernhard James Adam Byrne (born 1978), Shane Steven Filan (born 1979), Kian John Francis Egan (born 1980), Marcus Michael Patrick Feehily (born 1980) and until 2004 Brian McFadden (born 1980). Westlife got off to a real start, especially in England, with 14 number 1 positions in the charts. This included cover versions of pop ballads like “Uptown Girl” as well as songs called “You Raise Me Up”.

Politicians and rulers

Patrick Bartholemew Ahern (born 1951)

Prime Minister since 1997.

Erskine Hamilton Childers (1905-1974)

President of Ireland from 1973-1974.

William Thomas Cosgrave (1880-1965)

Chairman of the Irish Provisional Government from 1922 and first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922-1932.

Eamon De Valera (1882-1975)

President of Ireland from 1959 to 1973.

Arthur Griffith (1872-1922)

President of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Patrick John Hillery (born 1923)

President of Ireland from 1976 to 1990.

Douglas Hyde (1860-1949)

first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945.

Seán MacBride (1904 – 1988)

politician and one of the founders of the human rights organization Amnesty International. In 1974 he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his longstanding commitment to human rights.

Mary Patricia McAleese (born 1951)

President of Ireland since 1997.

Seán Tomás O´Ceallaigh (1882-1966)

‘President of Ireland from 1945 to 1959.

Micheál O´Coileáin (1890-1922)

leader of the Irish struggle for independence from 1919 to 1922 and chairman of the Provisional Government in 1922.

Cearbhall O´Dálaigh (1911-1978)

President of Ireland from 1974-1976.

Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891)

politician. He was a Member of Parliament in London and was a strong advocate for the independence of the Irish and their rights.

Mary Robinson (born 1944)

President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997.

Writer, poet

Brendan Behan (1923-1964)

Writer, journalist and playwright. Brendan Francis Aidan Behan was born in Dublin in 1923 into an impoverished family and was considered a rebel. During his short life, he was imprisoned several times for drunkenness, rioting and a planned bomb attack. He was with the IRA. Behan wrote, among other things, “The Hostage and Other Plays” and “Confessions of an Irish Rebel”, in which he processed, among other things, his stays in prison. His colloquial dialogues and the use of Gaelic in literature made him popular. Behan died in Dublin in 1964 as a result of his alcohol and drug addiction.

Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973)

Elizabeth Dorothea Cole Bowen was born in Dublin in 1899 and was a member of the famous Bloomsbury Group. Her debut, Encounters, appeared in 1923. This was followed by numerous novels in which she dealt critically with the collapse of Britain’s top ten thousand. Her friends also included the author Virginia Woolf, with whom she associated the extraordinary character sketches of her characters. Bowen died in London in 1973.

Flann O’Brien (1911-1966)

Writer. Flann O’Brien was born in Strabane in 1911 and studied languages in Cologne, among other places. He not only wrote “Auf Swimming-Zwei-Vögel”, which is considered to be one of the most important books of the modern era and the founding work of postmodernism, but also “The Third Policeman”, both of which were translated by Harry Rowohlt. James Joyce was a huge O’Brien fan. His art of introspection was repeatedly praised. O’Brien died in Dublin in 1966.

Eoin Colfer (born 1965)

Writer. Eoin Colfer was born in Wexford in 1956 and studied in Dublin. At first he taught in schools in many different countries, rather he started literary writing. His works include “Meg Finn and the List of Four Wishes” and “Tim and the Secret of Tuber Murphy”. But best known is probably his Artemis Fowl series for children. Colfer even received the German Book Prize in 2004 for one of these books.

Roddy Doyle (born 1958)

Writer and screenwriter. Roderick Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958 and was a teacher for a long time. His filmed works include “The Commitments” and “The Snapper”, which earned him international fame. Characteristic of his literary work is special humor – a survival strategy of his characters. Often Doyle’s works are set in the Irish working class. He has also written children’s books and plays as well as screenplays.

Jennifer Johnston (born 1930)

Writer. Jennifer Johnston was born in Dublin in 1930 to a writer and actress. The multiple award-winning writer studied at Trinity College in Dublin. Her most famous novel is called “The Old Jest” and received the 1979 Whitbread Book Award. In addition, the work about the Irish War of Independence was adapted under the title “The Stranger on the Beach”. A children’s book and radio plays as well as translations are also part of Johnston’s repertoire.

James Joyce (1882-1941)

Writer. Joyce was born in Dublin in 1882 and was one of 13 children. He became world famous especially with his masterpiece “Ulysses” (1922). He is considered to be the inventor of the Stream of Consciousness. Other of his works are “Dublin Stories”, “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” and “Finnegans Wake”. Joyce has mostly used obscene elements in his literature. Nevertheless, every year, students of the humanities study his writings intensively. Joyce died in Zurich in 1941.

Patrick Kavanagh (1904-1967)

poet and writer. Patrick Kavanagh was born in Mucker Townland in 1904 to a farmer. He became one of Ireland’s most illustrious writers of the 20th century. His works include “Tarry Flynn” and “The Great Hunger”. He often fought against poverty and against journalistic bans on his works. Kavanagh, who often described everyday life in Ireland in his writings, died in Dublin in 1967.

Dame Iris Murdoch (1919-1999)

Writer and philosopher. Jean Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin in 1919 and died of Alzheimer’s in Oxford in 1999. Murdoch studied at Somerville College, Oxford and later at Cambridge University. Her first novel – “Unter dem Netz” – from 1954 was included in the list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Highly recommended: The film biography “Iris”, because: “Life was her greatest talent”.

Laurence Sterne (1713-1768)

Writer. Laurence Sterne was born in Ireland in 1713 and studied theology at Cambridge. Star became world famous especially for his nine books about the gentleman Tristram Schandy. During his life he made many trips around Europe. Star died of tuberculosis in London in 1768. His body was brought to Cambridge by grave robbers for anatomical research.

Bram Stoker (1847-1912)

Abraham “Bram” Stoker was born near Dublin in 1847 and studied physics and literature at Trinity College. Stoker became known with his work “Dracula” (1897), which was last filmed in 1992 by Francis Ford Coppola, very elaborately and successfully. However, the international breakthrough of his character took place only after Stoker’s death, so that he had neither great fame nor much money in life. In addition, he worked as a journalist and traveled the world. Stoker, who was a friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, died in London in 1912.

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Writer and satirist. Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin, a few months after the death of his father of the same name. His mother was Abigail Erick. Swift studied at Hertford College in Oxford and received his MA in 1692. In 1726 his novel “Gulliver’s Travels” appeared, which made him world famous. Swift died in his native town in 1745.

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Writer, essayist and poet. Oscar Wilde came as the second child of the ear and ophthalmologist William and the translator Jane – b. Elgee – Born in Dublin. He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford from 1874-1878. In 1891 his internationally successful novel “The Portrait of Dorian Gray” was published. Numerous other plays and scandals followed. He died in Paris in 1900.

Actors and directors

Maria Aitken (born 1945)

actress and screenwriter. Maria Penelope Katharine Aitken was born in Dublin in 1945 as the daughter of nobles. She studied at Oxford, where she met Richard Burton. And so she stood in front of the camera in Hollywood with him and Elizabeth Taylor in 1967 in the film “Doctor Faustus”. Several well-known films followed in which Aitken played, such as “A Fish Named Wanda” (1988) or “Wilde Kreaturen” (1997). By the way, her son is the world famous actor Jack Davenport (“Pirates of the Caribbean”).

Patrick Bergin (born 1951)

Patrick Bergin was born in Dublin in 1951 and has an Irish Senator for Parliament. Even when he was still at school he devoted himself to acting lessons. The breakthrough came in 1991 when he was in front of the camera with Julia Roberts for the film “The enemy in my bed”. Five years later, the science fiction thriller “The Lawnmower Man 2 – Beyond Cyberspace” followed, in 1999 the adventure film “Horrors of the Caribbean – Treasure Island” and in 2006 the thriller “Played – Ripped off”. Bergin is married to an actress.

Pierce Brosnan (born 1953)

actor and producer. Pierce Brendan Brosnan was born in Drogheda in 1953 and studied at the London Drama Center. Through the main character in the series “Remington Steele”, which ran on TV from 1982, he suddenly became known to a large audience. From 1995 Brosnan played the role of James Bond on the big screen, who impressed him even as a teenager. Brosnan was also featured in “The Thomas Crown Affair”, “Dante’s Peak” and “Mamma Mia!” see. Former Sexiest Man Alive took US citizenship in the 2000s.

Gabriel Byrne (born 1950)

The actor Gabriel Byrne was born in Dublin in 1950, where he also studied. He played in “Vanity Fair”, “Stigmata” and “End of Days”, among others. Byrne also made a name for himself as a screenwriter and director. He continued to shine as a stage actor on New York’s Broadway. And for the lead role in the US series “In Treatment – The Therapist” (2008) he was awarded a Golden Globe.

Patricia Collinge (1892-1974)

Eileen Cecilia Collinge was born in Dublin in 1892 and was already on the stage as a young girl. Thanks to her talent, she made it to Broadway, where she shone in numerous prominent pieces such as “Top Hat and Arsenic” or “The Importance of Being Earnest”. Collinge was also nominated for an Oscar after she was able to convince with a supporting role in the movie “Die kleine Füchse” (1941). She died in New York in 1974.

Liam Cunningham (born 1961)

Liam Cunningham was born in Dublin in 1961 and initially made a living as a craftsman after dropping out of school early. In 1996 he received international acclaim for his participation in the movie “Hearts in Turmoil”, in which Kate Winslet also starred. This was followed by roles in other major films such as “Clash of the Titans” (2010) or “Companions” (2011). Cunningham also played in the popular series “Game of Thrones” (2011).

Colin Farrell (born 1976)

The actor Colin James Farrell was born in Castleknock in 1976 and studied at the National Performing Arts School in Dublin. Incidentally, his brother runs this talent factory. Farrell was discovered by Kevin Spacey, which started his cinema career. You can see him in “Minority Report” (2002), “Alexander” (2004) or “Bruges… and die?” (2008) see. Farrell was allowed to take home a Golden Globe for his role in the latter film.

Barry Fitzgerald (1888-1961)

Barry Fitzgerald was born William Joseph Shields in Dublin in 1888. In the local Abbey Theater he dared his first steps as an actor. Fitzgerald is known from classic films such as “Leopards You Don’t Kiss” (1938), “The Way To Happiness” (1944) or from Tom Ford’s film “The Winner” (1952). In 1945 Fitzgerald was honored with an Oscar. The Irish actor also got two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died in 1961 in his hometown.

Geraldine Fitzgerald (1913-2005)

Geraldine Fitzgerald was born in Dublin in 1913 and moved to the United States in her 20s. Broadway beckoned. She was also able to convince on the big screen – her second film was a great success. It was called “Sturmhöhe” (1939) and is one of the classics in film history. The actress received an Oscar for her supporting role. She stood in front of the camera with Jeff Bridges in “The Last Hero of America” and with Bette Davis in “Watch on the Rhine”. Fitzgerald died in New York in 2005.

Brenda Fricker (born 1945)

Brenda Fricker was born in Dublin in 1945 and plays mainly in comedies. Her role in “Darling, are you holding the ax” (1993) with Mike Myers was outstanding. Her most famous film so far is “Mein Linker Fuß” (1989), which was also her first role offer. She received an Oscar for her performance at the time. Other internationally successful productions such as “Die Journalistin” or “Die Jury” are also part of Fricker’s repertoire, which started her acting career on television.

Michael Gambon (born 1940)

actor. Sir Michael John Gambon was born in Dublin in 1940. First he tried his hand at the theater and was successful in the ensemble around Sir Laurence Olivier. He then played in “Open Range – Weites Land”, “Die Tiefseetaucher” and the “Harry Potter” films, which secured the hearts of audiences around the world. He has also been in front of the camera with Johnny Depp the film “Sleepy Hollow” (1999).

Aidan Gillen (born 1968)

Aiden Gillen was born in 1968 in Dublin as Aidan Murphy, where he was already a teenager in the theater of Shakespeare plays. When the series “Queer as Folk” came out in 1999, he had his breakthrough by portraying the character Stuart Alan Jones. He also appears in the worldwide box office hit “King of Thrones”. He also received a lot of attention for a role in “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012). Gillen is no stranger to Broadway either.

Brendan Gleeson (born 1955)

The actor Brendan Gleeson was born in Dublin in 1955 and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He had his big chance in 1995 with the Mel Gibson classic “Braveheart”. This film made Gleeson famous. He also played in “On the Road to Cold Mountain”, “Troy”, “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Breakfast on Pluto”. Not to forget the numerous appearances in all “Harry Potter” films.

Domhnall Gleeson (born 1983)

The actor and director Domhnall Gleeson was born in Dublin in 1983 and initially studied at the Dublin Institute of Technology. He then gained experience in the theater (“Great Expectations”), television series (“The Last Furlong”) and on Broadway (“The Lieutenant of Inishmore” – nominated with a Tony Award). In 2010/11 he also played the character of Bill Weasley in the “Harry Potter” films. He also won an IFTA Award in 2011.

Richard Harris (1930-2002)

actor and singer. Richard St. John Harris was born in Limerick in 1930 and, after completing his training at a Jesuit college, was a member of the famous Royal Shakespeare Company. You could later admire him in films such as “Mutiny on the Bounty” (1962), “Gladiator” (2000) and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (2002). In 1968 he received a Golden Globe for his role in “Camelot – At King Arthur’s Court”. Harris died in Lodon in 2002.

David Kelly (1929-2012)

David Kelly was born in Dublin in 1929 and was already a child on the boards that mean the world. His first film was “Ulysses” and was released in 1967. One of his big box office successes was the film “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005), where he played alongside Johnny Depp and was seen as a grandfather. Before that, he had already celebrated international success with the film “Long live Ned Devine!” (1998). Kelly died in his native city in 2012.

JM Kerrigan (1884-1964)

Joseph Michael Kerrigan was born in Dublin in 1884 and began working as a journalist before moving to the famous Abbey Theater in his native city. He later went to the United States, played successfully on Broadway and in Hollywood films. The high point of his career was the film “Gone with the Wind” (1939), in which he won over with a supporting role. Kerrigan died in Hollywood in 1964. He received a star on the Walk of Fame for his commitment.

Edwin Maxwell (1886-1948)

Edwin Maxwell was born in Dublin in 1886. His acting career is exemplary. Maxwell played in lots of classics. For example in the 1930 film “Nothing New in the West” or “Scarface” from 1932. His biggest breakthrough came with an engagement in “Ninotschka” in 1939. Maxwell, who was mainly involved in comedies, died in Massachusetts in 1948.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers (born 1977)

The actor was born in 1977 as Jonathan Michael Francis O’Keeffe in Dublin. He starred in such important films as “Vanity Fair”, “Alexander”, Woody Allen’s “Match Point” and the Tom Cruise classic “Mission: Impossible 3”. In 2006 he was honored with a Golden Globe for his performance as best leading actor in the series “Elvis”. He also won over a large audience in the series “The Tudors”, where he played Henry VIII.

Maureen O’Hara (born 1920)

The actress was born Maureen FitzSimons in 1920 and started her career at the Abbey Theater there. Her first role in Hollywood’s classic “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, in which she played Esmeralda, brought her close to international audiences. She played in “Rio Grande”, “Der Sieger” and “Big Jake” and was friends with John Wayne. Her distinctive feature – red hair – often made heroine roles possible for her.

Peter O’Toole (born 1932)

The actor Peter Seamus O’Toole was born in Connemara in 1932 and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He played in “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962), “The Last Emperor” (1987) and “Troy” (2004), among others. O’Toole won several Golden Globes and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 2003. His film list is long and consists mostly of world-famous films in which he was often allowed to play the leading role. Often it is about period films.

Jim Sheridan (born 1949)

Director, screenwriter, producer. Jim Sheridan was born in Dublin in 1949, where he founded a theater company after studying literature. He moved his family to New York in the early 1980s and later worked as a director at the New York Irish Arts Center for five years in the 1980s. The breakthrough as a director came with the movie “Mein Linker Fuß” (1989), for which there were five Oscar nominations and two Oscar awards. He also gained much fame for directing “In the Name of the Father” (1993).

Kirsten Sheridan (born 1976)

Director, actress, screenwriter. Kirsten Sheridan was born in Dublin in 1976 and is the daughter of Jim Sheridan. She starred in his hit film “My Left Foot” before she began studying at New York University, among others. She also impressed as an actress in “The Boxer”. Sheridan excelled as the director of the film “The Sound of the Heart” (2007) and was nominated for an Oscar for her script for the film “In America” (2002).

Richard Todd (1919-2009)

Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd was born in Dublin in 1919. He served in World War II. He started out as an actor in the theater, then followed the call to Broadway and finally played in cinema classics such as “The Red Lola” (1950), “The Longest Day” (1962) or “The Portrait of Dorian Gray” (1970) With. The Golden Globe winner also excelled in several Disney productions, which earned him the 2002 Disney Legend award. Gray Todd died in Grantham in 2009.

Athlete

Padraig Harrington (born 1971)

professional golfer.

Paul McGinley (born 1966)

professional golfer.

Sonia O’Sullivan (born 1969)

track and field athlete. She won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics over the 5,000 meter run.

Stephen Roche (born 1959)

racing cyclist. In 1987 he won the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the road cycling world championship.

Michelle Smith (born 1969)

swimmer. She won gold three times at the 1996 Olympic Games over 400 meter medley, 400 meter freestyle and 200 meter medley.

Theologians and philosophers

George Berkeley (1685-1753)

philosopher and Bishop of the Anglican Church. George Berkeley was born in Kilkenny in 1685. He studied in Dublin at the famous Trinity College, where he later taught theology for a few years. Berkeley worked primarily in epistemology and was known for its subjective idealism. He can be classified between the philosophers Locke and Hume. The Enlightenment epistemological ethicist was later seen as a role model by the constructivists, among others. Berkeley died in Oxford in 1753.

Fenton John Anthony Hort (1828-1892)

theologian. Hort was born in Dublin in 1828 and studied in Cambridge. In 1878 he was appointed professor of Anglican theology at Cambridge University. Two years later he and his friend Brooke Foss Westcott published his most important work – “The New Testament in the Original Greek”. He was a member of the New Testament text critic and died in Cambridge in 1892.

Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746)

Francis Hutcheson was born in Drumalig in 1694 into a Scottish family and studied in Glasgow. The later professor of moral philosophy was the founder of a private Dublin academy and is still considered an enlightener today. He dealt extensively with questions of economics and ethics. Hutcheson, who also worked as a Presbyterian priest, died in Glasgow in 1746.

Patrick of Ireland/St. Patrick (born late 4th/early 5th century – mid 5th century)

missionary and national saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick of Ireland left little reliable facts about his life dates. It is said that Irish pirates kidnapped him from what was then Roman Britain. However, after a few years he managed to escape. He returned to Ireland as a bishop during his lifetime to convert the people through his Christian mission. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th every year.

William Thompson (1775-1833)

philosopher, social reformer. William Thompson was born in Cork in 1775 into a very wealthy family. Throughout his life he suffered from many diseases that made him moderate. Thompson has become famous as a critic of capitalism, whose models can be found in utilitarianism. Karl Marx was inspired by his writings. Thompson also campaigned for women and contraception. He died near Cork in 1833.

James Ussher (1581-1656)

Anglican theologian. James Ussher was born in Dublin in 1581, where he studied at Trinity College. Later he was to be appointed professor of theology there. For one of his main works he calculated the age of the earth using the Old Testament. Ussher was also head of the Protestant Church of Ireland. He died in Reigate in 1656 and was honored with a state funeral in London’s Westminster Abbey.

Other personalities

Francis Bacon (1909-1992)

Painter. He is one of the most important painters of the 20th century. Bacon was mainly concerned with human existence and its abysses.

James Connolly (1868-1916)

freedom fighter. He led the Dublin Brigade Movement into battle against the British on Easter Sunday 1916. After the Irish surrendered, he was executed.

Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847)

politician and freedom fighter. He fought for Ireland’s independence from Great Britain.

Eileen Gray (1878-1976)

interior architect and designer. Gray is one of the most important designers of the avant-garde. It gained international fame with the E 1027 table.

James Hoban (around 1762-1831)

Architect. He became famous with his design for the White House in Washington.

Thomas Woods (1815-1905)

physician, photographer, and inventor. He developed the catalysis, a fine printing process that was used in photography.

Ireland Politics