Famous people from Irish

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Ireland’s cultural landscape has been shaped by an extraordinary range of voices, from evocative writers and probing philosophers to daring artists and influential leaders. Their work crosses borders and generations, weaving history, imagination, and civic vision into a distinctive national story. Through novels, essays, canvases, and public service, these figures challenge conventions, illuminate identity, and expand global conversations. Together they reflect the resilience, wit, and creativity that continue to define Irish life at home and abroad.

View all Quotes from Irish authors
Author Profession Quotes Year
Adam Clayton Musician 7 1960
Aidan Quinn Actor 4 1959
Albert Reynolds Politician 3 1932
Amanda Burton Actress 4 1957
Andrea Corr Musician 12 1974
Andrew Cherry Dramatist 1 1762 - 1812
Arthur Murphy Writer 4 1727 - 1805
Barry McGuigan Athlete 1 1961
Bernadette Devlin Politician 8 1947
Bob Geldof, Tiny Bob Geldof Actor 31 1951
Bobby Sands, Tiny Bobby Sands Activist 5 1954 - 1981
Bono, Tiny Bono Musician 19 1960
Boyle Roche, Tiny Boyle Roche Politician 13 1736 - 1807
Bram Stoker Writer 17 1847 - 1912
Brendan Behan, Tiny Brendan Behan Dramatist 23 1923 - 1964
Brendan Gleeson, Tiny Brendan Gleeson Actor 12 1955
Brian Moore Novelist 8 1921 - 1999
Caroline Corr Musician 30 1973
Catherine McAuley Clergyman 6
Charles Macklin Dramatist 2
Cillian Murphy Actor 13 1974
Colin Farrell Actor 7 1976
Conor Cruise O'Brien Politician 5 1917 - 2008
Countess of Blessington Novelist 2 1789 - 1849
Cyril Cusack Actor 17 1910 - 1993
Danny Blanchflower Athlete 1 1926
David Trimble, Tiny David Trimble Politician 7 1944
Dick Spring Politician 6 1950
Dion Boucicault, Tiny Dion Boucicault Dramatist 1 1822 - 1890
Dominic Monaghan Actor 13 1976
Douglas Hyde Politician 5 1860 - 1949
Dylan Moran Comedian 22 1971
Eamon de Valera Statesman 19 1882 - 1975
Edmund Burke, Tiny Edmund Burke Statesman 78 1729 - 1797
Edna O'Brien Novelist 10 1932
Edward Dowden Critic 3 1843 - 1913
Elizabeth Bowen Novelist 34 1899 - 1973
Enya Musician 31 1961
Ernest Shackleton Explorer 9 1874 - 1922
Evanna Lynch, Tiny Evanna Lynch Actress 13 1991
Fiona Shaw, Tiny Fiona Shaw Actress 35 1958
Frank Carson Comedian 4 1926
Frank Harris Author 7 1856 - 1931
Frank McCourt Author 21 1930
Frank O'Connor Author 1 1903 - 1966
Gabriel Byrne Actor 16 1950
Garth Ennis Writer 17 1970
George A. Moore Novelist 8 1852 - 1933
George Berkeley, Tiny George Berkeley Philosopher 15 1685 - 1753
George Bernard Shaw, Tiny George Bernard Shaw Dramatist 167 1856 - 1950
George Boole Mathematician 5 1815 - 1864
George Farquhar Dramatist 16
George William Russell Writer 10 1867 - 1935
Gerry Adams Politician 27 1948
Glenn Quinn, Tiny Glenn Quinn Actor 4 1970 - 2002
Graham Norton Celebrity 10 1963
Henry Brooke Novelist 2
Herbert Trench Poet 1 1865 - 1923
Hugh Leonard, Tiny Hugh Leonard Dramatist 20 1926 - 2009
Iris Murdoch Author 32 1919 - 1999
Isaac Butt, Tiny Isaac Butt Politician 1 1813 - 1879
Jack Lynch Statesman 4 1917 - 1999
James Galway Musician 16 1939
James Joyce, Tiny James Joyce Novelist 33 1882 - 1941
James Larkin Activist 30 1875 - 1947
James Stephens Poet 10 1882 - 1950
Jane Porter Novelist 8
Jim Walsh Politician 17 1947
John Atkinson Judge 3 1844 - 1931
John Bruton, Tiny John Bruton Politician 28 1947
John Desmond Bernal Scientist 20 1901 - 1971
John Edward Redmond Politician 4 1856 - 1918
John Hume, Tiny John Hume Politician 28 1937
John Joly Scientist 5 1857 - 1933
John McGahern Writer 25 1934 - 2006
John Millington Synge Poet 19 1871 - 1909
John Philpot Curran Public Servant 9 1750 - 1817
John Robert Gregg Inventor 2 1867 - 1948
Jonathan Swift, Tiny Jonathan Swift Writer 62 1667 - 1745
Josephine Hart Writer 2
Joyce Cary Novelist 9 1888 - 1957
Kate O'Brien Novelist 8 1897 - 1974
Kenneth Branagh Actor 26 1960
Kenny Cunningham, Tiny Kenny Cunningham Athlete 10 1971
Lady Gregory Dramatist 2 1852 - 1932
Laurence Sterne Novelist 32 1713 - 1768
Liam Neeson, Tiny Liam Neeson Actor 31 1952
Lord Dunsany Novelist 2 1878 - 1957
Lord Kelvin Scientist 7 1824 - 1907
Malachy McCourt Actor 1 1931
Marguerite Gardiner Writer 13 1789 - 1849
Maria Edgeworth Novelist 11 1767 - 1849
Martin McGuinness Politician 15 1950
Mary McAleese Statesman 5 1951
Maureen O'Hara Actress 35 1920 - 2015
Michael Collins Leader 2 1890 - 1922
Michael D. Higgins Politician 24 1941
Neil Jordan Director 30 1950
Ninette de Valois Dancer 20 1898 - 2001
Oliver Goldsmith Poet 36 1730 - 1774
Oscar Wilde, Tiny Oscar Wilde Dramatist 167 1854 - 1900
Padraic Pearse Writer 1 1879 - 1916
Pat Buckley Clergyman 22
Patrick Kavanagh Poet 3 1904 - 1967
Patrick MacGill Journalist 11
Peter O'Toole Actor 22 1932 - 2013
Pierce Brosnan, Tiny Pierce Brosnan Actor 13 1953
Rebecca West Author 31 1892 - 1983
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Tiny Richard Brinsley Sheridan Playwright 31 1751 - 1816
Richard Chenevix Trench Clergyman 1 1807 - 1886
Robbie Keane Athlete 13 1980
Robert Boyle Philosopher 2 1627 - 1691
Robert Emmet Activist 4 1780 - 1803
Robert Graves Novelist 15 1895 - 1985
Robert James Graves Scientist 4
Robert Wilson Lynd Writer 6 1879 - 1949
Roma Downey Actress 21 1960
Saint Patrick Saint 8
Sam Neill Actor 7 1947
Samantha Mumba, Tiny Samantha Mumba Musician 13 1983
Samuel Beckett Playwright 32 1906 - 1989
Samuel Lover Artist 6 1797 - 1868
Seamus Heaney Poet 24 1939
Sean O'Casey Playwright 12 1880 - 1964
Shane Leslie Diplomat 4 1885 - 1971
Sinead O'Connor Musician 18 1966
Spike Milligan Comedian 20 1918 - 2002
Stephen Rea Actor 20 1946
Thomas Francis Meagher Soldier 9 1823 - 1867
Thomas John Barnardo Celebrity 4 1845 - 1905
Thomas Moore, Tiny Thomas Moore Poet 23 1779 - 1852
Tom Paulin Poet 10 1949
Vivian Campbell Musician 9 1962
William Allingham Poet 6 1821 - 1889
William Butler Yeats Poet 58 1865 - 1939
William Hamilton Maxwell Novelist 5
William Trevor Writer 4 1928