I was having a discussion with some people in the pub the other night, and we were wondering who would be the most easily recognised local personality…ie. from Northern Ireland.
It is hard to be objective in this instance, especailly trying to guess the relevance of how local celebritiies are viewed in other countries. (if at all)
Who (from this list) do you know / heard of / consider the most famous person from NI…?
Liam Neeson (Actor)
Darren Clarke (Ryder cup player)
Eddie Irvine (F1 Driver)
Mary Peters (Former Ahelete)
Alex Higgins (Snooker)
Van Morrison (Music)
Neil Lennon (Football)
Tim Wheeler (Music - Ash)
Stiff Little Fingers (Music)
Therapy? (Music)
Terry Wogan (TV)
Gloria Hunniford (TV)
Patrick Kielty (TV)
(I have ignored politicians here, but feel free to add them in if you feel they are well-known.)
Any of the above? Someone else who I have missed?
Thanks for any help in settling our debate.
Well, Van Morrison was certainly the first person I thought of when I read the thread title; however, it should be noted that my ignorance of TV and sports is abysmal.
Is Terry Wogan from Northern Ireland? I always thought he was from the State.
Being from nearby, I’ve obviously heard of them all. I’d say, on a global basis, Liam Neeson, Van Morrison, George Best (how did you miss him out and include Neil Lennon?) Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley (sorry about the politics) are probably the most famous modern people from the six counties.
Van Morrison, again, was first name to come to mind, plus various politicians, Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, and that delightfully soft-voiced Ian Paisley (NB - switich sarcasm detector on).
Of course, I gnerally prefer Lesley Riddoch, who is not famous at all but a very good radio braodcaster, from Northern Ireland but based now here in Scotland.
And sort of famous was my great (^several) uncle Thomas Andrews from Coleraine, who designed the Titanic (he was the chap in the film talking to Kate Winslet about lifeboats, lucky fellow). He went down with the ship.
Barry McGuigan’s from Clones in Monaghan. So he’s from Ulster but not NI.
Wasn’t there at least one Prime Minister from Northern Ireland - Bonar Law? Balfour?
Field Marshall Montgomery’s family was from the north but he may not have been born there. If you’re willing to allow a few generations in between, Bill Clinton’s a Fermanagh man.
I know they’re not globally famous but GAA superstars such as Anthony Tohill, Peter Canavan and Kieran McGeeney are heroes of mine. Jockeys such as Tony McCoy and Richard Dunwoody also merit a mention.
the undertones (music- teenage kicks)?
Joey Dunlop (motosport)?
the Brits will know James Nesbitt (actor) from cold feet too.
yer wan that wrote “stones in his pockets”?
Brian Kennedy (music)?
Gerard Dillon (painter)?
Martin Dillon (author)?
Several Irish rugby internationals
etc etc
Well, as soon as I saw the thread, Van Morrison was the first name I thought of… followed by Lord Kelvin, C.S. Lewis, and Liam Neeson.
Since it appears that only the living are being considered here, and since Van Morrison hasn’t had a hit record in many years, I’d say the 3 most famous Northern Irishmen in the U.S. are
I’ve heard of all those mentioned so far, of course, but would reckon that George Best is the most generally-known person from Northern Ireland (certainly that would have been true in the 1970s but maybe not any longer).
Sorry about the Wogan inclusion…wasn’t really sure of his origins.
(Sorry about the dreadful spelling too in the OP)
I had hoped this hadn’t posted (as the board crashed), until I added in the obvious missed people, like George Best et al. But the hamsters sucked it in…
(I was also thinking of people currently alive, so some of the older guys wouldn’t qualify.)
I actually thought, globally, it would be Eddie Irvine, as he performs on a global stage, but looks like Van the Man and Liam Neeson have it by a nose.
I’m not sure about some of these, but perhaps someone can clarify them for me:
Seamus Heaney - Winner of Nobel Prize for Literature. Also John Hume won the Nobel Prize for Peace with David Trimble.
Cara Dillon - Is she from Northern Ireland?
Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett? - They were eduated at Portora Royal School - I don’t know if they were originally from Northern Ireland.
President Mary McAleese is from Rostrevor, Co. Down.
Perhaps someone could verify these.
