Famous Clare People

pappyodaniel

I'm not mad into celebrities but I thought it might be nice to compile a list of well known Clare Folks.

They can be from all walks of life, from the arts, to history, to politics and sports. They may have been born and bred here or they maybe linked by association or a love for the county.

I'll make a start and add Brian Ború, the High King of Ireland.

killwill

pappyodaniel wrote: »

I'm not mad into celebrities but I thought it might be nice to compile a list of well known Clare Folks.

They can be from all walks of life, from the arts, to history, to politics and sports. They may have been born and bred here or they maybe linked by association or a love for the county.

I'll make a start and add Brian Ború, the High King of Ireland.

Eamon de Valera

Clareman

killwill wrote: »

Eamon de Valera

You mean American Dev who had family from Limerick, that Dev?

Lady Chatterton

3. Edna O'Brien (Writer)
4. Paddy Hillery (Former President of Ireland)
5. John Philip Holland (Inventor of the submarine)
6. Michael Cusack (Founder of the GAA)
7. Mike McTigue (Former World Champion Boxer)
8. William Mulready (Painter)
9. John O'Donohue (Philosopher & Poet)
10. Ger Loughnane (Former Hurling Manager, 95 & 97 squad)
11. Anthony Daly (Former Hurling Captain, 95 & 97 squad)
12. Jimmy Smyth (Former Hurler)
13. Dr. Brendan O'Regan (Founder of Duty Free Shop and champion of industry in the Mid West)
14. Moosajee Bhamjee (First Indian/South African to be elected to Dáil Eireann)
15. Sharon Shannon (Irish Traditional Musician)
16. Keith Wood (Former Irish Rugby and Lions Captain)
17. Anthony Foley (Former Irish Rugby and Munster Player)
18. Paddy Hogan (Former Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Eireann)
19. Willie Clancy (Irish Traditional Musician)
20. Micko Russell (Irish Traditional Musician)
21. PJ Hayes (Irish Traditional Musician)
22. Maura O'Connell (Irish Folk and Country Singer)
23. Sylvester Barrett (Former Government Minister)
24. Brendan Daly (Former Government Minister)
25. Sile De Valera (Former Government Minister)
26. Tony Killeen (Former Government Minister)
27. The Wall Brothers (from the band "The Stunning")
28. Bishop Willie Walsh (Former bishop of Killaloe and Clare Hurling Selector)
29. Fr. Harry Bohan (Former Clare Hurling Manager & RHO housing)
30. Bernard McNamara (Property Developer)
31. Mickey Lynch Snr. (Builder & Hotelier)
32. Mattie Shannon (Head of Doolin Rescue)
33. Julia Dawson (Former Winning Rose of Tralee - represented Germany)
34. Tom Galvin (Founder of the Clare Champion Newspaper)
35. Eileen Slattery (Former Winning Rose of Tralee - represented Ireland & was the inspiration for the song "My Lovely Rose of Clare")

Derfil

Biddy Early

Lady Chatterton

Ah, now Clareman - Clare isn't called Dev's county for nothing!

Lady Chatterton

37. Máire Rua (Lemenagh Castle)
38. Percy French (Composer of "Are you right their Michael are you right?")
39. Brian Merriman (Poet)
40. Tom Steele (of Steele's Rock fame & friend of Daniel O'Connell)

Clareman

41. Brian Boru

Lady Chatterton

Clareman wrote: »

41. Brian Boru

Did you see the OP? Clareman - you're not yourself. What can we do to help you?

Clareman

D'oh, I'm very hungover today, celebrated the Intermediates win too much last night

41. Noel Roche. Footballer represented Ireland in the Compromise Rules in the 80s

Lady Chatterton

Clareman wrote: »

D'oh, I'm very hungover today, celebrated the Intermediates win too much last night

41. Noel Roche. Footballer represented Ireland in the Compromise Rules in the 80s

Is that the bus driver guy?

Clareman

I don't think so, Noel was 1 of the best footballers to ever come out of Clare.

42. Seamus Clancy, Clare's first Football All Star
43. Marcus Horan.

Callan57

44. Michael ... as in Are you right there Michael?

Lady Chatterton

Clareman wrote: »

D'oh, I'm very hungover today, celebrated the Intermediates win too much last night

41. Noel Roche. Footballer represented Ireland in the Compromise Rules in the 80s

The guy I'm thinking of has a bus hire business in Kilkee, he played football for Clare, he was in the team that got to the All Ireland Semi Final in '92 under John Maughan.

Lady Chatterton

45. Eddie Lenihan (Writer and Seanachai)
46. Regina Nathan (Opera Singer)
47. Niall Williams (Writer)
48. Christine Breen (Writer)
49. Marty Morrissey (Broadcaster)
50. Rachel English (Broadcaster)
51. Members of the Kelfenora Ceili Band
52. Members of Stockon's Wing
53. Noel Hill (Irish Traditional Musician)
54. Tommy Hayes (Irish Traditional Musician)
54. Brendan Grace (Comedian/Killaloe Publican)
55. Kieran Fallon (professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times)
56. Jason Titley (Grand National Winner)
57. Robbie McMahon (Singer/Song Writer - best well known for singing "Spancil Hill")

Clareman

That'd be the guy then.

51. Christy O'Connor. Writer of Sportsbook of the Year 2010

Lady Chatterton

Clareman wrote: »

That'd be the guy then.

51. Christy O'Connor. Writer of Sportsbook of the Year 2010
52. Marty Morrissey

Clareman - Christy is a fantastic writer, he won sports writer of the year last year for his book on Doora Barefield. Marty is no. 49 on the list, what about Christy's brother Jamesy??

Lady Chatterton

53. Noirin Hegarty - Former editor of the Sunday Tribune and current editor of Irish Independent Newspaper (On Line Edition)
54. Trás Honan - Business woman, former Senator and Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann
55. Sr. Ethel Normoyle - Charity worker

Clareman

I'm guessing we could name all the Clare hurlers of the 90s

53. Davy Fitzgerald. Waterford Manager and former Clare goalkeeper

Lady Chatterton

Clareman wrote: »

I'm guessing we could name all the Clare hurlers of the 90s

53. Davy Fitzgerald. Waterford Manager and former Clare goalkeeper

You mean 52 - Clareman, you poor thing you are screaming out for an early night I hope normal service will resume tomorrow. We are used to a high standard of moderating on the Clare forum :)

Clareman

I give up at this stage

LuckyGent88

Derek O'Connor - Jockey, think it might be 6 or 7 point-to-point jockey's titles.

babygirlz

Des Lynam
Aisling O Loughin

Got this from another site
http://s6.zetaboards.com/TheClareHerald/topic/895339/1/

policarp

Enda Colleran.
Editor of the Star newspaper.

willow tree

Muhammad Ali

Lady Chatterton

policarp wrote: »

Enda Colleran.
Editor of the Star newspaper.

Do you mean Gerard Colleran;)? Enda was a legendary Galway footballer/manager.

willow tree

mark o halloran ( garage and 'adam and paul')

Lady Chatterton

62. Simone Kirby (Actress - "Pure Mule")
63. Willie Daly (Matchmaker Extraordinaire)
64. Michael Donnellan (Twice World Irish Dance Champion and a former star of Lord of the Dance and Riverdance)
65. Anthony Sharkey (Twice World Irish Dance Champion, joined Riverdance in 1998 and spent almost six years with the group)

policarp

MrsD007 wrote: »

Do you mean Gerard Colleran;)? Enda was a legendary Galway footballer/manager.

Spot on.
The Enda I got mixed up with is Gerard's brother, I think.

pappyodaniel

..

mikemac

66. The Great Liberator Daniel O'Connell, won two elections in Clare.
67. Jean Butler, from Riverdance in Eurovision 94. Lives in Killaloe

I'm going to start one of these over in Tipp forum

Lady Chatterton

mikemac wrote: »

66. The Great Liberator Daniel O'Connell, won two elections in Clare.
67. Jean Butler, from Riverdance in Eurovision 94. Lives in Killaloe
I'm going to start one of these over in Tipp forum

Welcome to the Clare forum Mikemac , When you start the famous Tipp people thread, we might loan you Jean Butler. I've seen her a few times in Killaloe but I think she is actually living in Ballina Maybe she has dual citizenship of Clare and Tipp

mikemac

MrsD007 wrote: »

I've seen her a few times in Killaloe but I think she is actually living in Ballina Maybe she has dual citizenship of Clare and Tipp

Maybe it's like the Lakeside Hotel
Clearly in Ballina but somehow gave themselves a Killaloe address???? :rolleyes:

The Lakeside Hotel in Killaloe County Clare is the ideal base for both leisure and business.

WTF?

Lady Chatterton

mikemac wrote: »

Maybe it's like the Lakeside Hotel
Clearly in Ballina but somehow gave themselves a Killaloe address???? :rolleyes:



WTF?

I have many friends across the water in Ballina but they use the address Ballina/Killaloe. Co. Clare otherwise their post ends up in Mayo.

I think the hotels use the Killaloe address as it's better known than Ballina and it eliminates the confusion with Ballina in Co. Mayo. However, you are correct the Lakeside, Goosers, Flangans, Molly's & Co. are all definitely in Tipp . TBH most of the development in the area over the last ten years has occurred on the Tipp side.

buck65

Jesus Mrs007 you are seriously scraping the barrel on famous people there, change the thread to "Assorted people of Clare that are famous but are mostly known a little bit outside the county by poeple from a GAA backround".

Michael Donnellan?!

Clareman

Colin Lynch. Not only a great hurler but also the first person to be suspended by the GAA on the word of a non-GAA offical or video evidence, his case led to a number of rules changing in the GAA in regards to suspensions.

Lady Chatterton

buck65 wrote: »

Jesus Mrs007 you are seriously scraping the barrel on famous people there, change the thread to "Assorted people of Clare that are famous but are mostly known a little bit outside the county by poeple from a GAA backround".

Michael Donnellan?!

I'd say that we really only have a handful of "famous" people in the county, the rest are people who have achieved some success in their chosen field.

As for Michael, he was twice world Irish dancing champion, that is not a bad achievement, I wouldn't mind being a world champion.

Kess73

MrsD007 wrote: »

45. Eddie Lenihan (Writer and Seanachai)
46. Regina Nathan (Opera Singer)
47. Niall Williams (Writer)
48. Christine Breen (Writer)
49. Marty Morrissey (Broadcaster)
50. Rachel English (Broadcaster)
51. Members of the Kelfenora Ceili Band
52. Members of Stockon's Wing
53. Noel Hill (Irish Traditional Musician)
54. Tommy Hayes (Irish Traditional Musician)
54. Brendan Grace (Comedian/Killaloe Publican)
55. Kieran Fallon (professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times)
56. Jason Titley (Grand National Winner)
57. Robbie McMahon (Singer/Song Writer - best well known for singing "Spancil Hill")

He is from Dublin and has lived more in his Florida home more than he did in his house in Killaloe.

Lady Chatterton

Kess73 wrote: »

He is from Dublin and has lived more in his Florida home more than he did in his house in Killaloe.

I think Brendan fits the OP's description

wrote:

"They may have been born and bred here or they maybe linked by association or a love for the county!"

I have described Brendan as a publician as he owned a pub in Killaloe that it correct.

buck65

MrsD007 wrote: »

I'd say that we really only have a handful of "famous" people in the county, the rest are people who have achieved some success in their chosen field.

As for Michael, he was twice world Irish dancing champion, that is not a bad achievement, I wouldn't mind being a world champion.

didn't say it was a bad achievement,I even know the guy but no-one outside of Clare or dancing would know him in fairness!!:D

JerryHandbag

I heard once that Robert De Niro has/had a house in Killaloe....true or false?

Clareman

Danny DiVito's cousin/relation of some sort owns Numero Uno pizza in Ennis

golfball37

JerryHandbag wrote: »

I heard once that Robert De Niro has/had a house in Killaloe....true or false?

False- local rumour has it that he was outbid for a property in the area by the limerick woman who won the Euromillions- Delores whatshername

golfball37

Is Mrs Doyle [Pauline McLynn] a Clarewoman?

Lady Chatterton

golfball37 wrote: »

False- local rumour has it that he was outbid for a property in the area by the limerick woman who won the Euromillions- Delores whatshername

Dolores McNamara purchased Lough Derg Hall, it is actually in Ogonnelloe.

EuroMillions lottery winner Dolores McNamara, the 46-year-old mother of six has splashed out ?1.7m on the 10,000sq ft hill-top property at Ogonnelloe, Co Clare that overlooks the resplendent lower end of Lough Derg.

After much speculation as to where the multi-millionaire would plant her flag, the Irish Independent can confirm that two weeks ago she signed contracts for Lough Derg Hall - regarded as one of the finest country-style houses to come on the market in the region.

The house had been for sale for three years and Robert DeNiro was reportedly interested in taking it. It was sold by Antigua-based property developer Derek Barrett and his wife Brenda, who built it in the late nineties.

The Limerick lady has been true to her stated determination of keeping her feet firmly on the ground. - She snatched the house out of the hands of another bidder, but still at some ?250,000 under the asking price.

Her new home boasts some of the most amazing views in the country and is at the end of a half-mile long private entrance, fronted by electric gates and an eight-foot high wall.

Set on a private estate of 38 acres amid the many rolling hills that overlook the famous lake, the home boasts a 6,000 sq ft residence with six en suite bedrooms, each with four-poster beds.

There are seven bathrooms and a large kitchen and marble-clad entrance hall.

Dolores and her family can also enjoy a hot tub from which they will have stunning views of the lake. The hot tub is located off the rear of the house which is fully decked, along with both gable ends.

The half-mile entrance is rail fenced and leads to a cut stone and red-brick Gate House.

There is a large water feature to the front of the house and a horse motif on a wall to the side of the property.

There is also a 2,500 sq ft Coach House with cobble lock area to the front near the dwelling house. This includes two bedrooms and one en suite guest apartment with double garage and electric up and down doors.

Lady Chatterton

golfball37 wrote: »

Is Mrs Doyle [Pauline McLynn] a Clarewoman?

Pauline is from Sligo but she did spend alot of time in Clare filming Fr. Ted.

WakeyTyke

"maybe linked by association or a love for the county."

Would think that the late, great Richard Harris would certainly fall into this category with his Kilkee connection.

buck65

Could we add Russell Crowe too? He was in Kilkee for a day.

willow tree

ok if we can do that my favourite is che guevara, hanging out in a pub in kilkee with jim fitzpatrick...:D

Hermes5

buck65 wrote: »

Could we add Russell Crowe too? He was in Kilkee for a day.

In that case, Jack Doyle (famous boxer and playboy) and Movita (sexy film actress) coz they notoriously shacked up in the huts at Shannon and did 'durty tings' scandalising the local population:D:p

buck65

Guns N Roses got off the plane in Shannon years back and tried to get the duty free open to get whiskey, unfortunately ran into an auld lad who gave them hell and " I don't care who ye are " attitude. They sheepishly apologised and ambled back to their plane.