The Greatest Irishman/Woman

mewso

Just watched the Greatest Briton on the telly and it occurred to me that we might discuss the same topic for Irishmen/women (Irishperson?, whatever).
Daniel O'Connell, Michael Collins, James Connolly, Saint Patrick, Patrick Pearse etc., apologies for no females but I'm gone blank.
Anyway I'd like to suggest you nominate your greatest irishperson with an explanation.

I am tentatively opting for my namesake Brian Boru for being the man who united a country of clans that fought amongst themselves and left Ireland to be easily plundered. For a short time we almost hit upon greatness as a country. I'm possibly romanticising a bit but I think historians might agree on alot of the story we all know.

So any other takers?

mike65

Been there, done that!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66369

Mike.

mewso

lol did a search to check too before I posted - never though some fool would use the phrase "great paddies"
Mind you you haven't "been there, done that" that post has nobody picking one - making a choice as it were.

DadaKopf

I can't believe Churchill won, though. All his life he was a failure then one day, when he's practically dead, he does one good thing - he takes an interest in spying - and one good thing happens to him - WWII breaks out.

Tisk, tisk. It should have been Brunel.

shotamoose

Yeah, WWII was a lucky break for Churchill alright. Pity about the rest of the world.

I haven't got a huge problem with him winning the poll, since I don't think it reflected (or could have reflected) intrinsic greatness, but instead how useful the British have found a particular person. So they all served their purpose - Shakespeare transformed their language and self-perception, Brunel gave them spectacular and fairly useful monuments to progress, Diana allowed them to not feel guilty about total self-absorption ... But Winston's usefullness was the most clear-cut and dramatic - he galvanised Britain when it needed it most, or at least that's the history we've been handed down. WWII was an exceptional challenge, and he met it exceptionally.

DadaKopf

Why wasn't Bomber Harris nominated? Dresden was pretty spectacular.

It's just that all of Churchill's 'greatness' is limited to a five year period - sure he galvanised British unity during the war but, let's face it, in times of war that just happens anyway. He just stood there and people felt bound not to him but to what he represented.

Of course his winning has nothing to do with 'greatness', it's got everything to do with the mood of the moment. I mean, we do have a war coming up, afterall.

Meh

Originally posted by musician
James Connolly

Scottish.

Saint Patrick

Welsh.

mewso

Originally posted by Meh
Scottish.Welsh.

Picky picky. If the Brits can have James Connolly (64th place) , Bono and Geldof then we can have some gray areas too.

mike65

Originally posted by DadaKopf

It's just that all of Churchill's 'greatness' is limited to a five year period - sure he galvanised British unity during the war but, let's face it, in times of war that just happens anyway. He just stood there and people felt bound not to him but to what he represented.

Dadakopf, excuse this but that post is utter ****e! Churchills greatnes was that he recognised the threat of Hilter as all others were crumbling before him, like Chamberline and his piece of bloody paper. Very bloody, as it meant the Nazis had the upper hand when the war proper kicked off. When the chips were down he was'nt found wanting, if he had been you'd be speaking German.

Mike.