The greatest Irish person...

07-02-2017 10:47pm #1

...presume it's been done here before, but can't say I've seen it recently.

So who do you regard as the greatest Irish person? To avoid the inevitable NI argument I mean anyone from the island of Ireland, or with Irish nationality for anyone wrestling over Daniel Day Lewis etc. And give a sentence or 2 of reasoning...

For me, it's W.B. Yeats. A brilliant brilliant mind, the man who created the most beautiful poem of all time with his "When You Are Old". The word "genius" should be used very carefully, but I think it fully applies in his case.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43283

Pat Mustard · 07-02-2017 10:48pm

Michael Flatley.

Soft day, thank gawd

Losty Dublin · 07-02-2017 10:51pm

John Wayne in The Quiet Man but not in True Grit or Stagecoach.

Fuzzytrooper · 07-02-2017 10:52pm

Shackelton, a great old lad.

Alternatively do we know the nationality of a certain Trent?

ChunkyLover54 · 07-02-2017 10:53pm

Tony Cascarino.

The_Valeyard · 07-02-2017 10:53pm

Charles Stewart Parnell

Rumpy Pumpy · 07-02-2017 10:54pm

Pintman Paddy Losty.

whoopsadoodles · 07-02-2017 10:54pm

My Dad.

Odyssey 2005 · 07-02-2017 10:55pm

Yez are all rong. It's Bono.

harry Bailey esq · 07-02-2017 10:55pm

Can you vote for yourself? If not,it's a toss up between Charlie Haughey and wibbs.

Fuzzytrooper · 07-02-2017 10:56pm

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

My Dad.

My dad would beat up your dad. He's got a rake!

Mr. FoggPatches · 07-02-2017 10:56pm

Barracks o'bama. 3 u-21 medals for laois, handy at handball, built an eaterie and became president of the ufc or something. Who else can say that?

D Trent · 07-02-2017 10:57pm

Paul O'Connell

Need you have fookin asked?

Duff · 07-02-2017 10:57pm

Paul McGrath. He was an absolute machine back in his heyday.

Ubbquittious · 07-02-2017 10:57pm

Tom Crean

maudgonner · 07-02-2017 10:58pm

I find it hard to take Yeats' romantic poetry seriously knowing what a strange, strange man he was. I mean my namesake was fairly batshít crazy, but he was miles worse than even her.

I think Michael Davitt was a remarkable man, and has been quite overlooked by history. Partly because he was overshadowed by the glamour of Parnell. Partly because our modern view of history was so shaped by Pearse, Plunkett etc and the peaceful revolution of the Land War didn't fit their uprising's agenda. But for a man from the humblest of backgrounds, who had an unfortunate childhood, to go on and live the life he did, while being a seemingly very humble and decent man, that's impressive.

Arghus · 07-02-2017 10:59pm

Paul McGrath.

Ooh fookin aah.

wp_rathead · 07-02-2017 10:59pm

Roger Casement was a cool skhin

07-02-2017 11:02pm

maudgonner wrote: »

I find it hard to take Yeats' romantic poetry seriously knowing what a strange, strange man he was. I mean my namesake was fairly batshít crazy, but he was miles worse than even her.

I think Michael Davitt was a remarkable man, and has been quite overlooked by history. Partly because he was overshadowed by the glamour of Parnell. Partly because our modern view of history was so shaped by Pearse, Plunkett etc and the peaceful revolution of the Land War didn't fit their uprising's agenda. But for a man from the humblest of backgrounds, who had an unfortunate childhood, to go on and live the life he did, while being a seemingly very humble and decent man, that's impressive.

Actually you make a very good point...apart from your criticism of W.B.!

The social reforms brought about by the Land League had a far more profound and real impact than the political changes in the aftermath of 1916.

jelutong · 07-02-2017 11:11pm

Seamus Ennis.

Slattsy · 07-02-2017 11:14pm

Tom Cruise in Far And Away

Patser · 07-02-2017 11:15pm

Arthur Wellesley

Cartouche · 07-02-2017 11:17pm

Define 'great'

Odyssey 2005 · 07-02-2017 11:20pm

Patser wrote: »

Arthur Wellesley

Is he married to cristy burkes yung wun ?

maryishere · 07-02-2017 11:33pm

Ford ( of the Ford car company) came from Cork before he set up his car factory ( modern assembly line ) in the states and revolutionised car manufacture.

Boyle ( Boyles law in physics) came from Dublin as far as I remember.

Dunlop ( the man behind the tyres) and Ferguson ( the man behind the tractors), from N.I.

Walton, the man who split the atom, won or co-won Nobel prize I think

Not bad for a small country.

Gwynplaine · 07-02-2017 11:34pm

Marty Morrissey

Pinch Flat · 07-02-2017 11:34pm

Mrs Brown

maryishere · 07-02-2017 11:35pm

I forgot (ex-President) O'Bhama , he got a motorway service station named after him.

tonycascarino · 07-02-2017 11:37pm

Dermot MacMurrough

beertons · 07-02-2017 11:39pm

Kevin Sheedy. For he put the ball in the English net.

07-02-2017 11:48pm

Cartouche wrote: »

Define 'great'

Ah well, that's in the eye of the beholder!

Some have suggested sports players, some may go for military or political figures, for me it was someone whose brilliance was in the world of arts. But I'd rather leave it undefined and open...

buckwheat · 07-02-2017 11:49pm

Twink:cool:

FlawedGenius · 07-02-2017 11:59pm

Michael Collins.

End of Story.

Say Your Number · 08-02-2017 12:00am

The flamehaired flame-thrower of truth Ken Early.

PARlance · 08-02-2017 12:01am

Anybody who went to the Euros and waved a shoe or got caught up in other hilarity.

mansize · 08-02-2017 12:02am

TK Whittaker

Turned this country around from an economic backwater

mansize · 08-02-2017 12:03am

wp_rathead wrote: »

Roger Casement was a cool skhin

I would have loved to have been in his company

bob50 · 08-02-2017 12:12am

In recent times Ch6arlie Haughey in the early 60s Sean Lemass for dragging this country out of the quagmire of devs ireland and getting building and jobs going

1gunsnroses · 08-02-2017 12:16am

Tom Creen would have to be Ireland's unheralded hero. If he was under an Irish flag going to the Antarctic he would be no doubt the greatest Irishman

Realt Dearg Sec · 08-02-2017 12:16am

James Joyce, the most important writer of his century, and every single word of it was set in Dublin, making it one of the world's most important literary cities (he didn't do this alone). He changed how we think about literature, drew together high and popular culture as part of the greatest novel ever written, and is repeatedly cited as a vital influence in the development of some of the greatest writing on every continent ever since, his irishness being an important factor on that influence and in the way he redrew the map of world culture. His influence on world culture is immeasurable, even by the very high standards set by Irish writers more generally.

Your Face · 08-02-2017 7:34am

The Duke of Wellington.

Carrie6OD · 08-02-2017 7:37am

Michael D

Clonmel1000 · 08-02-2017 7:41am

Joe Schmidt

me_right_one · 08-02-2017 7:49am

Eamon DeValera.

Immigrant to this country, son of a single mother, foreign Hispanic surname, yet he took lives and was fully prepared to sacrifice his own for his adapted country. Little did he know he would one end up leading it.

Also a mathematical genius, avid rugby player, and a science enthusiast. Pure hero.

Day Lewin · 08-02-2017 8:02am

Going with Casement, too. Just read that biography - fictionalised, but a true story.
He was an impressive fighter for human rights in exploited colonies, defending local enslaved workers in Congo and in S. America.
AND he threw his brilliant career away to share in the 1916 Rising as best he could. And here we are now, a Republic.
A complex, courageous, righteous man. Troubled and imperfect, as we all are. But, truly great.

CrowdedHouse · 08-02-2017 8:20am

Ernest Walton - gave us nuclear bombs and stuff like that

Poor Uncle Tom · 08-02-2017 8:38am

Thomas Francis Meagher,

Irish Nationalist, went to France and brought back the greatest symbol of Irelands independance, the tricolour and was the first person to fly it from No. 33 The Mall, Waterford in April 1848. He was leader of the Young Irelanders in the Rebellion of 1848. He was convicted of sedition and was sentenced to death, but received transportation for life to Van Diemen's Land, he escaped and made his way to the United States, where he settled and studied law, worked as a journalist, and traveled to present lectures on the Irish cause. T. F. Meagher joined the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of brigadier general. He recruited and lead the Irish Brigade, and encouraging support among Irish immigrants for the Union. After the Civil War, Meagher was appointed acting governor of the Montana Territory. And in true hero fashion his death is surrounded in mystery, I believe he is still playing poker on a paddle steamer on the Missouri.....

And all packed into his 44 years....

08-02-2017 8:58am

maryishere wrote: »

Ford ( of the Ford car company) came from Cork before he set up his car factory ( modern assembly line ) in the states and revolutionised car manufacture.

Boyle ( Boyles law in physics) came from Dublin as far as I remember.

Dunlop ( the man behind the tyres) and Ferguson ( the man behind the tractors), from N.I.

Walton, the man who split the atom, won or co-won Nobel prize I think

Not bad for a small country.

Yeah and we have (love em or hate em) one of the words most famous pop bands - as well as another singer who won an Oscar for his music. And I think - recently enough - an Irish "kid" was officially declared to be the worlds youngest ever "self made" billionaire (self made as in not inherited or gifted, but made of his own income).

So yea - this small island does have it's moments.

Fuzzytrooper · 08-02-2017 9:02am

Can't believe no one has mentioned the legend that is Enda Kenny:eek::eek::eek:

Galway_Old_Man · 08-02-2017 9:04am

Ah it's a tough one. How can you measure the beauty of certain writings against a political revolutionary against a person who dedicated themselves to others...

Anyway some good names here, I throw in two from the science world; Ernest "Atom smasher" Walton and William Rowan Hamilton.

Arcade_Tryer · 08-02-2017 9:22am

Beckett and Boole.

In terms of the influence they had and continue to have on the world.

The greatest Irish person...

Who's the best 3 votes

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