Irish who are more famous/acclaimed abroad than here.

Ralf and Florian · 24-03-2018 10:16pm #1

Any examples of notable Irish people who are more popular or acclaimed outside of Ireland than here? One prime example would be Enya, she has a big following on the Continent, Germany , Italy etc yet here shes largely known as that strange lady who lives alone in a castle and makes celtic new age-y music (famously mocked in the film Intermission)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 24-03-2018 10:20pm

Ambrosio O'Higgins
Robert Ross
William Brown

McMurphy · 24-03-2018 10:27pm

Jimeoin.

He's massive in Australia, yet relatively unknown here.

Google him.

Ralf and Florian · 24-03-2018 10:30pm

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Jimeoin.

He's massive in Australia, yet relatively unknown here.

Google him.

I remember he was on the very first episode of the Panel.

drillyeye · 24-03-2018 10:37pm

Forty coats

beefburrito · 24-03-2018 10:40pm

There's a guy from Co Clare called Gari Deegan he's doing very well in Dubai.

I think he's a presenter over there and was on some talent show here in Ireland.

DrumSteve · 24-03-2018 10:40pm

Bono.

Del2005 · 24-03-2018 10:43pm

Johny Logan. Is a legend to our continental cousins playing sold out gigs all over and obviously the Eurovision. Here he just won the Eurovision

razorblunt · 24-03-2018 10:45pm

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Jimeoin.

He's massive in Australia, yet relatively unknown here.

Google him.

That’s more due to the fact he emigrated and lives there, comes back up for the summer and the Edinburgh Fringe. I saw him on Soccer AM a few years back and wondered where he went to.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 24-03-2018 10:48pm

Tommy Smyth - sports commentator.

razorblunt · 24-03-2018 10:53pm

Gareth Steenson, ulsterman playing at out half for Exeter Chiefs, definitely good enough to play for Ireland.

Arghus · 24-03-2018 10:56pm

Primordial. They're pretty big elsewhere, but are largely unknown here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxPSygSH2v0

SEPT 23 1989 · 24-03-2018 10:57pm

Shamrocks O' Toole

eliterank · 24-03-2018 11:03pm

Colin Farrell

AnneFrank · 24-03-2018 11:04pm

Eoin Morgan the turncoat

YFlyer · 24-03-2018 11:07pm

Those bands that play in Finland.

24-03-2018 11:29pm

I posted this story from the BBC somewhere on After Hours when I read it last year. Still a fascinating woman, whom I have never heard of outside this article (although I heard of Shostakovitch's The Gadfly years ago):

The Irish novel that secuded the USSR

One of the most popular English-language novels of the 20th Century is almost unknown in the English-speaking world – a global phenomenon in translation, now neglected in its original form. The Gadfly, by Irish writer Ethel Voynich, was a sensation on the other side of the Iron Curtain – it sold over 5 million copies in 107 editions in the 22 languages spoken in the Soviet Union. The book inspired seven musical adaptations, including an opera by Prokofiev, five theatre adaptations, including an ‘official’ version by George Bernard Shaw, and five film adaptations, one of which featured a famous score by Shostakovich.

Also, Peter Lacy (1678-1751) from Limerick was a beyond exceptional Russian general in the 18th-century (and his son became a famous Austrian field marshal). With the craven anglocentricity of so many backward Irish-born people we never hear of such people and their contribution to the world.

Peter Lacy, ‘the Prince Eugene of Muscovy'

Mushy · 24-03-2018 11:46pm

Arghus wrote: »

Primordial. They're pretty big elsewhere, but are largely unknown here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxPSygSH2v0

I was going to say God is an Astronaut, exact same reason

Ralf and Florian · 24-03-2018 11:51pm

Stano aka John Stanley. The Irish Eno. Cult-ish figure in places like Germany, barely known here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnpCm3dnEQI

Omackeral · 25-03-2018 12:08am

Bray's own Fergal Devitt is a huge star in the USA,UK and Japan. He's better known as WWE wrestler Finn Balor and formerly as Prince Devitt. A good looking, talented, popular and humble chap and in great nick too.

tenor.gif?itemid=9470313

The_Valeyard · 25-03-2018 12:30am

Enya?

greencap · 25-03-2018 2:48am

Ed Byrne (comedian) seems to be more famous in the UK than here.

AllForIt · 25-03-2018 3:10am

Boy George

I think he's a horrible person and I can never understand what the Brits see in him.

Son0vagun · 25-03-2018 3:21am

Mike Craughwell, he makes Swords, Giant Big Ones, YouTube Star, has his own TV Show on Discovery.

Grayditch · 25-03-2018 3:26am

Graham Norton.

YFlyer · 25-03-2018 3:26am

AllForIt wrote: »

Boy George

I think he's a horrible person and I can never understand what the Brits see in him.

He was born in London. Same MacGowan Greater London (Kent).

darkdubh · 25-03-2018 12:25pm

AllForIt wrote: »

Boy George

I think he's a horrible person and I can never understand what the Brits see in him.

Irish parents but he was born and raised in London.

darkdubh · 25-03-2018 12:28pm

Grayditch wrote: »

Graham Norton.

I'd say it's 50/50 or close. Probably slightly more famous in Britain but it's not like he's a complete unknown here.

OldMrBrennan83 · 25-03-2018 12:31pm

This post has been deleted.

selfbuild17 · 25-03-2018 12:37pm

Patww79 wrote: »

He also did a Wogan and completely turned into a Briton after he went there. He's about as Irish as Ronaldo now.

He was born and raised here. Both his parents are Irish. He spends most of his free time here, has a home in West Cork and is well known to partake in local events, etc. He holds an Irish passport.

What gives you the right to denounce his Irishness?

foxyladyxx · 25-03-2018 12:38pm

Jedward

Fr Tod Umptious · 25-03-2018 12:40pm

That woman who presents Dancing with the Stars

Was she not presenting things like Miss World etc years ago long before anyone in Ireland knew who she was

corcaigh07 · 25-03-2018 12:40pm

Roma Downey.

Trump follows her.

foxyladyxx · 25-03-2018 12:42pm

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

That woman who presents Dancing with the Stars

Was she not presenting things like Miss World etc years ago long before anyone in Ireland knew who she was

She presented a number of shows abroad. .One I remember was ''The Swan'' . .I also think she did America's top model.. Her name is Amanda Brunker and she was more popular in the states.

OldMrBrennan83 · 25-03-2018 12:43pm

This post has been deleted.

somefeen · 25-03-2018 12:43pm

AllForIt wrote: »

Boy George

I think he's a horrible person and I can never understand what the Brits see in him.

So many people seem to forget that he handcuffed a male model to a radiator and beat him up.
Like seriously, **** Boy George. He has still won awards since his conviction. If it was a woman he tied up and traumatised like that he'd be vilified and ruined.

Water John · 25-03-2018 12:46pm

Graham Norton (Walker) is completely Irish, as above poster said. Has a walkway in Bandon named after him.
So too was Wogan. Never played down his heritage. Ask any Irish who lived in the UK during the 70s and 80s and they appreciated the role Wogan played in suppressing Anti-Irish behaviour.
No sure what your narrow view of, being Irish entails.

Are Am Eye · 25-03-2018 12:47pm

Del2005 wrote: »

Johny Logan. Is a legend to our continental cousins playing sold out gigs all over and obviously the Eurovision. Here he just won the Eurovision

Soon after Johny Logan won his (1st) Eurovision he was having a drink in the early house and someone asked him for a few bars. Logan smiled - 'well if you insist.' And began singing. A passing bar man roared at him - 'no singing allowed or you'll be put out.'
Johnny resumed drinking his pint quietly. :pac:

foxyladyxx · 25-03-2018 12:49pm

''Father Ted'' and 'Mrs Brown's boys. . both more popular in the UK than Ireland.

''Father Ted'' has a cult like following.

I had a look at Jedward's following on twitter. . They are not popular anywhere it would appear. .Only got 60+ fans on twitter.

foxyladyxx · 25-03-2018 12:51pm

Cranberries . .were hugely popular in the states.

bodhrandude · 25-03-2018 12:51pm

Dave Allen, I'm quite surprised to not see his name here, rose to prominence with the BBC and one of the very best stand up comedy acts. I don't think he got the same airtime with RTE and perhaps it was because of his mocking of the Catholic church, some of the skits being brilliant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Allen_(comedian)

barney shamrock · 25-03-2018 12:52pm

Patches O'Houlihan

Ursus Horribilis · 25-03-2018 12:53pm

A rock singer from Kerry called Rea Garvey. He's massive in Germany https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2.681/the-irish-rock-star-you-ve-never-heard-of-1.597216

foxyladyxx · 25-03-2018 12:54pm

Conor Mc Gregor

c.p.w.g.w · 25-03-2018 12:54pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Bray's own Fergal Devitt is a huge star in the USA,UK and Japan. He's better known as WWE wrestler Finn Balor and formerly as Prince Devitt. A good looking, talented, popular and humble chap and in great nick too.

That's funny, I knew a few lads who wrestled in bray with him a few times, going back a while now. Never knew he made to WWE

Collie D · 25-03-2018 12:55pm

That bloke who posts on here...high flying German financier or something

MikeyTaylor · 25-03-2018 1:00pm

I'm sure Laura Whitmore is well known back home but she seems to be ubiquitous over in the UK!

Also if we count Nordies, DJ Michael Lavin (from Co Down) has a show on Radio X in England but how many people here have heard of him???

Grayditch · 25-03-2018 1:01pm

darkdubh wrote: »

I'd say it's 50/50 or close. Probably slightly more famous in Britain but it's not like he's a complete unknown here.

Ralf and Florian wrote: »

Any examples of notable Irish people who are more popular or acclaimed outside of Ireland than here?

Just answering the original post.

Bigus · 25-03-2018 1:03pm

Jim Stynes RIP,from Ballyroan Dublin, absolute Aussie Rules superstar in Australia, died young from cancer but left a huge charity legacy behind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C54LgEsCwAM

DAve King from irishtown of Flogging molly band , irish American punk band , massive worldwide audience .

https://youtu.be/89NjEeHku8o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89NjEeHku8o

MikeyTaylor · 25-03-2018 1:03pm

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

A rock singer from Kerry called Rea Garvey. He's massive in Germany https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2.681/the-irish-rock-star-you-ve-never-heard-of-1.597216

I saw his signed guitar in the Hard Rock Cafe in Berlin.

Omackeral · 25-03-2018 1:12pm

foxyladyxx wrote: »

'
I had a look at Jedward's following on twitter. . They are not popular anywhere it would appear. .Only got 60+ fans on twitter.

Their Twitter @PlanetJedward is or was suspended for some reason. I don’t know why I know that but I do. They’d have tens of thousands followers.

Irish who are more famous/acclaimed abroad than here.

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