Famous Irish Women

Enough of Irish men! It is time to shift the spotlight to their lesser-talked but equally worthy counterpart, the Irish women. Sharp, witty, feisty, fierce, and industrious, Irish women have always been somewhat of a mystery for the world. They have wooed, wowed, and inspired a generation of womankind with their sheer guts and accomplishments. Be it Hollywood, Human Rights, hospice or humanitarianism, Irish women have rocked it all and how? Now only if you thought that Ryan Gosling, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer Lawrence were the only famous Irish women the world could count, you are in for a huge, huge surprise. Killer looks aside, Irish beauties like Queen Medb of Connaught, Countess Markievicz, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, Mary Robinson, Mary Raftery, Lady Gregory, and Christina Noble are just some other influential Irish women who have impacted Ireland and the world at large in unthinkable ways. Read on to discover and get inspired by the lives and feats of many such Irish women in their biographies below that covers their timeline, trivia, and lesser-known facts with utmost honesty.

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Birthdate: October 16, 1925

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: London, England

Died: October 11, 2022

Angela Lansbury played a key role in shaping the Golden Age of Hollywood. Recognized as one of the few stars still alive from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, Angela Lansbury has received accolades, such as an Honorary Oscar. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II appointed her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

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Saoirse Ronan

(American-Born Irish Actress Known for Her Work in Period Dramas)

Birthdate: April 12, 1994

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States

Saoirse Ronan is noted for her roles in period dramas since she was in her teens. Her breakthrough came when in 2007 she played a precocious teenager in the film Atonement. Since then she has acted in several successful movies. She’s also a stage artist and was featured by Forbes in two of their 30 Under 30 lists in 2016.

 3 

Dolores O'Riordan

(Lead Vocalist and Lyricist for the Alternative Rock Band ‘The Cranberries')

Birthdate: September 6, 1971

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Ballybricken, County Limerick, Ireland

Died: January 15, 2018

Dolores O'Riordan went from being a church singer to becoming the lead vocalist of the Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries and a rock icon of the 1990s. She stunned her fans with her death as a result of accidental drowning due to intoxication at age 46.

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Becky Lynch

(One of WWE's Most Recognizable and Highest-Paid Wrestlers)

Birthdate: January 30, 1987

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Limerick, Ireland

Becky Lynch is a four-time WWE champion and was named sixth on Twitter’s 2019 Top Female Athletes Worldwide list. She initially wrestled as "Rebecca Knox", teaming up with her brother. She became the only woman to hold both the Raw Women's Championship and the SmackDown Women's Championship simultaneously.

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Birthdate: June 30, 1983

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan initially worked at a restaurant to support her education and then stepped into open mic and comedy nights. She has performed across Canada and the UK and even at the LA-based Comedy Store. Now an actor, too, she is also a 2-time skin cancer survivor.

 6 

Evanna Lynch

(Best Known for Her Role of 'Luna Lovegood' in the 'Harry Potter' Film Series)

Birthdate: August 16, 1991

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Termonfeckin, Ireland

Evanna Lynch is best known as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movie franchise, Harry Potter-themed video games, and the musical A Very Potter Senior Year. An avid animal rights activist, she has launched a vegan-themed podcast titled The ChickPeeps and a cruelty-free make-up box named Kinder Beauty Box.

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Enya

(Irish Singer and Musician Known for Pioneering Modern 'Celtic' and 'New-Age' Music)

Birthdate: May 17, 1961

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland

Known for her unique blend of Celtic and folk tunes, Irish singer Enya has been dubbed the Queen of New Age. The Academy Award-nominated singer is also a 4-time Grammy winner and soared to fame with tracks such as Only Time and Orinoco Flow. She is the best-selling Irish solo artist ever.

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Jessie Buckley

(Irish Actress and Singer Known for Her Films: ‘Beast’, ‘Wild Rose’ and ‘The Lost Daughter’)

Birthdate: December 28, 1989

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Killarney, Ireland

One of the most popular actresses from Ireland, Jessie Buckley was ranked 38th on Ireland's greatest film actors list published by The Irish Times in 2020. Also known for her singing abilities, Jessie Buckley is a member of the Tipperary Millennium Orchestra. She can also play the piano, clarinet, and harp.

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Katie McGrath

(Irish Actress Known for Her TV Series: 'Merlin', 'Dracula' and 'Supergirl')

Birthdate: February 21, 1983

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ashford, Ireland

Katie McGrath is an Irish actress known for playing important roles in popular TV series like Merlin, Dracula, Supergirl, and Frontier. Her journey from being a wardrobe assistant on the set of a television series titled The Tudors to becoming an actress after being advised to try her hand at acting is quite inspirational.

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Ruth Negga

(Irish Actress Known for Her Portrayal of 'Mildred Loving' in the Movie 'Loving')

Birthdate: January 7, 1982

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Born to an Irish mother and an Ethiopian father, Ruth Negga didn’t look back after grabbing a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for the Best Newcomer, with her performance in the play Duck. She also played both Ophelia and Prince Hamlet in two different productions of the play.

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Aisling Bea

(Irish Comedian and Actress Known for Her Comedy Series 'This Way Up')

Birthdate: March 16, 1984

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Kildare, Ireland

Aisling Bea is an Irish actor, screenwriter, and comedian who has been serving as a team captain on the popular British comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats since 2016. Apart from being a comedian and actor, Aisling Bea is also an activist; she campaigned successfully for the introduction of legal abortion and same-sex marriage legislation in Ireland.

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Katie Taylor

(One of Only Eight Boxers in History to Hold all Four Major World Titles in Boxing Simultaneously)

Birthdate: July 2, 1986

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

A 5-time world champion and an Olympic gold medalist, Katie Taylor is one of Ireland’s best boxers. She also has 6 gold medals at the European Championship. Born amid poverty in the coastal town of Bray, to a boxer father, Katie was initially trained by him.

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Birthdate: December 8, 1966

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Glenageary, Ireland

Died: July 26, 2023

Sinead O’Connor is an Irish singer and songwriter known for her controversial statements as much as for her work as a musician. Apart from releasing solo albums and singles, she has also collaborated with other artists and recorded songs for films. She often makes headlines for expressing views on subjects, such as women's rights, child abuse, sexuality, and organized religion.

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Nicola Coughlan

(Irish Actress)

Birthdate: January 9, 1987

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Galway, Ireland

Height: 5'1" (155 cm)

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Birthdate: March 5, 1986

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Irish actor Dominique McElligott is best known for her appearances in Hell on Wheels, The Astronaut Wives Club, The Boys, and the Netflix series House of Cards. She began her career with On Home Ground, in her teens. Her character in The Philanthropist was dropped before the series started airing.

Birthdate: April 7, 2005

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Cork, Ireland

Irish singer, songwriter, and guitarist Allie Sherlock came into the limelight in 2017 after a YouTube cover of hers went viral. Even though she had been uploading her music on YouTube since 2014, it was only in 2017 that she gained widespread attention. Since then, she has appeared in a few TV shows as well.

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Vogue Williams

(Television presenter)

Birthdate: October 2, 1985

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Reality TV star Vogue Williams soared to fame with the show Fade Street. Initially a DJ, Vogue had also worked for Stellar magazine. She later won Bear Grylls: Mission Survive. She also once launched her own fitness bootcamp. Vogue is married to TV personality Spencer Matthews.

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Sarah Bolger

(Irish Actress Known for Her Films ‘In America’, ‘Stormbreaker’ and ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’)

Birthdate: February 28, 1991

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Sarah Bolger is best known for her roles in movies such as Stormbreaker, The Lazarus Effect, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. She is also known for her IFTA Award-winning performance as Princess Mary Tudor in the series The Tudors and for her role as Princess Aurora in Once Upon a Time.

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Birthdate: April 30, 1662

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: London, England

Died: December 28, 1694

Mary II of England was Queen of England, Ireland, and Scotland from 1689 to 1694. Although she co-reigned along with her husband William III of England, she also took major decisions by herself whenever William was abroad. Mary has been portrayed in films, such as Orlando and England, My England.

Birthdate: October 12, 1972

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Kilkenny, Ireland

Irish visual artist Yvonne McGuinness is renowned for her video installations and prints. Most of her art works revolve around themes of conflict between revealing and hiding one’s true self. She has also made several short films, such as Charlie's Place. She is married to Irish actor Cillian Murphy.

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Charlie Murphy

(Actress)

Birthdate: April 19, 1988

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

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Maureen O'Sullivan

(Actress)

Birthdate: May 17, 1911

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland

Died: June 23, 1998

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

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Nadine Coyle

(Pop Singer and a Member of the Girl Group ‘Girls Aloud')

Birthdate: June 15, 1985

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Derry, Northern Ireland

Part of the award-winning girl band Girls Aloud, Irish singer-actor Nadine Coyle began her career with the show Popstars and later launched a solo career, with songs such as Go To Work. She has also been a model and has launched an Irish pub, which was later run by her family.

Birthdate: September 10, 1958

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Irish singer and musician Siobhan Fahey is best known as a founding member of the British/Irish girl group Bananarama. As part of the group, she delivered several top 10 hits. Later, she formed the musical act, Shakespears Sister, which went on to win an Ivor Novello Award. In her 60s now, she continues to be active in the music scene.

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Sarah Greene

(Actress)

Birthdate: July 21, 1984

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Cork, Ireland

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

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Kerry Condon

(Irish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Octavia of the Julii’ in the TV Series ‘Rome’)

Birthdate: January 4, 1983

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Tipperary, Ireland

Irish actress Kerry Condon is popularly known for playing the role of Octavia of the Julii in the TV series Rome. Also active in theater, she is the youngest actress ever to play Ophelia in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet. She has appeared in numerous movies as well and received acclaim for her performance in Intermission. 

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Ali Hewson

(Activist and Co-founder of the Fashion Line "EDUN" and Skincare Products Company "Nude")

Birthdate: March 23, 1961

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Ali Hewson is an Irish businesswoman and activist. In the 1990s, Hewson joined the anti-nuclear movement and started working with activists like Adi Roche. In 2002, she played a key role in organizing campaigns against the Sellafield nuclear facility in England. As a businesswoman, Hewson has co-founded a skincare company and a fashion label called Nude skincare and EDUN respectively.

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Louisa Harland

(Actress)

Birthdate: 1994 AD

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

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Ruth Kearney

(Actor)

Birthdate: November 11, 1984

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

Birthdate: May 17, 1974

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Dundalk, Ireland

Andrea Corr is an Irish singer, musician, songwriter, actress, and author. She is part of the popular Celtic pop-rock and folk-rock group The Corrs, where she plays the ukulele, piano, and tin whistle apart from being the lead singer. Also a humanitarian, Andrea Corr takes part in several charitable activities to raise money for various causes.

Birthdate: October 24, 1971

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Churchtown, Dublin, Ireland

Irish actor Dervla Kirwan gained fame as Assumpta Fitzgerald in the series Ballykissangel. She was also seen in Goodnight Sweetheart and in The Next Doctor, a Christmas special episode of Doctor Who. A skilled stage actor, too, she has appeared in plays such as a production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal.

Birthdate: April 9, 1949

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Sorcha Cusack is an Irish actress known for her association with popular theatre companies, such as the Royal Exchange, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the National Theatre. Born into a family of actors, Sorcha Cusack followed in the footsteps of her parents to establish herself as an actress. 

 33 

Brenda Fricker

(Actress)

Birthdate: February 17, 1945

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

 34 

Iris Murdoch

(Irish & British Novelist Best Known for Her Novels: 'Under the Net', 'The Sea, the Sea' and 'The Bell')

Birthdate: July 15, 1919

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Died: February 8, 1999

One of the most popular Irish-born British novelists, Iris Murdoch is remembered for her psychological novels, which had a good dose of sexuality, philosophy, morality, and comic elements. While she won the Booker Prize for The Sea, the Sea, the Oxford alumnus had also worked for the HM Treasury and the UN.

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Fionnula Flanagan

(Actress)

Birthdate: December 10, 1941

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Height: 5'2" (157 cm)

 36 

Maria Doyle Kennedy

(Actress Known for Playing Catherine of Aragon on the Series 'The Tudors')

Birthdate: September 25, 1964

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland

Irish singer and actor Maria Doyle Kennedy is best known for her role as Catherine of Aragon in The Tudors. She has also been part of films such as The Conjuring 2 and The Commitments. Once part of the Black Velvet Band, she has also released several solo albums.

 37 

Una Healy

(Pop Singer Best Known as a Member of Five-Piece Girl Group 'The Saturdays')

Birthdate: October 10, 1981

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: County Tipperary, Ireland

Una Healy initially rose to fame as part of the 5-member girl group The Saturdays. The Irish singer is the niece of country music star Declan Nerney. A talented swimmer, she gave up the sport at 13 to switch to music. She has also scored solo hits such as Stay My Love.  

 38 

Aisling Franciosi

(Irish Actress Known for Her Role as ‘Katie Benedetto’ in TV Series ‘The Fall’)

Birthdate: June 6, 1993

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Irish actor Aisling Franciosi is best known as Katie Benedetto from the series The Fall and as Kate Crawford from the TNT series Legends. She was also seen as Lyanna Stark in Game of Thrones and as Clare Carroll in The Nightingale, and won an AACTA award for the latter.

 39 

Niamh Algar

(Actress)

Birthdate: June 28, 1992

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Ireland

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

 40 

Grace Marks

(Irish-Canadian Maid & Murderer)

Birthdate: 1828

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Ulster

Died: 1873 AD

 41 

Valerie Hobson

(Actress)

Birthdate: April 14, 1917

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Larne, County Antrim, Ireland

Died: November 13, 1998

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

Birthdate: December 12, 1574

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Skanderborg, Denmark

Died: March 2, 1619

Often described as a "dumb blonde," Anne of Denmark, who became the queen of Scotland, England, and Ireland, through her marriage to King James VI and I, was an art connoisseur known for attending extravagant masques. She probably also converted to Catholicism later, going against James’s anti-Catholic stance.

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Sharon Horgan

(Known for the Comedy Series 'Pulling' and 'Catastrophe')

Birthdate: July 13, 1970

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Hackney, London, England

London-born Irish actor and writer Sharon Horgan is best known for her BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated writing for the series Catastrophe. She has also won awards for her acting in the sitcom Pulling and established the production company Merman. She is the sister of former rugby player Shane Horgan.

 44 

Sharon Corr

(Singer)

Birthdate: March 24, 1970

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Dundalk, Ireland

Best known as part of the Irish family band The Corrs, singer Sharon Corr is equally talented in instruments such as the violin and the guitar. Born to musician parents, she began playing for orchestras as a child. She opened up about her social anxiety disorder through her solo album.

Birthdate: October 19, 1982

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Bombay, Maharashtra, India

Nauheed Cyrusi is an Indian model, actress, and VJ. Cyrusi is best known for appearing in TV commercials for well-known brands like Head & Shoulders, Britannia, and Himalaya. Over the years, Cyrusi has become a household name in India, thanks to her acting skills and visibility across the country.

Birthdate: February 18, 1948

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Dalkey, Ireland

Sinéad Cusack is an Irish actress best known for her contribution to British and Irish theatre. Over the years, she has received nominations for prestigious awards, such as the Tony Award and Olivier Award. In 2020, Sinéad Cusack was named in Ireland's greatest film actors list published by The Irish Times.

 47 

Mary Robinson

(7th President of Ireland (1990 - 1997))

Birthdate: May 21, 1944

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Ballina, Ireland

A seasoned lawyer and a Harvard and Trinity College alumna, politician Mary Robinson has also taught law at Trinity. The Labour Party member later rose to be Ireland’s first female president. She was also a founding member of the global group of peacekeepers and leaders The Elders.

 48 

Roisin Murphy

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: July 5, 1973

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Arklow, Ireland

 49 

Laura Donnelly

(Actress)

Birthdate: August 20, 1982

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

 50 

Eva Birthistle

(Actress)

Birthdate: February 23, 1974

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Bray, Ireland

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)