Notable Alumni of University College Cork [Sorted List]

1. Pat Ahern

1932-. (aged 94)

writer Latin Catholic priest musician composer

Pat Ahern is an Irish Roman Catholic priest, traditional musician, composer, and the founder, artistic director and producer of Siamsa Tíre, the Irish National Folk Theatre which performed throughout Ireland and on three continents.

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2. James Moher

1946-. (aged 80)

trade unionist

Jim Moher was a national trade union figure with two major unions from 1974 to 2006. In that time, he served in a number of capacities - legal adviser and representative (accident and industrial disease claims); senior occupational pensions negotiator; National Legal Secretary; National Balloting Officer, National Political Officer and Employment Tribunal representative panel director. As the CWU's Political Officer,...

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3. William Joseph Ashby

1885-1953 (aged 68)

rugby union player

Dr William Joseph Ashby was an Irish rugby union international who was part of the first official British Isles team that toured South Africa in 1910. Although he played for the Lions, he was never selected to play for Ireland.

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4. Bríd Ryan

cancer researcher biochemist biomedical scientist

Bríd M. Ryan is an Irish biomedical scientist and cancer researcher. She was an investigator at the National Cancer Institute from 2013 to 2021.

5. Mark Dearey

1963-. (aged 63)

politician

Mark Dearey is an Irish Green Party politician who served as a Senator from 2010 to 2011, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

6. Biddy Jenkinson

1949-. (aged 77)

writer prose writer poet playwright

Biddy Jenkinson is an Irish poet, short story writer and dramatist who writes in the Irish language. She was born in 1949 in Dublin and attended University College Cork. She has published several collections of verse, two collections of short stories and two plays.

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7. Leanne O'Sullivan

1983-. (aged 43)

poet writer

Leanne O'Sullivan is a poet from the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, Ireland. She is the author of three collections of poetry.

8. Xoán Paredes

1975-. (aged 51)

druid geographer

Xoán M. Paredes is a Galician geographer, teacher and ordained druid (head of the organized Galician druidic movement).

9. Pascal Hitzler

1971-. (aged 55)

computer scientist

Pascal Hitzler is a German American computer scientist specializing in Semantic Web and Artificial Intelligence. He is University Distinguished Professor, endowed Lloyd T. Smith Creativity in Engineering Chair, one of the Directors of the Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics and Director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (CAIDS) at Kansas State University, and the founding...

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10. Denis Landy

1962-. (aged 64)

politician

Denis Landy is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from 2016 to 2017 and previously for the Administrative Panel from 2011 to 2016.

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11. Margaret MacCurtain

1929-2020 (aged 91)

teacher writer historian human rights defender women's rights activist

Margaret Mac Curtain was a Dominican sister, Irish historian, writer, and educator.

12. Patrick Kelly

1875-1934 (aged 59)

farmer politician

Patrick Michael Kelly was an Irish soldier, farmer and politician. He was a member of the Irish Free State Oireachtas as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Clare constituency from 1927 to 1932.

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13. Fiona de Londras

1980-. (aged 46)

university teacher jurist lawyer

Fiona de Londras is an Irish academic and the Barber Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of Birmingham, UK. From 2019 to 2025, she was also an honorary professor at the Australian National University in Canberra.

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14. Cvetka Bevc

1960-. (aged 66)

writer children's writer musicologist illustrator

Cvetka Bevc is a Slovene writer and poet.

15. David Stanton

1957-. (aged 69)

politician

David Stanton is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency from 1997 to 2024. He served as a Minister of State from 2016 to 2020.

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16. Susan O'Keeffe

1960-. (aged 66)

politician

Susan O'Keeffe is an Irish journalist and former Labour Party politician.

17. Phil Prendergast

1959-. (aged 67)

midwife obstetrician politician

Phil Prendergast is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South constituency from 2011 to 2014, Leader of the Labour Party in the Seanad in 2011 and a Senator for the Labour Panel from 2007 to 2011.

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18. Marc Ó Cathasaigh

1977-. (aged 49)

politician

Marc Ó Cathasaigh is a former Irish Green Party politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Waterford constituency from 2020 to 2024.

19. Richard Hingston

1887-1966 (aged 79)

explorer military physician botanical collector scientific collector entomologist

Major Richard William George Hingston MC FRGS was an Irish physician, explorer and naturalist who worked in India with the Indian Medical Service. He wrote several books based on his travels and natural history observations. He also served as medical officer to the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition.

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20. Ciarán Lynch

1964-. (aged 62)

politician

Ciarán Lynch is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency from 2007 to 2016.

21. Eileen Desmond

1932-2005 (aged 73)

politician

Eileen Christine Desmond was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Health and Minister for Social Welfare from 1981 to 1982. She was a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1965 to 1969 and 1973 to 1987. She also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Munster constituency from 1979 to 1981 and as a...

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22. Edward M. Walsh

1939-. (aged 87)

academic

Edward M. Walsh, is the founding president of the University of Limerick, one of two new universities established by Ireland in 1989. He headed the institution from its inception as the National Institute for Higher Education Limerick, in 1970, when he was appointed as chairman of the planning board, and director, through its transformation to a university in 1989, when...

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23. Emily Hegarty

1998-. (aged 28)

rower

Emily Hegarty is an Irish rower. She competed in the women's coxless four event at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal. At the same Olympics, her third cousin Paul O'Donovan also won a gold medal for rowing in the lightweight double sculls. Along with her team-mates, she was named as the Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman for July...

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24. Patrick O'Shea

scientist

Patrick G. O’Shea is an Irish-American scientist and academic. From February 2017 to September 2020, he was the fifteenth president of University College Cork. He was previously vice president and chief research officer at the University of Maryland.

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25. Paul Coghlan

1944-2023 (aged 79)

politician

Paul Coghlan was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from June 2016 to March 2020 and a Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel from 1997 to 2020.

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26. Raymond Browne

1957-. (aged 69)

Catholic priest Catholic bishop

Raymond Anthony Browne is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Kerry since 2013.

27. Tim Lombard

1976-. (aged 50)

politician

Tim Lombard is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from April 2016 to January 2025.

28. Peter Barry

1928-2016 (aged 88)

diplomat politician

Peter Barry was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Tánaiste from January 1987 to March 1987, Deputy leader of Fine Gael from 1977 to 1987 and 1991 to 1993, Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1982 to 1987, Minister for the Environment from 1981 to 1982, Minister for Education from 1976 to 1977, Minister for Transport and Power from...

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29. Aindrias Moynihan

1967-. (aged 59)

politician

Aindrias Moynihan is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-West constituency since the 2016 general election.

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30. Trevor Joyce

1947-. (aged 79)

poet

Trevor Joyce is an Irish poet, born in Dublin.

31. Osborn Bergin

1873-1950 (aged 77)

university teacher man of letters philologist literary scholar linguist

Osborn Joseph Bergin was an Irish scholar of the Irish language and early Irish literature, who discovered what is now known as Bergin's law.

32. D. D. Sheehan

1873-1948 (aged 75)

barrister politician journalist

Daniel Desmond Sheehan, usually known as D. D. Sheehan was an Irish nationalist, politician, labour leader, journalist, barrister and author. He served as Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland representing Mid-Cork from 1901 to 1918, a constituency comprising the districts of Ahadallane, Ballincollig, Ballyvourney, Blarney, Coachford, Farran, Inchigeelagh,...

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33. Anna Maria Dengel

1892-1980 (aged 88)

missionary physician

Mother Anna Maria Dengel, Medical Mission Sisters, (16 March 1892 – 17 April 1980) was an Austrian physician, religious sister and missionary. She was the founder of the Medical Mission Sisters, which was among the first congregations of Religious Sisters authorized by the Roman Catholic Church to provide full medical care to the poor and needy in the overseas missions.

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34. Barry Desmond

1935-. (aged 91)

trade unionist politician

Barry Desmond is an Irish former Labour Party politician who was Minister for Health from 1982 to 1987 and Minister for Social Welfare from 1982 to 1986. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1969 to 1989, a Minister of State from 1981 to 1982, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Dublin from 1989 to 1994, and...

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35. Batt O'Keeffe

1945-. (aged 81)

university teacher Gaelic football player politician

Bartholomew O'Keeffe is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation from 2010 to 2011, Minister for Education and Science from 2008 to 2010 and a Minister of State from 2004 to 2008. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1987 to 1989 and from 1992 to 2011. He was a Senator...

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36. Quentin Fottrell

1975-. (aged 51)

journalist author

Quentin Fottrell is an Irish columnist, author, agony uncle, journalist, social diarist, and critic.

37. Colm Burke

1957-. (aged 69)

politician

Colm Burke is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central since the 2020 general election. He served as Minister of State at the Department of Health from 2024 to 2025, a Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel from 2011 to 2020, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South...

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38. Kathleen Lynch

1953-. (aged 73)

politician

Kathleen Lynch is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as Minister of State from 2011 to 2016. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency from 1994 to 1997 and 2002 to 2016.

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39. Denis O'Donovan

1955-. (aged 71)

academic politician

Denis O'Donovan is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from April 2011 to January 2025. He previously served as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from 2016 to 2020 and Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from 2011 to 2016. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-West constituency from 2002 to 2007.

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40. Aloys Fleischmann

1910-1992 (aged 82)

choir director music teacher conductor composer musicologist

Aloys Fleischmann was an Irish composer, musicologist, professor and conductor.

41. Dave O'Callaghan

1990-. (aged 36)

rugby union player

Dave O'Callaghan is a former Irish rugby union player and current coach of Waterpark RFC who last played for French Rugby Pro D2 side Biarritz. He played as a flanker, usually blindside, but can also play as a lock. O'Callaghan has a Commerce degree from University College Cork.

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42. Charles Donovan

1863-1951 (aged 88)

entomologist zoologist university teacher parasitologist bacteriologist

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Donovan was an Irish physician, parasitologist and entomologist who served as a medical officer in the Indian Medical Service. He is best remembered for his discoveries of Leishmania donovani as the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, and Klebsiella granulomatis as that of donovanosis. The son of a judge in India, he was born in Calcutta and completed...

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43. Jan O'Sullivan

1950-. (aged 76)

politician

Jan O'Sullivan is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Education and Skills from 2014 to 2016 and as a Minister of State from 2011 to 2014. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick City constituency from 2011 to 2020, and previously from 1998 to 2011 for the Limerick East constituency.

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44. Dara Murphy

1969-. (aged 57)

politician

Dara Murphy is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Minister of State from 2014 to 2017 and Lord Mayor of Cork from 2009 to 2010. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency from 2011 to 2019.

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45. Gerald Goldberg

1912-2003 (aged 91)

politician

Gerald Yael Goldberg was an Irish lawyer and politician who in 1977 became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Cork. Goldberg was the son of Lithuanian Jewish refugees; his father was put ashore in Cork with other Jews and told that "Cork was the gateway to America."

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46. Robert Dwyer Joyce

1830-1883 (aged 53)

musicologist poet writer

Robert Dwyer Joyce was an Irish poet, writer, and collector of traditional Irish music.

47. James Coughlan

1980-. (aged 46)

rugby sevens player rugby union player

James Coughlan is a retired Irish rugby union player and current coach. Coughlan played primarily as a number 8 and represented Cork-based amateur club Dolphin in the All-Ireland League, his native province Munster and French club Pau, and, internationally, Ireland Wolfhounds and the Ireland 7s team during his career.

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48. Lorraine Clifford-Lee

1972-. (aged 54)

politician

Lorraine Clifford-Lee is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as a senator since June 2020.

49. Linda Doyle

university teacher engineer provost

Linda E. Doyle is an Irish academic and educator who is the 45th Provost of Trinity College Dublin, the university's chief officer, having assumed the office in August 2021. An electrical engineer, she has had a long academic career at Trinity, from the 1990s, most recently as Professor of Engineering and the Arts, in addition to holding other management roles...

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50. Doireann Ní Ghríofa

1981-. (aged 45)

essayist poet writer

Doireann Ní Ghríofa is an Irish poet and essayist who writes in both Irish and English.

51. Michael Creed

1963-. (aged 63)

farmer politician

Michael Creed is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-West constituency from 2007 to 2024, and previously from 1989 to 2002. He served as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine from 2016 to 2020.

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52. Deirdre Clune

1959-. (aged 67)

politician

Deirdre Clune is an Irish politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency from 2014 to 2019, and again from 2020 to 2024. She is a member of Fine Gael, part of the European People's Party.

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53. Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1989-. (aged 37)

politician

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency since the 2016 general election.

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54. Nóirín Ní Riain

1951-. (aged 75)

singer pianist

Nóirín Ní Riain is an Irish singer, writer, teacher, theologian, and authority on Gregorian Chant (plainchant, plainsong). She is primarily known for spiritual songs, but also sings Celtic music, sean-nós and Indian songs. Nóirín plays an Indian harmonium (surpeti), shruti box and feadóg (whistle). She was Artist-in-Residence for Wexford and Laois. She performs with her sons Eoin and Mícheál Ó...

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55. John O'Donoghue

1956-. (aged 70)

lawyer politician

John O'Donoghue is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2007 to 2009, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism from 2002 to 2007, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 1997 to 2002 and Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 1991 to 1992. He served as a Teachta...

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56. Daniel Mulhall

1955-. (aged 71)

diplomat

Daniel Mulhall is a retired Irish diplomat and a former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States. He has also been Ireland's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Germany and Malaysia.

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57. Patrick O'Donovan

1977-. (aged 49)

politician

Patrick O'Donovan is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport since January 2025. He previously served as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science from 2024 to 2025 and a Minister of State from 2016 to 2024. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick County constituency...

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58. John Deasy

1967-. (aged 59)

politician

John Deasy is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Waterford constituency from 2002 to 2020.

59. John Spillane

1961-. (aged 65)

composer singer

John Spillane is a singer-songwriter from Cork, Ireland.

60. Frank Murphy

1890-1949 (aged 59)

legal counselor lawyer judge politician

Frank Murphy is a former professional rugby union player from Ireland who works as a referee for the Irish Rugby Football Union. He primarily played as a scrum-half. Originally from County Cork, Murphy played for his native province of Munster before moving to the English side Leicester Tigers.

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61. Brian Crowley

1964-2026 (aged 62)

politician

Brian Crowley was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Munster and South constituencies from 1994 to 2019. He served as a Senator from 1993 to 1994, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

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62. Anne Buttimer

1938-2017 (aged 79)

university teacher researcher geographer

Anne Buttimer was an Irish geographer. She was emeritus professor of geography at University College, Dublin.

63. Gabriel Rosenstock

1949-. (aged 77)

linguist poet writer translator children's writer

Gabriel Rosenstock is an Irish writer who works chiefly in the Irish language. A member of Aosdána, he is a poet, playwright, haikuist, tankaist, essayist, and author/translator of over 180 books, mostly in Irish. Born in Kilfinane, County Limerick, he currently resides in Dublin.

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64. Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin

1950-2018 (aged 68)

composer pianist ethnomusicologist university teacher

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin was an Irish musician, composer, academic and educationalist.

65. Seán Ó Faoláin

1900-1991 (aged 91)

biographer writer university teacher novelist essayist

Seán Proinsias Ó Faoláin was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century Irish culture. A short-story writer of international repute, he was also a leading commentator and critic.

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66. Mike Ross

1961-. (aged 65)

peace activist businessperson politician

Mike Ross is a retired Irish rugby union footballer who played prop for Irish club Leinster and the Ireland national rugby team.

67. William O'Brien

1852-1928 (aged 76)

journalist politician

William O'Brien was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He was particularly associated with the campaigns for land reform in Ireland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as well as his...

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68. Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill

1952-. (aged 74)

poet writer

Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill is a modern Irish poet whose works have been described as having a "major influence in revitalizing the Irish language in modern poetry".

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69. Mattie McGrath

1958-. (aged 68)

politician

Matthew McGrath is an Irish independent politician and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Tipperary South constituency since the 2024 general election, and previously from 2007 to 2016. He was a TD for the Tipperary constituency from 2016 to 2024.

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70. Michael Lowry

1954-. (aged 72)

businessperson politician

Michael Lowry is an Irish independent politician who has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) since 1987, currently for the Tipperary North constituency. He previously served as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications from 1994 to 1996 and Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party from 1993 to 1994.

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71. Denis Naughten

1973-. (aged 53)

politician

Denis Naughten is an Irish former independent politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Roscommon–Galway constituency from 2016 to 2024, and previously from 2007 to 2016 for the Roscommon–South Leitrim constituency and from 1997 to 2007 for the Longford–Roscommon constituency. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands...

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72. Michael McNamara

1974-. (aged 52)

politician barrister

Michael McNamara is an Irish independent politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency since July 2024. He was previously a Teachta Dála (TD) for Clare from the 2020 general election to 2024, and from 2011 to 2016.

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73. Marty Morrissey

1958-. (aged 68)

television presenter

Martin Morrissey is an Irish sports commentator and television presenter. He is the Gaelic games correspondent for RTÉ News and regularly presents high-profile sports events for RTÉ Sport, such as the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and Olympic Games.

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74. Norma Foley

1970-. (aged 56)

teacher politician

Norma Foley is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Children, Disability and Equality since January 2025. She previously served as Minister for Education from 2020 to 2025. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Kerry since 2020.

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75. Seán Ó Riada

1931-1971 (aged 40)

musicologist conductor composer

Seán Ó Riada was an Irish composer and arranger of Irish traditional music. Through his incorporation of modern and traditional techniques he became the single most influential figure in the revival of Irish traditional music during the 1960s.

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76. Pixie McKenna

1971-. (aged 55)

television presenter physician

Bernadette Anne McKenna also known as Dr. Pixie McKenna, is an Irish physician and television personality. She runs a clinic in Cork, Ireland and is best known for her work on the Channel 4 series Embarrassing Illnesses and its successor series Embarrassing Bodies and BBC Three's Freaky Eaters.

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77. Donnacha Ryan

1983-. (aged 43)

rugby union player

Donnacha Ryan is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. Ryan spent most of his career representing his native province Munster, spending 13 seasons at the club, before moving to French club Racing 92 in 2017, where he spent the final four seasons of his playing career before retiring and joining the coaching team at La Rochelle ahead...

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78. Alan Kelly

1975-. (aged 51)

politician

Alan Thomas Kelly is an Irish politician and author who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Tipperary North constituency since the 2024 general election, and previously from 2011 to 2016. He was a TD for the Tipperary constituency from 2016 to 2024. He previously served as the leader of the Labour Party from 2020 to 2022.

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79. Michael McGrath

1976-. (aged 50)

politician

Michael McGrath is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection. He previously served as Minister for Finance from December 2022 to June 2024 and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2020 to 2022. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency from 2007 to 2024.

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80. Simon Coveney

1972-. (aged 54)

farmer politician

Simon Coveney is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 2022 to 2024. He served as deputy leader of Fine Gael from 2017 to 2024. He was in the cabinet from 2011 to 2024, holding a range of ministerial portfolios, including as Tánaiste from 2017 to 2020.

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81. John J. McGuinness

1955-. (aged 71)

politician

John James McGuinness is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the 34th Dáil since February 2025. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since the 1997 general election. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach in April 2016. He served as Chair...

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82. Terence MacSwiney

1879-1920 (aged 41)

poet writer politician

Terence James MacSwiney was an Irish playwright, author and politician. He was elected as Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork during the Irish War of Independence in 1920. He was arrested by the British Government on charges of sedition and imprisoned in Brixton Prison. His death there in October 1920 after 74 days on hunger strike brought him and the...

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83. Seán Lemass

1899-1971 (aged 72)

politician

Seán Francis Lemass was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1959 to 1966. He also served as Tánaiste from 1957 to 1959, 1951 to 1954 and 1945 to 1948, Minister for Industry and Commerce from 1957 to 1959, 1951 to 1954, 1945 to 1949 and 1932 to 1939 and Minister for...

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84. Jack Lynch

1917-1999 (aged 82)

barrister Gaelic football player hurler politician

John Mary Lynch was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. He was Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1966 to 1979, Leader of the Opposition from 1973 to 1977, Minister for Finance from 1965 to 1966, Minister for Industry and Commerce from 1959 to 1965, Minister for Education 1957 to...

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85. Phil Hogan

1960-. (aged 66)

politician

Philip Hogan is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as European Commissioner for Trade between 2019 and 2020, and previously European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development between 2014 and 2019.

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86. Holly Cairns

1989-. (aged 37)

politician

Holly Cairns, also known as Holly McKeever Cairns, is an Irish politician who has been leader of the Social Democrats party since March 2023. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Cork South-West since the 2020 general election. She was a member of Cork County Council for the Bantry local electoral area from 2019 to 2020.

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87. Cillian Murphy

1976-. (aged 50)

composer actor film actor musician screenwriter

Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor and film producer. His works encompass both stage and screen, and his accolades include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

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88. Fiona Shaw

1958-. (aged 68)

stage actor performing artist actor film actor

Fiona Shaw is an Irish actress in screen and stage. She did extensive work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, as well as in film and television. In 2020, she was listed at No. 29 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors. She was made an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British...

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89. Graham Norton

1963-. (aged 63)

memoirist radio personality film actor comedian columnist

Graham William Walker, known professionally as Graham Norton, is an Irish comedian, broadcaster, actor, and writer. He is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for the comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show (2007–present). He has received the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance three times for the chat show So Graham Norton (1998–2002). He has been noted...

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90. Micheál Martin

1960-. (aged 66)

diplomat politician

Micheál Martin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician serving as Taoiseach since January 2025, having previously held the position from 2020 to 2022. Martin served as Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence from December 2022 to January 2025. He has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011 and a TD for Cork South-Central since 1989. He...

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91. Ronan O'Gara

1977-. (aged 49)

rugby union coach rugby union player

Ronan John Ross O'Gara is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. O'Gara played as a fly-half and is Ireland's third most-capped player and second highest points scorer. He is currently head coach of La Rochelle in the French Top 14.

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92. Des Bishop

1975-. (aged 51)

comedian

Desmond Bishop is an American comedian. Born in London, he was brought up in New York and moved to Ireland at the age of 14.

93. John Crowley

1942-. (aged 84)

screenwriter university teacher novelist writer science fiction writer

John Crowley is an Irish theatre and film director. He is best known for the films Brooklyn (2015) and his debut feature, Intermission (2003), for which he won an Irish Film and Television Award for Best Director. He is a brother of the designer Bob Crowley.

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94. Brendan Kavanagh

1967-. (aged 59)

musician pianist YouTuber television producer piano teacher

Brendan Kavanagh, also known as "Dr K" due to his PhD in English, is a British pianist and piano teacher. He specializes in playing and promoting the boogie-woogie genre, almost exclusively improvised, often combined with classical, jazz, blues, rock & roll, and traditional Irish music themes. He regularly performs in open venues on public pianos, sometimes in duet formats with...

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95. Michael Murphy

1938-. (aged 88)

television actor character actor film producer actor film actor

Michael Murphy is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a full forward for Glenswilly and for the Donegal county team, which he captained from December 2010 until his initial retirement from inter-county football in November 2022. His predecessors as Donegal players, such as Manus Boyle, Brendan Devenney and Anthony Molloy, regard Murphy as the county's greatest ever footballer. Outside...

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96. Jerry Buttimer

1967-. (aged 59)

politician

Jerry Buttimer is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht since January 2025. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency since the 2024 general election, and previously from 2011 to 2016. He previously served as a Senator for the...

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