TV News
RTÉ launches Ireland's Greatest Figures
Monday 22 March 2010
From a shortlist of 40 people, the public will be asked to vote for the greatest figures in the country's history.
The shortlist includes people from across the gamut of Irish life: sport, politics, music, arts and literature.
Votes can be cast at a dedicated website: www.rte.ie/tv/irelandsgreatest/, from 9am on Monday 22 March until noon on Friday 2 April.
The top five figures, as nominated by the voters, will then become the subject of one of five brand new hour-long documentaries, each charting the individual's impact and contribution to Irish life, as interpreted and championed by a well-known personality.
The resulting series of documentaries will be broadcast this September on RTÉ One.
Once these documentaries have aired, the public will again be given the opportunity to reassess which person deserves the accolade of Ireland's Greatest Figure, with the winner being announced on 'The Late Late Show' in October.
Shortlist of Greatest Irish People (in alphabetical order)
1. Bono (1960)
Rock Star and Human Rights campaigner
2. Dr. Noel Browne (1915 - 1997)
Politician and Physician
3. Michael Collins (1890 - 1922)
Revolutionary leader, Chairman of the Irish provisional government and Commander-in-chief of the provisional government army
4. James Connolly (1868 - 1916)
Socialist and Revolutionary
5. Éamon de Valera (1882-1975)
Revolutionary, Former Taoiseach and President of Ireland
6. Joe Dolan (1939 - 2007)
Singer and Entertainer
7. Ronnie Drew (1934 - 2008)
Singer and folk musician
8. Colin Farrell (1976)
Hollywood Actor
9. Garret Fitzgerald (1926)
Former Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael
10. Stephen Gately (1976 - 2009)
Singer and Actor
11. Bob Geldof (1951)
Musician and Human Rights campaigner
12. Pádraig Harrington (1971)
Professional Golfer
13. Charles Haughey (1925 - 2006)
Former Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil
14. Séamus Heaney (1939)
Poet, Writer and Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
15. John Hume (1937)
Politician and co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize
16. James Joyce (1882 - 1941)
Writer
17. John B. Keane (1928 - 2002)
Writer, Humourist and Publican
18. Roy Keane (1971)
International Footballer and Manager
19. Ronan Keating (1977)
Singer/Songwriter and Charity Campaigner
20. Seán Lemass ( 1899-1971)
Revolutionary, and former Taoiseach
21. Jack Lynch (1917 - 1999)
Taoiseach and Sportsman
22. Phil Lynott (1951 - 1986)
Singer, bassist and songwriter
23. Paul Mc Grath (1959)
National and International Footballer
24. Christy Moore (1945)
Irish singer/songwriter.
25. Liam Neeson (1952)
Hollywood Actor
26. Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847)
Political leader, Catholic Emancipator and Lord Mayor of Dublin
27. Daniel O'Donnell (1961)
Singer and entertainer
28. Brian O'Driscoll (1979)
Professional rugby player
29. Michael O'Leary (1961)
Chief Executive of Ryanair
30. John O'Shea (1944)
Humanitarian Campaigner
31. Sonia O'Sullivan (1969)
Athlete
32. Charles Stewart Parnell (1846 - 1891)
Nationalist political leader, founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentry Party and land reform agitator.
33. Pádraig Pearse (1879 - 1916)
Educator, writer and revolutionary
34. Christy Ring (1920 - 1979)
Hurling Champion
35. Mary Robinson (1944)
Former Irish President and Human Rights defender
36. Adi Roche (1955)
Humanitarian and campaigner
37. Wolfe Tone (1763 - 1798)
Republican and Revolutionary
38. Louis Walsh (1952)
Music Manager and Judge on 'The X Factor'
39. Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
Writer, poet and dramatist
40. W.B. Yeats (1865 - 1939)
Poet, Dramatist, Founder of the Abbey Theatre and Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
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