Famous People Born In Galway

Vote for Your Favourite People Born In Galway

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Nicola Coughlan
(Irish Actress)
Nicola Coughlan
10
Birthdate: January 9, 1987
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 2 
Conor Woodman
(Film Director)
Conor Woodman
2
Birthdate: March 21, 1974
Sun Sign: Aries

Irish author, director, and broadcaster Conor Woodman is best known for hosting the TV show Around the World in 80 Trades. Starting his career as a financial analyst, he eventually became an investigative journalist. With time, he branched out into film-making as well. Also a fiction writer, he is planning to launch a novel series soon.

 3 
Nora-Jane Noone
(Actress)
Nora-Jane Noone
3
Birthdate: March 8, 1984
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 4 
Owen McDonnell
(Actor)
Owen McDonnell
0
Birthdate: 1974 AD
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 5 
Hilary Rose
(Irish Actress and Writer)
Hilary Rose
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: August 16, 1979
Sun Sign: Leo
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 6 
Fiona O Shaughnessy
(Actress)
Fiona O Shaughnessy
1
Birthdate: 1979 AD
 7 
Ken Bruen
(Novelist)
Ken Bruen
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1951 AD
 8 
Christy O'Connor Snr
(Irish Professional Golfer)
Christy O'Connor Snr
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: May 14, 2016
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 9 
Cathy Belton
(Irish Actress Known for Her Roles in the TV Series 'Red Rock' and 'Miss Scarlet and the Duke')
Cathy Belton
1
Birthdate: January 17, 1970
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 10 
Seán Cannon
(Irish Musician Who Was the Guitarist of The Dubliners)
Seán Cannon
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 29, 1940
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
 11 
Alice Mary Higgins
(Politician)
Alice Mary Higgins
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 10, 1975
Sun Sign: Aries
 12 
Hudson Lowe
(Soldier)
Hudson Lowe
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 28, 1769
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: January 10, 1844
 13 
Mary Coughlan
(Singer)
Mary Coughlan
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 5, 1956
Sun Sign: Taurus
 14 
Maureen O'Carroll
(Politician)
Maureen O'Carroll
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: March 29, 1913
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: May 9, 1984
 15 
Pippa Hackett
(Member of the Seanad Éireann)
Pippa Hackett
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 8, 1974
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 16 
Alan Devine
(Actor)
Alan Devine
0
Birthdate: 1970 AD
 17 
Catherine Connolly
(Politician)
Catherine Connolly
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 12, 1957
Sun Sign: Cancer
 18 
Walter Macken
(Writer)
Walter Macken
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 3, 1915
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: April 22, 1967
 19 
Hildegarde Naughton
(Politician)
Hildegarde Naughton
3
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 1, 1977
Sun Sign: Taurus
 20 
Doireann Ní Ghríofa
(Poet)
Doireann Ní Ghríofa
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1981 AD
 21 
Alice Perry
(Poet)
Alice Perry
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 24, 1885
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: April 21, 1969

Alice Perry scripted history as the first European female engineering graduate. Born into a family of inventors and engineers, she later became the only female country surveyor in Ireland. She also served as an inspector for the Home Office but deviated to writing poetry after her retirement.

 22 
Edward Martyn
(Irish Playwright Best Known for His Political Play)
Edward Martyn
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 30, 1859
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: December 5, 1923

Irish dramatist and political activist Edward Martyn is best known for co-establishing the Irish Literary Theatre with W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory. Part of the Irish literary renaissance, he later broke away and formed the Irish Theatre in Dublin. The Heather Field remains one of his best-known works.

 23 
Layla Flaherty
(Actress who appeared in the ‘scripted-reality’ TV show Desperate Scousewives, which was broadcast on E4 in 2011)
Layla Flaherty
0
Birthdate: 1983 AD
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 24 
Jarlath Conroy
(Actor)
Jarlath Conroy
3
Birthdate: September 30, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
 25 
John Sealy Townsend
(Irish-British Mathematical Physicist Who Conducted Various Studies Concerning the Electrical Conduction of Gases)
John Sealy Townsend
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: June 7, 1868
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: February 16, 1957

Irish physicist John Sealy Townsend is best remembered for his pathbreaking research on the electrical conduction of gases and for his discovery of Townsend discharge. He was also the first to directly measure the electrical charge. He received the Hughes Medal and was also knighted for his contribution to science.

 26 
Máirtín O'Connor
(Irish Button Accordionist)
Máirtín O'Connor
0
Listed In: Musicians
 27 
John Wilson Croker
(Author)
John Wilson Croker
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 20, 1780
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: August 10, 1857
 28 
Emmett Hughes
(Actor)
Emmett Hughes
0
Birthdate: January 28, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
 29 
Aindrias Stack
(Actor)
Aindrias Stack
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 9, 1977
Sun Sign: Scorpio
 30 
Richard Kirwan
(Irish Geologist and Chemist)
Richard Kirwan
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: August 1, 1733
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: June 22, 1812

Initially part of the Jesuit novitiate of Saint-Omer in France, Richard Kirwan quit the order when his brother was killed in a duel. He then rose to become one of Ireland’s greatest chemists and geologists. He was known for his studies on phlogiston and for developing the Royal Irish Society.

 31 
Barbara Hewson
(Barrister)
Barbara Hewson
2
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: 1961 AD
Died: January 9, 2021

Irish barrister Barbara Hewson is remembered for her work on the rights of pregnant women and the mentally ill. Known for expressing her opinions on social media, she was banned for 2 years for using abusive language in a series of tweets. The suspension was reduced after her terminal cancer diagnosis.

 32 
Sir George Staunton, 1st Baronet
(Botanist, Diplomat)
Sir George Staunton, 1st Baronet
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: April 10, 1737
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: January 14, 1801

Initially a doctor in the West Indies, Sir George Staunton, 1st Baronet later turned to law. He then also worked as an English diplomat in places such as India and China assisting his friend, George, Lord Macartney. He is also said to have released the official account of the Macartney Embassy.

 33 
Julie-Ann Russell
(Irish Footballer Who Plays as a Winger)
Julie-Ann Russell
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 28, 1991
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 34 
Grandad Frank
(TikTok Star)
Grandad Frank
0
Birthdate: September 8, 1945
Sun Sign: Virgo

Irish-born American Tiktok and Instagram star Grandad Frank is known for his comedy and dance videos. He mostly features his wife and his daughter in his clips. Starting his Tiktok journey with the Lovefool dance challenge, he later also performed on tracks such as Usher’s Yeah. He has been featured on BBC News, too.

 35 
Joe Pilkington
(Actor)
Joe Pilkington
1
Birthdate: 1940 AD
Died: July 7, 1999
 36 
Arthur Keaveney
(Historian)
Arthur Keaveney
0
Birthdate: July 8, 1951
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: June 23, 2020