Famous People Born In Galway

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.