Famous Irish Business Women

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.

Apart from being the mother of Thin Lizzy lead singer Phil Lynott, Philomena Lynott also made her mark as an author, with her memoir My Boy. She learned about Phil’s struggle with drug addiction after he collapsed in his home. Phil died soon after, following which Philomena became a campaigner against drug abuse.

Singer Sinéad O'Carroll rose to fame in the 1990s with the girl pop band B*Witched, churning out hits such as C'est la Vie. She later appeared on shows such as Dancing with the Stars and once opened up about her struggle with mental illness, financial losses, and phobias, which she overcame.

Apart from being a barrister, Lucinda Creighton has been an Irish minister of state for European Affairs. A prominent leader of Renua and Fine Gael, she made significant contributions to Ireland’s EU/IMF bailout and later served as the CEO of Vulcan Consulting, a company she co-established with her husband.

Best known as Vicky Boyle from the Acorn TV series Harry Wild, Irish actor Danielle Ryan has also won hearts with her stage performances in plays such as The Cordelia Dream. The granddaughter of Ryanair founder Tony Ryan, Danielle has also founded a drama school and works with UNICEF, too.

Born to park ranger parents, Irish entrepreneur Norah Casey grew up loving animals and even worked in Dublin Zoo for a while. She then studied nursing but moved on to journalism later, working with Sky and BBC. She now owns the publishing giant Harmonia, the name behind magazines such as Food&Wine.

A well-known South African socialite and businesswoman, Hazel Crane once smuggled diamonds and worked at a strip club. She had also been a nurse. She was gunned down while traveling in her car to testify against Israeli mafia boss Lior Saat. Her interesting life later became public through her post-humous memoir.