Famous Northern Irish People

Vote For Your Favourite Northern Irish Personality

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 
Liam Neeson
(Northern Irish Actor Best Known for His Role as Oskar Schindler in 'Schindler's List')
Liam Neeson
61
Birthdate: June 7, 1952
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ballymena

The recipient of multiple awards, actor Liam Neeson has been ranked among  the '100 Sexiest Stars in Film History'. One of the highest-grossing actors of all time, he first rose to prominence in the 1990s with his title role in the epic drama film Schindler's List. Since then, he has appeared in many other critically acclaimed films.

 2 
Rory Mcllroy
(Northern Irish Professional Golfer)
Rory Mcllroy
21
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 4, 1989
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Holywood
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy competes as part of both the European and PGA Tours. He won four major titles by 25, becoming one of three people to achieve the feat. Rory was named the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year twice and has won the World Cup, too.
 3 
Van Morrison
(Singer)
Van Morrison
26
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 31, 1945
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bloomfield

Northern Irish singer, Van Morrison, garnered recognition in the 1960s while playing with the band, Them, and then later as a solo singer with the 1967 song Brown Eyed Girl. Over the years, he has released more than 40 albums. Astral Weeks, Moondance, Wavelength, Down the Road and Keep It Simple are some of his acclaimed and commercially successful albums.

 4 
George Best
(Northern Irish Professional Footballer Who Played as a Winger)
George Best
35
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 22, 1946
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Belfast
Died: November 25, 2005
Manchester United winger/midfielder George Best was the 1968 European Footballer of the Year and was placed sixth on the FIFA Player of the Century list. A skilled dribbler, the Northern Irish player was also known for his stunning good looks and his affinity for women and alcohol. 
 5 
Jamie Dornan
52
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: May 1, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Holywood

One of the most popular model-turned-actors from Northern Ireland, Jamie Dornan was named by Vogue in its list of 25 Biggest Male Models of All Time. He earned international recognition after portraying Sheriff Graham Humbert in Once Upon a Time. Known for his looks and acting skills, Dornan is regarded as one of the greatest film actors of Ireland.

 6 
Caitriona Balfe
(Actress)
Caitriona Balfe
19
Birthdate: October 4, 1979
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 7 
Andrew Scott
(Actor)
Andrew Scott
16
Birthdate: October 21, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 8 
Fiona Shaw
(Actress)
Fiona Shaw
30
Birthdate: July 10, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cobh
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 9 
Colin Morgan
(Northern Irish Actor Known for the Title Character in the BBC Fantasy Series ‘Merlin’)
Colin Morgan
34
Birthdate: January 1, 1986
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Armagh
Colin Morgan is best known for his multiple-award-winning performance in Merlin. He made waves with his theater performances and has also narrated several audiobooks and documentaries. He was seen in the series Humans and The Fall, and the movies Benjamin and Island. He hates social media and practices ethical consumerism.
 10 
Ray Stevenson
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Dagonet’ in the Film ‘King Arthur’)
Ray Stevenson
10
Birthdate: May 25, 1964
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lisburn
Ray Stevenson is best known as Dagonet from the film King Arthur and as Titus Pullo from the series Rome. He has also played the Marvel characters Frank Castle/The Punisher in Punisher: War Zone and Volstagg in the Thor franchise. He voiced Gar Saxon in two Star Wars series.
 11 
Eve Hewson
(Actress)
Eve Hewson
21
Birthdate: July 7, 1991
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ireland
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 12 
Glenn Quinn
(Actor)
Glenn Quinn
5
Birthdate: May 28, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dublin
Died: December 3, 2002
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 13 
Stella Maxwell
(Fashion Model and Former Victoria's Secret Angel)
Stella Maxwell
33
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: May 15, 1990
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brussels
Model Stella Maxwell was declared a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2015. Named to Maxim's Hot 100, she has also campaigned for Max Factor cosmetics, H&M, and Puma, and has graced the covers of major fashion magazines. An LGBT icon, she has publicly dated Miley Cyrus and Kristen Stewart.
 14 
James Nesbitt
(Actor)
James Nesbitt
5
Birthdate: January 15, 1965
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Coleraine
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 15 
Bobby Sands
(Former Member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army Who Died on a Hunger Strike)
Bobby Sands
16
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: March 9, 1954
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Newtownabbey
Died: May 5, 1981

Robert Gerard Sands, better known as Bobby Sands, was a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) member, who died during a 1981 hunger strike, along with nine other strikers, protesting against the removal of Special Category Status from IRA prisoners. He had helped plot the 1976 Balmoral Furniture Company bombing.

 16 
Clive Standen
(Actor)
Clive Standen
3
Birthdate: July 22, 1981
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: County Down
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 17 
Ronan Keating
(Singer)
Ronan Keating
11
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 3, 1977
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Swords
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 18 
Stephen Rea
(Irish Actor Known for His Films: ‘V for Vendetta’, ‘Michael Collins’ and ‘Interview with the Vampire’)
Stephen Rea
7
Birthdate: October 31, 1946
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Belfast
Stephen Rea is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role of Fergus in The Crying Game. He has also appeared in films such as V for Vendetta and Interview with the Vampire. He won a BAFTA for The Honourable Woman and was nominated for one for The Shadow Line.
 19 
Conleth Hill
7
Birthdate: November 24, 1964
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Ballycastle

Irish actor Conleth Hill is best known for playing Varys in the HBO series Game of Thrones. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he made his Broadway debut in the play Stones in His Pockets. An accomplished stage actor, he is the recipient of two Laurence Olivier Awards. He also acts in TV shows and films. 

 20 
Paula Malcomson
13
Birthdate: June 1, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Belfast

Paula Malcomson is a Northern Irish actress best known for playing Abby Donovan in the American crime drama TV series, Ray Donovan. Despite being a Northern Irish, Malcomson has worked in many American TV series and films. She portrayed the role of Mrs. Everdeen in the Hunger Games film series and has appeared in popular American TV series like ER.

 21 
Alex Higgins
(Northern Irish Professional Snooker Player)
Alex Higgins
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 18, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Belfast
Died: July 24, 2010

Alex Higgins was a Northern Irish snooker player. Renowned for his fast play, which earned him the nickname Hurricane Higgins, Alex was one of the most iconic snooker players of his generation. Thanks to his popularity, he was also called the People's Champion and is credited with popularizing the game of snooker.

 22 
Sally Rooney
(Novelist)
Sally Rooney
4
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 20, 1991
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Castlebar
 23 
Ardal O'Hanlon
(Comedian)
Ardal O'Hanlon
1
Birthdate: October 8, 1965
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Carrickmacross
 24 
Amanda Burton
(Northern Irish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Sam Ryan’ in the TV Series ‘Silent Witness’)
Amanda Burton
10
Birthdate: October 10, 1956
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Derry

North Irish actress Amanda Burton is best known for playing Beth Glover in the TV series Peak Practice. As a teenager, she studied drama at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre. She began her career with roles in stage productions and eventually branched out into TV as well. Besides acting, she is an ambassador for the charity The Children's Trust.

 25 
Dermot Morgan
(Comedian)
Dermot Morgan
4
Birthdate: March 31, 1952
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dublin
Died: February 28, 1998
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 26 
Eamonn Holmes
(Northern Irish Broadcaster and Journalist)
Eamonn Holmes
3
Birthdate: December 3, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Belfast

Best known for his long stints as a presenter of shows such as GMTV, This Morning, and Sky News Sunrise, Irish journalist Eamonn Holmes has also campaigned for animal welfare and Alzheimer’s awareness. He has also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and hosted game shows such as The Rich List.

 27 
Alison Doody
(Actress)
Alison Doody
9
Birthdate: November 11, 1966
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 28 
Glen Hansard
(Songwriter)
Glen Hansard
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: April 21, 1970
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 29 
Martin McGuinness
(3rd Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (2007 - 2017))
Martin McGuinness
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 23, 1950
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Derry
Died: March 21, 2017

Once the deputy minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness has also served as his country’s education minister. He had also been part of the Provisional Irish Republican Army during the Northern Ireland conflict. The Sinn Féin politician had a major role to play in the Good Friday Agreement.

 30 
Christine Lampard
(Irish Broadcaster Known for Hosting TV Shoe ‘The One Show’ and ‘Daybreak’)
Christine Lampard
4
Birthdate: February 2, 1979
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Newry
Northern Irish broadcaster Christine Lampard (née Bleakley) is best known for her association with BBC and ITV. She has co-hosted shows such as The One Show, with Adrian Chiles, and Dancing on Ice, with Phillip Schofield. She has also hosted Off The Beaten Track and Wild Ireland for ITV
 31 
Eoin Morgan
(Cricketer)
Eoin Morgan
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 10, 1986
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 32 
Richard Dormer
(Actor)
Richard Dormer
1
Birthdate: November 11, 1969
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Portadown
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 33 
Vivian Campbell
(Northern Irish guitarist)
Vivian Campbell
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 25, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lisburn
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 34 
Eoin Macken
(Actor)
Eoin Macken
2
Birthdate: February 21, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 35 
Frances Tomelty
7
Birthdate: October 6, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Belfast
Daughter of actor Joseph Tomelty, Irish actor Frances Tomelty amazed audiences playing a blind woman in the series Death in Paradise. She met her former husband, singer Sting of The Police fame, at the rock musical Rock Nativity, and they got married a couple of years later. 
 36 
Niamh Cusack
(Actress)
Niamh Cusack
5
Birthdate: October 20, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dublin
 37 
Allen Leech
(Actor)
Allen Leech
3
Birthdate: May 18, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Killiney
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 38 
Feargal Sharkey
(Singer and Lead Vocalist of Punk Band ‘The Undertones’)
Feargal Sharkey
4
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 13, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Londonderry

Feargal Sharkey is a Northern Irish singer best known for his association with the popular rock band The Undertones where he was the lead vocalist. Also known for his contribution to the UK's commercial music industry, Sharkey was appointed OBE for services to music during the 2019 Birthday Honours. A fly fisherman, Sharkey also campaigns against the pollution of rivers.

 39 
Johnny McDaid
5
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 24, 1976
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Londonderry
Indie rock/pop singer, songwriter, and producer John McDaid has been part of bands such as Snow Patrol and Vega4. He is also known for his collaborations with popular artists, mostly with Ed Sheeran. He co-wrote Sheeran’s chartbusting track Shape of You and co-produced his platinum album X.
 40 
Patrick Bergin
(Actor)
Patrick Bergin
4
Birthdate: February 4, 1951
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 41 
Orla Brady
(Actress)
Orla Brady
5
Birthdate: March 28, 1961
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 42 
Brendan Rodgers
(Northern Irish Professional Football Manager and Former Player)
Brendan Rodgers
13
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 26, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Carnlough
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 43 
Victoria Smurfit
(Actress)
Victoria Smurfit
2
Birthdate: March 31, 1974
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 44 
Eddie Irvine
(Retired Racing Driver Who Competed in 'Formula One')
Eddie Irvine
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 10, 1965
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Newtownards

Eddie Irvine is a retired racing driver who participated in F1 races between 1993 and 2002, finishing second in the World Drivers' Championship in 1999. Apart from F1, Eddie Irvine has also competed in Jaguar Racing, Formula 3000 Championships, and Formula Three. Since his retirement, Irvine has established himself as a media personality.

 45 
Gary Moore
(Northern Irish Musician)
Gary Moore
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: April 4, 1952
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Belfast
Died: February 6, 2011

Known as one of the greatest musicians from the British Isles, Irish singer Gary Moore rocked the music scene since the 1960s. Known as part of rock bands such as Skid Row and Thin Lizzy, he gained fame as a fine guitarist who experimented with blues, rock, heavy metal, and jazz.

 46 
Christy Brown
(Writer)
Christy Brown
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 5, 1932
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Crumlin
Died: September 7, 1981
 47 
Danny O'Donoghue
(Singer)
Danny O'Donoghue
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 3, 1980
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dublin
 48 
John Hume
(Irish Nationalist Politician and One of the Architects of the Northern Ireland Peace Process)
John Hume
3
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 18, 1937
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Londonderry
Died: August 3, 2020
John Hume, founder of the SDLP, was a major figure in the Northern Ireland peace process. He became the only person to win all three major peace awards: the Nobel Peace Prize, the Gandhi Peace Prize, and the Martin Luther King Award, and was “knighted” by Pope Benedict XVI.
 49 
Ken Doherty
(Snooker Player)
Ken Doherty
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 17, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Ranelagh
 50 
Shane Lynch
(Singer)
Shane Lynch
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: July 3, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)