Famous Northern Irish People

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.