Top 8 most famous Irish women of all time
Woman. What a beautiful word. It describes endless love, devotion, care, and strength. We are not all here in this world without a woman. At Celtic Knot, we love every woman starting from our founder, executives, and employees. As we celebrate International Women’s Month, we think of honoring the Irish women of all time who have achieved great things and had a significant influence worldwide.
We collected so many names and discussed who we will feature here, from politicians to stars, sports personalities to pirates, as we believe that Irish women are talented and have given the influence that shaped not just Irish history and culture but also left a dent in our world.
Mary Robinson – Ireland’s first-ever female president
Mary Robinson is most famous for being the seventh President of Ireland and the first woman ever to hold office in the country's history.
During her time in the presidential office, she was praised and credited with helping to transform Ireland into a more modern country.
Mary McAleese – a talented academic, author, and Irish President
Talented, young, and bold were only three words to describe the second female president of Ireland, Mary McAleese. This award-winning Catholic academic and author was the eighth President of Ireland and was often praised for being an outspoken and compassionate figure.
Under her presidency, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom held her first state visit by a British monarch since Ireland had gained independence.
Veronica Guerin – the brave and uncompromising
One of the most controversial yet super brave Irish women is Veronic Guerin. She was a journalist for The Sunday Independent and became famous for her notorious exposes on Dublin’s drug culture. Despite eating death threats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this brave journalist never stopped using her platform to voice the truth about drug syndicates.
At 37, this young and beautiful journalist was shot dead in 1996, triggering the most extensive criminal investigation in Ireland’s history.
Enya – the world’s singing sensation
Enya is a worldwide singing sensation famous for her song “May It Be,” which she wrote for the first film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. May It Be was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Apart from that, Enya won seven World Music Awards and four Grammys. She also has sung in ten languages.
Maureen O’Hara – the original star of the silver screen
Maureen O’Hara is among the most famous Irish women ever to grace the silver screen. She has been known for playing passionate but sensible heroines in Westerns and adventure movies. One of the most successful films is The Rio Grande and The Black Swan. Aside from being one of the most sought actresses of her time, she is also a singer and has performed in various films and musicals.
Sinéad O’Connor – the controversial but talented singer
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O’Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s with her brilliant rendition of the song “Nothing Compares 2 U”. This talented singer-songwriter occasionally encountered controversy because of her gestures and statements but is worldly known for her collaborations with many other artists, and appearances at charity fundraising concerts.
Grace O’Malley – the fearsome ‘pirate queen’
Known to be the notorious “Pirate Queen” of western Ireland, Grace O’Malley is one of the strangest entries in our list of the most influential and famous Irish women ever. During her prime years, Grace O’Malley successfully commanded three galleys, twenty ships, and over 200 men, which is impressive, mainly as she lived in a patriarchal society.
Sonia O’Sullivan – the athletic superstar
Sonia O’Sullivan is a famous track and field athlete representing Ireland in different international athletics competitions for 19 years. During her prime years, O’Sullivan won a silver Olympic medal, a gold medal at the 1995 World Championships for a 5000-meter dash, and a host of long-standing world records.
That concludes our list of who we believe to be the most famous Irish woman of all time. Suppose we meet these lovely, extraordinary, and fabulous ladies. In that case, we will give them the Celtic Knot™ Collection to splurge on and thank them for contributing to Irish history. Are there other Irish women you think deserve to be on this list? Be sure to shop for the great women in your lives and make them happy today!
And by the way, if you are looking for the Best Irish Gift Ideas for the remarkable woman in your life, you can also check out our blog entry here.
