FILM STARS
We have always had a wave of Irish film stars heading over to America. There were the trail blazers such as Maureen O’Hara (born in Dublin, lives in Cork), Peter O’Toole (lives in Galway) and Richard Harris (born in Limerick). Now we have another wave of fine Irish actors such as Gabriel Byrne (born in Dublin), Pierce Bronsnan (born in Meath), Colin Farrell (Dublin), Colm Meaney (Dublin), Cillian Murphy (Cork), Brendan Gleeson (Dublin).

POLITICIANS
The Irish have had very strong connections to American politics for generations. In total there have been 30 US presidents with Irish roots, including current incumbent Barack O’Bama, whose great-great-great grandfather – Falmouth Kearney – hailed from Moneygall in County Offaly. Between the Kennedy and the Daley (Chicago) clans, the most famous Irish American political connections tended to be with the Democratic party but there are also famous Irish American Republicans such as President Regan (roots in Co. Tipperary) and Peter King (roots in Co. Galway and Limerick). But this connection works both ways as Eamon DeValera (the Republic of Ireland’s first Taoiseach) was in fact born in America (New York City).

Film stars

Pierce Brosnan
Gabriel Byrne
Colin Farrell
Colm Meaney
Cillian Murphy
Liam Neeson
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Maureen O’Hara
Peter O’Toole

Famous Irish

Eamon De Valera
Michael Collins
Gay Byrne

Famous Irish Americans

John F.Kennedy
Mayor Daley(Sr)
Mayor Daley(Jr)
Henry Ford
John Wayne
Errol Flynn
James Cagney
Shirley Maclaine
Jackie Gleason
Mary Tyler Moore
Warren Beatty
Angelica Huston
Bing Crosby
Spencer Tracy
Anthony Quinn
Jack Lemmon
Burt Lancaster
Gregory Peck
Robert Redford
Michael Moore

Films industry

Irish Film Board
filmbase
Irish Film and Television Network
Irish Film Institute