1. Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein,  born Belfast, Oct. 8, 1948

2. Samuel Beckett, writer, born Dublin, April 13, 1906 (died in Paris, Dec. 22, 1989)

3. Brendan Behan, writer, born Dublin, Feb. 9, 1923   (died in Dublin March 20, 1964)

4. Maeve Binchy, writer, born Dublin, May 28, 1940

5. Kenneth Branagh,  Shakespearan actor/director, born Belfast, Dec. 10,1960

6. Pierce Brosnan, actor,  born Navan, born  May 16, 1952

7. Brian Friel, playwright, born Omagh, Jan. 9, 1929

8. Veronica Guerin, investigative journalist, born Dublin, July 5, 1959, (died in Dublin, June 26, 1996)

9. Seamus Heaney, winner Nobel Prize for Literature,  born Mossbawn, Northern Ireland, April 13, 1939

10. John Hume, Northern Ireland national politician, winner of Nobel Peace Prize, 1998, born Derry,  Jan. 18, 1937

11. Neil Jordan,  film director/actor, born Sligo, Feb. 25, 1950

12. Caitlín Maude, actress/poet, born  Na Doiriú, Casla, May 21, 1944

13. Siobhán McKenna, actress, born Belfast , July 24, 1922 (died Nov. 16, 1986)

14. Van Morrison, singer/songwriter, born Belfast, Aug. 31,1945

15. Liam Neeson, actor,  born  Balleymena, Northern Ireland, June 7, 1952

16. Frank O'Connor, writer, Cork,  Sept. 17, 1903  (died Dublin, March 10, 1966)

17. Maureen O'Hara, actress, born Milltown,  Aug. 17, 1921

18. Seán Ó Riada, director of music, Abbey Theater, born Cork,  Aug. 1, 1931 (died in London, Oct. 3, 1971)

19. Edel Mary Quinn, lay missionary, born Kanturk, Sept.14, 1907 (died May 12, 1944)

20. Mary Robinson, first woman president of Ireland, born in Mayo, May 21, 1944 

21. David Trimble, Northern Ireland unionist politician, winner Nobel Peace Prize, 1998, born  Belfast, Oct. 15 1944