List of people from County Limerick

This is a list of notable people who are from Limerick city or county, Ireland, or have strong associations with either.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

Arts

Malachy McCourt

Catherine Hayes, soprano

• G. E. M. Anscombe, English philosopher and theologian, born in Limerick
• Kevin Barry, author, born in Limerick in 1969
• George Geary Bennis (1790–1866), writer and librarian
• Tomás de Bhaldraithe (1916–1996), Irish language scholar and lexicographer, born Ballincurra
• David Noel Bourke, screenwriter and film director
• Máire Bradshaw, poet and publisher
• Vincent Browne, journalist and broadcaster
• Mairead Buicke, opera singer
• Denise Chaila, rapper
• David Chambers, aka Blindboy Boatclub, satirist, musician, podcaster, author, and TV presenter
• Tony Clarkin, actor of stage, television, radio, film; voice-over artist
• Cliodhna Cussen, sculptor, born Newcastle West
• Lawrence Doheny, writer, producer, director of Six Million Dollar Man and Magnum PI
• Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin, President of the Irish Georgian Society
• David Gleeson, writer and director of the feature films Cowboys & Angels and The Front Line
• Richard Graves, theological scholar and author, born near Kilmallock
• Gerald Griffin (1803–1840), novelist, poet and playwright
• Richard Harris, actor
• Catherine Hayes, soprano
• Mike Hogan, member of pop band The Cranberries
• Noel Hogan, member of pop band The Cranberries
• Celia Holman Lee, model agent and TV presenter
• Richard D. James aka Aphex Twin, electronic musician
• Charles Johnstone, novelist
• Patrick Weston Joyce, historian, music-collector, onomastician, and lexicographer
• Robert Dwyer Joyce, poet, song-writer, Fenian, and physician
• Sean Keating, painter
• Jon Kenny, member of D'unbelievables comedy duo; regular member of the Father Ted series
• Emma Langford, folk singer-songwriter
• Fergal Lawler, member of pop band The Cranberries
• Gearóid Mac Eoin, academic whose studies have focused on aspects of Irish language, literature and history
• Ciaran MacMathuna, broadcaster and musicologist
• Alphie McCourt, author of A Long Stones Throw, Heartscald (The Soulswimmer, US title)
• Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes , 'Tis and Teacher Man
• Malachy McCourt, actor and writer
• Conor McNamara, sports commentator
• Leanne Moore, singer and TV presenter
• Ruth Negga, film and TV actress
• Kate O'Brien, author
• Emma O'Driscoll, member of pop band Six; television presenter
• Críostóir Ó Floinn, poet and playwright
• Dolores O'Riordan, member of pop band The Cranberries
• Matthew Potter, author
• Arthur Quinlan, local journalist formerly based at Shannon Airport for the Irish Times
• Liam Redmond, stage, TV and film actor, active from the 1940s to the 1970s
• The Rubberbandits, comedy hip-hop duo
• Darren Shan, internationally published children's author
• Sharon Slater, author
• Constance Smith, Hollywood actress of the 1950s
• Bill Whelan, Grammy Award-winning composer of Riverdance and many other works
• Terry Wogan, presenter on BBC radio and television

Business

Sir Thomas Cleeve

• Sir Thomas Cleeve, founder and chairman of the Condensed Milk Company of Ireland, High Sheriff of Limerick city (1899, 1900, and 1908)
• Patrick Collison, CEO of Stripe
• JP McManus, businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist

Science

• Laurence Cussen, East India Company surveyor who triangulated the Auckland Province (1876), photographed Māori (1884) and published research in the colony of New Zealand. ^[1]
• William Henry Harvey, algae botanist, born Summerville, County Limerick ^[2]
• Lady Mary Heath, pioneering aviator who flew from Cape Town to London (1928) and set records for altitude in a light aircraft (1927). The first female to complete a mechanic qualification in the US, parachute from an aeroplane (1927) and have a commercial pilot licence in Britain (1927). Born Knockaderry.
• John Philip Holland, invented the submarine (1881).
• Mary McCoy, Irish nurse who served during the American Civil War at the Battle of Fair Oaks and met President Lincoln.
• Cliona O'Farrelly, immunologist at Trinity College Dublin, born Adare
• Sylvester O'Halloran, invented cataract surgery (1750)
• Michael O'Shaughnessy, designed the San Francisco streetcar system (1927), the O'Shaughnessy Dam (1923) and the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct (1923).
• William Brooke O'Shaughnessy, early anaesthetist who introduced the therapeutic use of cannabis to Western medicine (1838), pioneered intravenous fluid therapy to treat cholera (1831) and established a telegraph system in India (1852).

Politics

Michael D. Higgins

• Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, wife of the Earl of Snowdon, and member, by marriage, of the extended British Royal Family
• James P. Boyd, businessman and politician in Ontario, Canada
• Kathleen Clarke (1878–1972), First Lady Mayoress of Dublin, widow of Tom Clarke
• Niall Collins, Irish politician
• Stephen Coughlan (Labour), TD 1961–77; Mayor of Limerick 1951–52, 1969–70
• Pat Cox, TD 1992–94; MEP 1989–2004; President of the European Parliament 2002–04
• Éamon de Valera (Fianna Fáil), TD; Taoiseach; President of Ireland; raised in Bruree, County Limerick
• Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael), Tánaiste 2016–2017, born Croom
• Michael D. Higgins, elected President of Ireland in 2011
• Jim Kemmy (Labour and Democratic Socialist Party), TD 1981–1982, 1987–1997; Mayor of Limerick 1991–92, 1995–96
• Michael Lipper (Labour), TD 1977–81; Mayor of Limerick 1973–74
• Michael Noonan (Fine Gael), TD 1981–present; former Leader of Fine Gael; Minister for Justice, Minister for Health
• Dan Neville (Fine Gael), TD 1997–2016, born Croagh
• Tom Neville (Fine Gael), TD 2016–2020, from Limerick
• Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fáil), TD, 1982–present; Minister for Defence
• Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael), TD since 2007, from Limerick
• Desmond O'Malley (Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats), TD, 1968–2002; founder and Leader of the Progressive Democrats
• Donogh O'Malley (Fianna Fáil), TD 1954–1968; Minister for Health and Minister for Education
• Tim O'Malley (Progressive Democrats), TD 2002–2007, Minister of State for Health
• Jan O'Sullivan (Labour), TD 1998–present; Mayor of Limerick 1993–94
• Peter Power, TD for Limerick East (2002–2011), Overseas Development minister (2008–2011), born in Limerick
• Patrick L. Quinlan (1883–1948), Irish-American radical journalist and political activist, born in Limerick

Sport

Steve Finnan

Paul O'Connell

• Tim Ahearne, athlete; Olympic gold medallist with Great Britain and Ireland – triple jump (1908)
• Tom Aherne, soccer player; Limerick FC; Luton Town FC; Republic of Ireland (16 Caps)
• Richie Bennis, hurler; Patrickswell; Limerick; 1 GAA All Stars Awards; 1 All-Ireland – 1973
• Ciarán Carey, hurler; Patrickswell; Limerick; 3 GAA All Stars Awards;
• Peter Clohessy, rugby player; Young Munster; Munster; Ireland (54 Caps)
• Eamonn Cregan, hurler; Claughan; Limerick; 3 GAA All Stars Awards; 1 All-Ireland – 1973
• Tim Cuneen, soccer player; Limerick FC; Coleraine FC; Republic of Ireland (1 Cap)
• Sean Cusack, soccer player; Limerick FC; Republic of Ireland (1 Cap)
• Keith Earls, rugby player; Young Munster; Munster; Ireland (65 Caps); British and Irish Lions
• Leonard Enright, hurler; Patrickswell; Limerick; 3 GAA All Stars Awards
• Connie Finnan, darts player; Garryowen; World Grand Prix Last 16: 2013
• Steve Finnan, soccer player; Liverpool F.C.; Republic of Ireland (50 Caps)
• Al Finucane, soccer player; Limerick FC; Waterford United FC; Republic of Ireland (11 Caps)
• Kevin Fitzpatrick, soccer player; Limerick FC; Republic of Ireland (1 Cap)
• John Flanagan, athlete; 3 time Olympic gold medallist with the US in the hammer throw (1900, 1904, 1908)
• Jerry Flannery, rugby player; Shannon RFC; Munster; Ireland (21 Caps)
• Anthony Foley, rugby player; Shannon RFC; Munster Rugby; Ireland (62 Caps); European Rugby Cup winning captain – Munster, 2006
• Mark Foley, hurler; Adare; Limerick; 2 GAA All-Stars Awards
• Seán Foley, hurler; Patrickswell; Limerick; 1 All-Ireland – 1973; 1 GAA All Stars Awards
• Johnny Gavin, soccer player; Limerick FC; Norwich City FC; Tottenham Hotspur FC; Watford FC; Crystal Palace FC; Republic of Ireland (7 Caps)
• Tommy Gaynor, soccer player; Limerick FC; Shamrock Rovers FC; Dundalk; Nottingham Forest; Millwall; Cork City; Bohemians; Athlone Town; Kilkenny City; PFAI Player of the Year 1984/85
• Don Givens, soccer player; Irish international 1969–81
• Eamonn Grimes, hurler; South Liberties; Limerick; 2 GAA All Stars Awards; All-Ireland winning captain 1973; Texaco Hurler of the Year, 1973
• Pat Hartigan, hurler; South Liberties; Limerick; 1 All-Ireland – 1973; 5 GAA All Stars Awards
• John Hayes, rugby player; Bruff RFC; Shannon RFC; Munster; Ireland (84 Caps)
• Willie Hayes, soccer player; Limerick FC; Torquay United FC; Wrexham FC; Republic of Ireland (1 Cap)
• Marcus Horan, rugby player; Shannon RFC; Munster; Ireland (56 Caps)
• Mike Houlihan, hurler; Kilmallock; Limerick; 2 GAA All-Stars Awards
• Des Kennedy, soccer player; Limerick FC; Galway United FC
• Gary Kirby, hurler; Patrickswell; Limerick; 4 GAA All Stars Awards
• Con Leahy, athlete, Olympic Medallist with Great Britain & Ireland – high jump silver (1908)
• Patrick Leahy, athlete, Olympic Medallist with Great Britain & Ireland – high jump silver (1900), long jump bronze (1904)
• Andy Lee, boxer; St. Francis' Boxing Club; European Amateur Boxing Championships – bronze (2002), silver (2004), WBO Middleweight Champion
• Becky Lynch, professional wrestler; currently signed under WWE in the Raw brand
• Sam Lynch, rower; St. Michael's Rowing Club; Ireland; World Champion Single Sculler 2000 & 2001
• John Mackey, hurler; Ahane; Limerick; 3 All-Irelands – 1934, 1936 and 1940
• Mick Mackey, hurler; Ahane; Limerick; 3 All-Irelands – 1934, 1936 and 1940; GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
• Ger McDonnell, mountaineer; first Irishman to summit K-2
• Joe McKenna, hurler; South Liberties; Limerick; 1 All-Ireland – 1973; 6 GAA All Stars Awards
• Conor Murray, rugby player; Munster; Ireland; British and Irish Lions
• Conor Niland, tennis player; international professional tennis player
• Jim O'Brien, hurler; Bruree; Limerick; 1 All-Ireland – 1973; 1 GAA All Stars Award
• Paul O'Connell, rugby player; Young Munster; Munster; Ireland (52 Caps); British and Irish Lions; European Rugby Cup winning captain – Munster, 2008
• William O'Connor, darts player; Cappamore; World Grand Prix Last 32: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
• Liam O'Donoghue, hurler; Mungret; Limerick; 1 All-Ireland – 1973; 1 GAA All Stars Award
• Frank O'Mara, athlete; World Indoor 3000m champion
• Jackie Power, hurler; Ahane; Limerick; 2 All-Irelands – 1936 and 1940; All-Ireland winning manager 1973
• Joe Quaid, hurler; Murroe-Boher; Limerick; 2 GAA All-Star Awards
• Tommy Quaid, hurler; Feohanagh; Limerick; 1 GAA All Stars Awards
• Patrick Ryan, athlete, Olympic gold medallist with the US in the hammer throw (1920)
• Paddy Waldron, first-class cricketer
• David Wallace, rugby player; Garryowen; Munster; Ireland (46 Caps); British and Irish Lions
• Paul Wallace, rugby player; Garryowen; Saracens; Munster; Ireland (45 Caps); British and Irish Lions
• Richard Wallace, rugby player; Garryowen; Munster; Ireland (29 Caps); British and Irish Lions
• Johnny Walsh, soccer player; Limerick FC; Republic of Ireland (1 Cap)

Military

• Walter Burke purser on HMS Victory, held Lord Nelson when he died (1736–1815)
• Nathaniel Burslem, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Cornelius Colbert, Irish rebel and pioneer of Fianna Éireann
• Michael Colivet, Irish rebel, Commandant of 1916 Rising in Limerick and first TD for Limerick in Dáil Éireann
• Edward Daly, Commandant of 1916 Rising – Four Courts
• John Danaher, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Tiede Herrema, Dutch businessman based in Limerick, abducted by the IRA in 1973
• Peter Lacy, Russian Field Marshal, born Killeedy
• Sir Thomas Myles, surgeon, sailor, Home Ruler and gun-runner (1857–1937)
• Michael O'Rourke, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Seán South, IRA volunteer killed on active service in 1957

Historical

• Margaretta Eagar (1863–1936), governess to the last Russian Royal Family
• Mary Jane Kelly (c. 1863–1888), Jack the Ripper victim
• Rosina Bulwer Lytton (1802–1882), author
• William Monsell, 1st Baron Emly (1812–1894), statesman and reformer
• John T. Mullock (1807–1869), Roman Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland (1850–1869)
• Mary O'Connell (1814–1897), nurse during the American Civil War.

Religion

• Christine Frost (born 1937), Catholic religious sister
• Mary Kostka Kirby (1863–1952), New Zealand catholic nun

See also

• List of Irish people

References

1. "Laurence Cussen". Teara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 1993. p. 1. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
2. Sharon Slater. "The Development Of Harvey's Quay". Limerick's Life. Retrieved 14 March 2023.