People from County Mayo in the West of Ireland

Mayo has produced many people who have become famous in a variety of fields. Follow the links to learn more about them and feel free to let us know any we have left out, the list is always being added to!

• Sabina Coyne-Higgins - wife of the ninth President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins

• Mark Mellett - Deputy Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces

• Pat Rabbitte - Labour Party TD & former leader of the Labour Party

• Michael Davitt - Irish nationalist campaigner and founder of the Land League

• Ray Foley - Radio and TV presenter

• Delia Murphy - Ballad Queen

• Charles Haughey - Former Taoiseach of Ireland

• Canon Ulick Burke(1829-1887), Gaelic scholar.

• Ernie O'Malley (1897-1957), Republican and Writer.

• Louis Brennan (1852-1932), Inventor.

• Margaret Burke Sheridan (1889-1958), one of the greatest sopranos of all time. 

• Muriel Gahan (1897-1995), Irish rural campaigner.

• Olivia Knight (1829-1908), Poet and Writer.

• Riocard Bairead, (1735-1819), Poet and Satirist.

• Patrick Browne, (1720-1790), Physician and Botanist.

• George Augustus Moore (1852-1933), novelist.

• Stephen Garvey (1902 - 1962), Bandleader.

• William Larminie (1849-1900), Poet and Folklorist.

• Edward Lyons,the Mayo’s forgotten hero

• Fr Manus Sweeney, Catholic priest involved in the rebellion of 1798.

• General Michael Kilroy,Irish politician and guerrilla leader. 

• John Juan King, marine sergeant.

• Admiral William Brown (1777-1857), national hero in Argentina.

• Agnes Morrogh-Bernard (1842-1932), nun and foundress of Foxford Woollen Mills.

• Martin Sheridan (1881-1918), athlete

• Sean Lavan (1898-1973, surgeon, footballer and athlete

• Cardinal John Francis D'Alton

• Captain Gallagher, Highwayman.

• Monsignor Horan - Driving force behind Knock Airport

• Enda Kenny - Taoiseach of Ireland

• Mick Lally - Television and theatre actor

• Mick Cuffe

• John MacBride (1865-1916) - One of the sixteen leaders executed following the 1916 Easter Week Rising.

• George Clendining (1770-1843)

• Kathleen Florence Lynn (1874-1955) - Suffragette, Labour Activist, Nationalist and Doctor.

• Eva O'Flaherty (1874-1963)-Irish Nationalist, Fashionista and Businesswoman.

• Agnes Gallagher(1863-1946)- Irish revolutionary, musician and music teacher.

• John Moore - First president of Connacht

• Grainne Mhaol - Irish chieftan and 'Sea Queen' of Connacht

• Patrick Nally - Irish Republican honoured with the 'Nally Stand' in Croke Park

• Mary Robinson - First woman president of Ireland

• Louis Walsh - Music manager and TV panellist

• Mayo winners of the Rose of Tralee

• Current Mayo TDs

People with tenuous Mayo links!

Some famous people who can trace their roots back to Mayo.

• Billy Connolly - Comedian and actor

• Daniel Day-Lewis - Academy Award-winning actor

• Michael Flatley - Star of 'Riverdance' and 'Lord of the Dance'

• Mel Gibson - Academy Award-winning actor and director

• Princess Grace - Actress Grace Kelly, who married Prince Rainier of Monaco

• Coleen Rooney - Wife of Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney

• Gene Tunney- Undefeated World Heavyweight Champion

• Steve Staunton - Former Republic of Ireland footballer and manager

• John Wayne - Academy Award-winning actor, director and producer.

• Dennis Day Movie Star & Singer