List of Limerick people

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

Arts

 * G. E. M. Anscombe, English philosopher and theologian, born in Limerick
 * Kevin Barry, author, born in Limerick in 1969
 * Tomás de Bhaldraithe (1916–1996), Irish language scholar and lexicographer
 * David Noel Bourke, screenwriter and film director
 * Máire Bradshaw, poet and publisher
 * Vincent Browne, journalist and broadcaster
 * Mairead Buicke, opera singer
 * Jimmy Carr, comedian and writer
 * 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
 * Michael Curtin, author
 * Cliodhna Cussen, sculptor
 * 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
 * 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
 * Tyron Montgomery, Oscar-winning film director
 * 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
 * Daragh O'Malley, leading stage and TV actor, star of ITV's Sharpe TV series.
 * 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, 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.
 * William Henry Harvey, algae botanist, born Summerville, County Limerick
 * 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)
 * 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
 * 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

 * 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
 * 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
 * Tom Neville
 * Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fáil), TD, 1982–present; Minister for Defence
 * Kieran O'Donnell
 * 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

 * 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
 * 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