List of people from Sligo facts for kids

Sligo is a town in the northwest of Ireland. It's the main town of County Sligo. This area has been home to many famous people. These include artists, writers, musicians, and sports stars. Let's discover some of the amazing individuals from Sligo!

Music

Sligo has a rich musical history. Many talented singers and musicians come from here.

• Perry Blake is a well-known singer and songwriter.
• Tabby Callaghan is a musician who was a finalist on the TV show The X Factor.
• Michael Coleman was a famous traditional Irish musician.
• Thomas Connellan and William Connellan were both talented harpers and composers.
• Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan are all members of the hugely successful pop band Westlife.
• Tommy Fleming is a popular singer.
• Carmel Gunning is a traditional Irish musician and singer.
• Paddy Killoran was a renowned traditional Irish fiddler.
• Maisie McDaniel was an Irish country and showband singer.
• James Morrison was another famous traditional Irish fiddler.
• Seamie O'Dowd is a multi-instrumentalist. He was also a member of the band Dervish.
• Mary O'Hara is a singer and a harpist.
• Lisa Stanley is an Irish country singer and songwriter. She is also Maisie McDaniel's daughter.

Arts and Literature

Sligo has inspired many great writers and artists.

• Leland Bardwell was a poet, novelist, and playwright.
• Mary Colum was a literary critic and author.
• Owen Connellan was a respected scholar.
• Thady Connellan was a scholar who published an Irish-English dictionary in 1814.
• Neil Jordan is a famous filmmaker and novelist. He won an Academy Award for his screenplay for the movie The Crying Game.
• Brian Leyden is a short story writer and novelist.
• Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh was an Irish scribe. He wrote the important Great Book of Irish Genealogies.
• Giolla Íosa Mór Mac Fir Bhisigh was a historian and scribe. He helped create the Yellow Book of Lecan and the Great Book of Lecan.
• Joe McGowan is an author and historian.
• Muireadhach Albanach Ó Dálaigh was a master poet at Lissadell.
• Tadhg Dall Ó hUiginn was a poet who wrote many poems in the classical Dán Díreach style.
• Jack Butler Yeats was a well-known painter and cartoonist.
• William Butler Yeats was a very famous poet. He is one of Ireland's most important literary figures.

Historical and Political Figures

Many people from Sligo have played important roles in history and politics.

• St. Attracta was an Irish church leader in the 5th century. She is a Saint.
• Declan Bree is a politician and social campaigner. He was a Labour TD (a member of the Irish Parliament) for Sligo/Leitrim.
• John J. Burns was a mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in the United States.
• Frank Carty was a Sligo IRA leader during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War. He was elected as a TD for Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil.
• William Bourke Cockran was a U.S. congressman.
• Brigadier General Michael Corcoran was a Union army general during the American Civil War.
• Luke Duffy was a trade unionist and politician.
• Féchín of Fore was an Irish church leader.
• Michael Fenton was the first Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly in Australia.
• Patrick J. Hamrock was a Colorado National Guardsman. He took part in the Sioux Wars and the Ludlow Massacre.
• John Jinks was a politician.
• Chris MacManus is a Sinn Féin MEP (Member of the European Parliament) for the Midlands–North-West area.
• Seán MacManus was a former Sinn Féin Mayor of Sligo.
• Cairbre Mac Néill was an Irish king and warrior. He was a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages.
• Ray MacSharry was a former government minister and an EU Commissioner.
• Linda Kearns MacWhinney was a nurse, revolutionary, and Fianna Fáil politician.
• Constance Markievicz (born Gore-Booth) was a revolutionary. She was the first elected female MP in the UK Parliament. She was also the first Irish female cabinet minister.
• Alexander McCabe was a revolutionary and Sinn Féin TD. He later joined Cumann na nGaedheal.
• Martin Moffat was a soldier who received the Victoria Cross for bravery.
• Nath í of Achad an Rí was an Irish church leader in the 6th century.
• Fearghal Ó Gadhra was the Chief of Coolavin. He supported the creation of the Annals of the Four Masters.
• Ambrosio O'Higgins, 1st Marquess of Osorno was the Governor of Chile and Viceroy of Peru during Spanish rule.
• Bernardo O'Higgins was a liberator of Chile.
• William Partridge was a trade unionist and revolutionary. He was a leader of the Irish Citizen Army and fought during the Easter Rising.
• Liam Pilkington was an IRA commander from 1921-1923.
• Martin Savage was an Irish Republican.
• Brian Luighnech Ua Conchobhair was a King of Cairbre Drom Cliabh. He was an ancestor of the Ó Conchobar Sligigh.

Medicine and Science

Sligo has also contributed to the fields of medicine and science.

• William Cunningham Blest created the first Chilean School of Medicine.
• Sir George Stokes, 1st Baronet was a famous mathematician and physicist.

Sports

Many athletes from Sligo have achieved great things in sports.

• Jonathan Dolan is an Irish badminton player.
• Sean Fallon was a former Republic of Ireland and Celtic F.C. footballer.
• Mickey Kearins was a GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) player.
• Paul McGee played soccer for Sligo Rovers F.C. and for Ireland.
• Mona McSharry is a talented swimmer.
• Barnes Murphy was a GAA player.
• Christopher O'Donnell is an Ireland International track and field sprinter.
• Eamonn O'Hara was a GAA player.
• Mark Scanlon is a cyclist.
• Brother Walfrid (also known as Andrew Kerins) was a Marist Brother. He founded Celtic F.C. in Glasgow.

Film and Entertainment

Sligo has produced many actors, directors, and entertainers.

• Pauline Flanagan was a film and television actress.
• Scott Fredericks was a film and television actor and radio producer.
• Neil Jordan is a famous director. He directed movies like The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire, and Michael Collins.
• Eugene Lambert was a puppeteer and children's entertainer.
• Pauline McLynn is an actress. She is well-known for playing Mrs. Doyle in the sitcom Father Ted.
• Noelle Middleton was a film and television actress.
• Lola Montez was an actress, dancer, and the mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria.
• Joan O'Hara was a film and television actress.
• Dearbhla Walsh is a film and TV director.
• Olga Wehrly is an actor.

Business

People from Sligo have also made their mark in the world of business.

• Niall FitzGerald was the Chairman of Reuters Group plc. He was also the former Chairman and CEO of Unilever plc.
• Dermot Mannion was the CEO of Aer Lingus, an airline.

See also

• Category:People from County Sligo