53.3427° N, 7.9944° W

ATHLONE

Most Famous People Born in Athlone, Ireland

Notable people
694
Peak decade
1840s
Median birth year
1851
Most distinctive
Navy 44.1×

An Irish garrison town whose roster is stranger and older than its size suggests, with a monastic tail that runs back to Kevin of Glendalough and Saint Gall. The Navy bench sits at more than forty times the global baseline and the Army, Soldier and Militar cohorts pile on behind it, the unmistakable signature of a Shannon-crossing barracks that spent centuries dispatching officers to imperial postings. The Hurler and Monk benches are the local grace notes.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Athlone during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1840s with 80 notable births.

What Athlone Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Politician is Athlone's biggest profession — 10% of all notables (69).

Athlone over-indexes on navy44.1× the global rate.

Athlone under-produces writer — only 0.5× the global rate.

  1. Politician69
  2. Football62
  3. Militar38
  4. Navy31
  5. Actor24
  6. Baseball21
  7. Priest18
  8. Soldier18
  1. Navy3144.1×
  2. Horse Trainer738.2×
  3. Campaign930.2×
  4. Monk921.4×
  5. Hurler1118.3×
  6. Army1418.1×
  7. Soldier1814.6×
  8. Militar384.5×
  1. Writer120.5×
  2. Singer80.6×
  3. Actor240.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Athlone's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

16001650170017501800185019001950
  • Sports
  • Military
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Science
  • Film & TV
  • Other
All694
Sort By

694 notable people

0001 SINGER

Lisa Hannigan

Born 1981

Preview
0002 MISSIONARY

Saint Gall

550 - 645

Preview
0003 OPERA

John McCormack (tenor)

1884 - 1945

Preview
0004 PODCASTER

Stefan Molyneux

Born 1966

Preview
0005 MONK

Kevin of Glendalough

498 - 618

Preview
0006 PASTOR

Emmet Fox

1886 - 1951

Preview
0007 MILITAR

William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan

1675 - 1726

Preview
0008 SERGEANT

Ralph Darling

1772 - 1858

Preview
0009 POLITICIAN

T. P. O'Connor

1848 - 1929

Preview
0010 PRIEST

John Murphy Farley

1842 - 1918

Preview
0011 PRIEST

Saint Fiacre

607 - 668

Preview
0012 ARISTOCRAT

Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare

1456 - 1513

Preview
0013 PRIEST

Michael Browne (cardinal)

1887 - 1971

Preview
0014 DIPLOMAT

Henry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley

1773 - 1847

Preview
0015 MONK

Coloman of Stockerau

Died 1012

Preview
0016 PRIEST

Timothy Manning

1909 - 1989

Preview
0017 POLITICIAN

William Ponsonby (British Army officer)

1772 - 1815

Preview
0018 PRIEST

Catald

Died 685

Preview
0019 ACTOR

Frank Shannon

1874 - 1959

Preview
0020 PHYSICIAN

William Willis (physician)

1837 - 1894

Preview
0021 PAINTER

Richard Rothwell

1800 - 1868

Preview
0022 AUTHOR

Charles Henry Mackintosh

1820 - 1896

Preview
0023 OFFICER

Thomas Conway

1735 - 1800

Preview
0024 PRIEST

Saint Arbogast

Died 678

Preview
0025 NAVY

Francis Cromie

1882 - 1918

Preview
0026 INVENTOR

William Painter (inventor)

1838 - 1906

Preview
0027 PLAYER

Robbie Henshaw

Born 1993

Preview
0028 POLITICIAN

Mary O'Rourke

Born 1937

Preview
0029 FOOTBALL

Darragh Lenihan

Born 1994

Preview
0030 MISSIONARY

Livinus

580 - 657

Preview
0031 WRITER

Lisa McInerney

Born 1981

Preview
0032 PRIEST

Michael Joseph Curley

1879 - 1947

Preview
0033 AUTHOR

Anthony Summers

Born 1942

Preview
0034 SOVEREIGN

Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill

948 - 1022

Preview
0035 PHILOSOPHER

Kieran Egan (educationist)

Born 1943

Preview
0036 PRIEST

Patrick Feehan

1829 - 1902

Preview
0037 KING

Niall Glúndub

870 - 919

Preview
0038 SOLDIER

Walter Butler of Roscrea

1600 - 1634

Preview
0039 HANGED

Ann Glover

Died 1688

Preview
0040 MONARCH

Áed Oirdnide

Died 819

Preview
0041 ADMIRAL

Josias Rowley

1765 - 1842

Preview
0042 AMERICAN REVOLUTION

George Croghan

1718 - 1782

Preview
0043 NOBLE

Isabel de Clare, 4th Countess of Pembroke

1172 - 1220

Preview
0044 OFFICER

James Hogun

Died 1781

Preview
0045 ASTRONOMER

John Ellard Gore

1845 - 1910

Preview
0046 OFFICER

Thomas Carleton

1735 - 1817

Preview
0047 PRIEST

Colmán of Lindisfarne

605 - 676

Preview
0048 SCREENWRITER

James Kevin McGuinness

1893 - 1950

Preview
0049 MONARCH

Niall Frossach

718 - 778

Preview
0050 EDITOR

John J. Collins

Born 1946

Preview
0051 POLITICIAN

William Findley

1741 - 1821

Preview
0052 DIPLOMAT

Francis Martin O'Donnell

Born 1954

Preview
0053 ACTOR

William J. Butler

1860 - 1927

Preview
0054 SON

Flaithbertach mac Loingsig

Died 765

Preview
0055 MONK

Blathmac

750 - 835

Preview
0056 FOOTBALL

Robbie Benson

Born 1992

Preview
0057 ENTREPRENEUR

Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond

1944 - 2014

Preview
0058 MONK

Beatus of Lungern

12 - 112

Preview
0059 KING

Domnall ua Néill

Died 980

Preview
0060 MILITAR

James Wolfe Murray

1853 - 1919

Preview
0061 MILITAR

Justin McCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel

1638 - 1694

Preview
0062 MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

Ian McKeever (mountaineer)

1970 - 2013

Preview
0063 POLITICIAN

Griffith Rutherford

1721 - 1805

Preview
0064 FOOTBALL

Alan Sheehan

Born 1986

Preview
0065 PRIEST

James Coyle

1873 - 1921

Preview
0066 ACTOR

Mark Tandy (actor)

Born 1957

Preview
0067 ACTOR

Fintan McKeown

-

Preview
0068 PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Josie MacAvin

1919 - 2005

Preview
0069 PIRATE

Edward England

1690 - 1720

Preview
0070 EXPLORER

William Abraham Bell

1841 - 1921

Preview
0071 MILITAR

William Thompson (general)

1735 - 1781

Preview
0072 POLITICIAN

William O'Brien, 4th Earl of Inchiquin

1700 - 1777

Preview
0073 ARCHITECT

Caspar Purdon Clarke

1846 - 1911

Preview
0074 PRIEST

Cellach of Armagh

1080 - 1129

Preview
0075 OFFICER

Anthony Gale

1782 - 1843

Preview
0076 COMPOSER

Charles Coffey

Died 1745

Preview
0077 IMMIGRANT

Catherine O'Leary

1827 - 1895

Preview
0078 PHYSICIST

Thomas Preston (scientist)

1860 - 1900

Preview
0079 SINGER

Christine Tobin

Born 1963

Preview
0080 MATHEMATICIAN

Pádraig de Brún

1889 - 1960

Preview
0081 SINGER

John Mitchell (musician)

Born 1973

Preview
0082 LACROSSE

Patrick Brennan (lacrosse)

1877 - 1961

Preview
0083 BASEBALL

Hugh Daily

1847 - 1923

Preview
0084 BROTHER

George Forbes, 3rd Earl of Granard

1685 - 1765

Preview
0085 BOTANIST

Bernard McMahon

1775 - 1816

Preview
0086 ACTIVIST

Brian J. Dooley

Born 1963

Preview
0087 ACADEMIC

Henry Farrell (political scientist)

Born 1970

Preview
0088 POLITICIAN

Thomas Smartt

1858 - 1929

Preview
0089 PRESENTER

Ronan O'Rahilly

1940 - 2020

Preview
0090 JOURNALIST

Matthew James Higgins

1810 - 1868

Preview
0091 PLAYWRIGHT

Kane O'Hara

1712 - 1782

Preview
0092 ACTOR

Lisa Dwan

Born 1977

Preview
0093 POLITICIAN

Daniel Tracey

1794 - 1832

Preview
0094 PRIEST

Budoc

-

Preview
0095 POLITICIAN

Andrew Charles Elliott

1829 - 1889

Preview
0096 HEXE

Petronilla de Meath

1300 - 1324

Preview
0097 ARMY

William Frederick Travers O'Connor

1870 - 1943

Preview
0098 ACTOR

Gillian Hanna

Died 2019

Preview
0099 ACTOR

Cal Dodd

Born 1956

Preview
0100 SCREENWRITER

Jack Henley

1896 - 1958

Preview
0101 POLITICIAN

Richard Wilson-Smith

1852 - 1912

Preview
0102 HISTORIAN

Patrick Fleming

1599 - 1631

Preview
0103 WRITER

John Chetwode Eustace

1762 - 1815

Preview
0104 SAINT

Saint Berach

500 - 595

Preview
0105 MUSIC

Brendan Shine

Born 1947

Preview
0106 AUTHOR

Bill Graham (author)

1951 - 1996

Preview
0107 DIPLOMAT

Eugene Nugent

Born 1958

Preview
0108 CHESS

James A. Leonard

1841 - 1862

Preview
0109 MISSIONARY

W. S. Pakenham-Walsh

1868 - 1960

Preview
0110 MILITAR

Nicholas M. Nolan

1835 - 1883

Preview
0111 LINGUIST

William J. Barry

Born 1943

Preview
0112 PRIEST

John Kirby (bishop)

Born 1938

Preview
0113 EXPLORER

Patrick Keohane

1879 - 1950

Preview
0114 PRIEST

Edmond Carmody

Born 1934

Preview
0115 MATHEMATICIAN

David Conlon

Born 1982

Preview
0116 POLITICIAN

Samuel Pechell

1785 - 1849

Preview
0117 POLITICIAN

Hugh Carleton

1810 - 1890

Preview
0118 PRIEST

Raymond Browne

Born 1957

Preview
0119 ARCHIVIST

Mubin Sheppard

1905 - 1994

Preview
0120 OFFICER

George C. Read

1788 - 1862

Preview
0121 ACTOR

Tommy Duggan

1909 - 1998

Preview
0122 WRITER

Sarah Rees Brennan

Born 1983

Preview
0123 BARRISTER

Henry Cadogan

1642 - 1714

Preview
0124 JOURNALIST

Marmion Savage

1804 - 1872

Preview
0125 ASTRONOMER

Martin Stanislaus Brennan

1845 - 1927

Preview
0126 FOOTBALL

Chris O'Loughlin (football manager)

Born 1978

Preview
0127 MONARCH

Cináed mac Írgalaig

Died 728

Preview
0128 MONK

Donnán of Eigg

Died 617

Preview
0129 JOURNALIST

Eamonn Fingleton

Born 1948

Preview
0130 PRESENTER

Henry Kelly

Born 1946

Preview
0131 ENGINEER

William Robinson (inventor)

1840 - 1921

Preview
0132 ACADEMIC

Richard Bourke (academic)

Born 1965

Preview
0133 POLITICIAN

Nicky McFadden

1962 - 2014

Preview
0134 FOOTBALL

Paddy Andrews

1913 - 1981

Preview
0135 ACTOR

Arie Verveen

Born 1976

Preview
0136 AUTHOR

Basil Maturin

1847 - 1915

Preview
0137 PHYSICIAN

William Redfern

1774 - 1833

Preview
0138 WRITER

Annabel Davis-Goff

Born 1942

Preview
0139 POLITICIAN

John George Bowes

1812 - 1864

Preview
0140 POLITICIAN

Patrick Farrelly

1770 - 1826

Preview
0141 WRITER

Thomas Gent

1693 - 1778

Preview
0142 CRITIQUE

Fintán of Taghmon

Died 635

Preview
0143 EXPLORER

James Meehan

1774 - 1826

Preview
0144 MEDIA

Margaret Gallagher

-

Preview
0145 WRITER

Oisín McGann

Born 1973

Preview
0146 WRITER

James Augustus Hicky

1740 - 1802

Preview
0147 POLITICIAN

Gabrielle McFadden

Born 1967

Preview
0148 BISPO

Saint Menulphe

-

Preview
0149 MISSING

Thomas John Capel

1836 - 1911

Preview
0150 FICKTJUV

Jenny Diver

1700 - 1741

Preview
0151 CONSERVATIVE

Walter Stanley Monroe

1871 - 1952

Preview
0152 PLAYWRIGHT

Norah Richards

1876 - 1971

Preview
0153 POLITICIAN

Seán Fallon (politician)

1937 - 1995

Preview
0154 POLITICIAN

Hugh O'Brien

1827 - 1895

Preview
0155 JOURNALIST

James McClatchy

1824 - 1883

Preview
0156 ACTOR

Shane O'Meara

Born 1992

Preview
0157 POET

Seán Ó Neachtain (poet)

1650 - 1729

Preview
0158 SPORT

David Montgomery (cyclist)

Born 1995

Preview
0159 SINGER

Fran Cosgrave

Born 1977

Preview
0160 AUTHOR

Patrick Chapman

Born 1968

Preview
0161 PHOTOJOURNALIST

John Burke (photographer)

1843 - 1900

Preview
0162 PUBLISHED

Tony Corcoran

-

Preview
0163 POLITICIAN

Kevin "Boxer" Moran

Born 1963

Preview
0164 POLITICIAN

Christopher Augustine Buckley

1845 - 1922

Preview
0165 AUTHOR

Dick Warner

1946 - 2017

Preview
0166 ARISTOCRAT

Ismania FitzRoy, Baroness Southampton

1838 - 1918

Preview
0167 MILITAR

Sharp Delany

1739 - 1799

Preview
0168 FOOTBALL

Paddy Duncan

1894 - 1949

Preview
0169 POLITICIAN

John McAdam (politician)

1807 - 1893

Preview
0170 RESEARCH

David Madigan

Born 1962

Preview
0171 PAINTER

Dennis Malone Carter

1827 - 1881

Preview
0172 ENGINEER

Ernest de Burgh

1863 - 1929

Preview
0173 MARRIED TO

William Thornton (British Army officer)

1779 - 1840

Preview
0174 CONVICT

John Gordon (Rhode Island)

Died 1845

Preview
0175 PAINTER

Marjorie Organ

1886 - 1930

Preview
0176 ACTOR

Cindy O'Callaghan

Born 1956

Preview
0177 BIOLOGIST

Una M. Ryan

Born 1966

Preview
0178 POLITICIAN

Christopher P. Higgins

1830 - 1889

Preview
0179 SINGER

Patrick Murphy (musician)

Born 1970

Preview
0180 MONK

Baithéne mac Brénaind

536 - 600

Preview
0181 MILITAR

Jeremiah Coghlan

1776 - 1844

Preview
0182 DIPLOMAT

David O'Sullivan (civil servant)

Born 1953

Preview
0183 BIOGRAPHER

Sarah Atkinson

1823 - 1893

Preview
0184 MISSIONARY

Moluag

530 - 592

Preview
0185 ACCOUNTANT

Feargal O'Rourke

Born 1964

Preview
0186 SOLDIER

Daniel Buckley

1890 - 1918

Preview
0187 ACTOR

Harry Brogan

1904 - 1977

Preview
0188 NOVELIST

William R. Bradshaw

1851 - 1927

Preview
0189 BASSIST

Joe Doyle (musician)

Born 1977

Preview
0190 POLITICIAN

Matthew Harris (Irish politician)

1826 - 1890

Preview
0191 ACTOR

Danielle Ryan

Born 1983

Preview
0192 DESIGNER

Yan Pennor's

Born 1952

Preview
0193 CAMPAIGN

James Dougherty (Medal of Honor)

1839 - 1897

Preview
0194 MILITAR

Thomas E. Stephens (politician)

1903 - 1988

Preview
0195 DENTIST

Lydia Foy

Born 1947

Preview
0196 MONK

Briag

Died 627

Preview
0197 ACTOR

Ann Rowan

1929 - 2014

Preview
0198 NOVELIST

Anna Maria Bunn

1808 - 1899

Preview
0199 MONK

Manchán of Mohill

Died 538

Preview
0200 FOOTBALL

Dinny Hannon

1888 - 1971

Preview
0201 NOBLE

Maud de Prendergast

1242 - 1273

Preview
0202 HORSE TRAINER

Dermot Weld

Born 1948

Preview
0203 FOOTBALL

Paddy Farrell

Born 1913

Preview
0204 MERCHANT

John Grubb Richardson

1813 - 1891

Preview
0205 POET

Elizabeth Ryves

1750 - 1797

Preview
0206 TEACHER

Michael Duane

1915 - 1997

Preview
0207 COMPUTER SCIENTIST

Michael Butler (computer scientist)

-

Preview
0208 HEGUMEN

Saint Sithney

Died 529

Preview
0209 PLAYWRIGHT

Thomas Duffet

1673 - 1676

Preview
0210 FOOTBALL

Padraig O'Connor

-

Preview
0211 POLITICIAN

Walter Sweeney

Born 1949

Preview
0212 MISSIONARY

Buriana

-

Preview
0213 STATISTICIAN

William Shaw Mason

1774 - 1853

Preview
0214 COLONEL

William Tate (soldier)

-

Preview
0215 ACTOR

Jane Brennan

-

Preview
0216 FOOTBALL

Turlough O'Connor (footballer)

Born 1946

Preview
0217 MISSIONARY

Sally Wolfe

1885 - 1975

Preview
0218 HOCKEY

Anna O'Flanagan

Born 1990

Preview
0219 ACTOR

Elaine Symons

Born 1974

Preview
0220 POLITICIAN

Thomas Coman

1836 - 1909

Preview
0221 DEVELOPER

John Keating (soldier, land developer)

1760 - 1853

Preview
0222 POLITICIAN

Thomas Fallon

1825 - 1885

Preview
0223 SINGER

Cassia O'Reilly

Born 1990

Preview
0224 POLITICIAN

James Clinton (soldier)

1667 - 1718

Preview
0225 SAINT

Saint Elouan

-

Preview
0226 MARTYR

Saint Gwinear

Died 455

Preview
0227 ATHLETIC

Michael Keogh (athlete)

Born 1953

Preview
0228 HORSE TRAINER

Noel Meade

-

Preview
0229 TELEVISION

Neasa Hardiman

-

Preview
0230 MONK

Saint Edern

-

Preview
0231 NAVY

Francis Augustus Collier

1786 - 1849

Preview
0232 AUTHOR

Stephen Cullen Carpenter

1752 - 1830

Preview
0233 CIVIL SERVANT

Arthur Grenfell Clarke

1906 - 1993

Preview
0234 NOVELIST

Niamh O'Connor

-

Preview
0235 NATURALIST

James Stuart (artist)

1802 - 1842

Preview
0236 SCREENWRITER

Cath Staincliffe

Born 1956

Preview
0237 MILITAR

Thomas M. Doherty

1869 - 1906

Preview
0238 LAWYER

Peter Lyons (Virginia judge)

1734 - 1809

Preview
0239 FOOTBALL

Noel Larkin

Born 1955

Preview
0240 FOOTBALL

Stuart Magee

Born 1943

Preview
0241 PROSTITUTE

Josephine Airey

1844 - 1899

Preview
0242 POLITICIAN

Peter Clinch (politician)

1753 - 1816

Preview
0243 POLITICIAN

James Steuart (Royal Navy officer)

1690 - 1757

Preview
0244 NAVY

Patrick H. Grace

1832 - 1896

Preview
0245 BOTANIST

Ted Bollard

1920 - 2011

Preview
0246 BANJOIST

Enda Scahill

-

Preview
0247 SURGEON

Thomas Reid (naval surgeon)

1791 - 1825

Preview
0248 METALLURGIST

Josiah Marshall Heath

1795 - 1851

Preview
0249 AUTHOR

Elaine Crowley (author)

1927 - 2011

Preview
0250 SERGEANT

Henry Hogan

1840 - 1916

Preview
0251 BASEBALL

Sleeper Sullivan

1859 - 1909

Preview
0252 ACTOR

Clíona Ní Chiosáin

Born 1990

Preview
0253 POLITICIAN

John Kerr (US politician)

1778 - 1823

Preview
0254 TRADE UNION

Mary Fitzgerald (trade unionist)

1890 - 1960

Preview
0255 PAINTER

Diana Conyngham Ellis

1813 - 1851

Preview
0256 PHYSICIAN

George Evatt

1843 - 1921

Preview
0257 CRICKET

Gary Kidd

Born 1985

Preview
0258 ACTOR

Jenny Buckley

Born 1979

Preview
0259 BASEBALL

Mike Hines

1862 - 1910

Preview
0260 SPORT

Bernard Doyle

1888 - 1977

Preview
0261 ACTOR

Dan Sheridan

1916 - 1963

Preview
0262 PLAYER

John Blayney

1925 - 2018

Preview
0263 BASEBALL

Pat McManus

1859 - 1917

Preview
0264 FOOTBALL

Matts Kunding

-

Preview
0265 MILITAR

Patrick Mullen (Medal of Honor)

1844 - 1897

Preview
0266 MISSING

James Carroll (captain)

1840 - 1912

Preview
0267 HORSE TRAINER

James E. Ryan

1900 - 1976

Preview
0268 ENGRAVER

J. W. Orr

1815 - 1887

Preview
0269 FARMER

Thomas Woore

1804 - 1878

Preview
0270 ARCHITECT

James W. Naughton

1840 - 1898

Preview
0271 AUTHOR

Jorge Sarsfield

1700 - 1782

Preview
0272 WRITER

Peter McCurtin

1929 - 1997

Preview
0273 OFFICER

John Scott Lillie

1790 - 1868

Preview
0274 BASEBALL

Jimmy Hallinan

1849 - 1879

Preview
0275 SOLDIER

Felix Brannigan

1844 - 1907

Preview
0276 MILITAR

James Fegan

1827 - 1886

Preview
0277 BASEBALL

Tom Needham

1879 - 1926

Preview
0278 ARTIST

Steve Averill

Born 1950

Preview
0279 OFFICER

Michael Cassidy (sailor)

1837 - 1908

Preview
0280 CONVICT

Larry Murphy (criminal)

Born 1966

Preview
0281 PAINTER

Thomas Ruckle

1776 - 1853

Preview
0282 ARMY

Timothy Andrews (general)

1794 - 1868

Preview
0283 FOOTBALL

Gary Connaughton

-

Preview
0284 WRITER

Madeleine A. Polland

1918 - 2005

Preview
0285 SAINT

Saint Gonnery

-

Preview
0286 GAELIC FOOTBALL

Brendan Harrison

Born 1992

Preview
0287 ARMY

John O'Dea

1839 - 1905

Preview
0288 POLITICIAN

John Douglas (governor)

1836 - 1885

Preview
0289 CRICKET

Sahar Aslam

Born 1982

Preview
0290 BUSINESS

Bernard Daly

1858 - 1920

Preview
0291 ATHLETIC

Declan Hegarty

Born 1960

Preview
0292 GUILTY

Patrick Eugene Prendergast

1868 - 1894

Preview
0293 POLITICIAN

William Joseph Napier

1857 - 1925

Preview
0294 CRICKET

Andrew Britton (cricketer)

Born 1988

Preview
0295 POLITICIAN

Thomas Ryan (1870–1943)

1870 - 1943

Preview
0296 JOURNALIST

Ciara Kelly

Born 1971

Preview
0297 FOOTBALL

Denis Clarke

Born 1959

Preview
0298 FOOTBALL

Dessie Dolan

Born 1979

Preview
0299 SON

John Hart (Governor of Maryland)

-

Preview
0300 POLITICIAN

Edward Kellett (Conservative politician)

1902 - 1943

Preview