Ireland has produced some of the greatest singers, songwriters, musicians, actors, authors and more that the world has ever seen. As such, their deaths leave a big impact on the world.
A sad reality is that with this much talent, the deaths of these Irish legends hit hard around the world. In the last year alone, we have lost several Irish talents who really left their mark.
These people have left an almighty impact on the world over, whether it’s with their political stance, their lyrics, or their ability to bring the craic.
Here are ten legends Ireland has sadly lost in the last ten years. Ten souls the world cried, mourned and celebrated upon learning of their passing.
- Ireland has produced some of the greatest singers, songwriters, musicians, actors, authors and more that the world has ever seen. As such, their deaths leave a big impact on the world.
- 10. Gay Byrne – a death that brought great sadness
- 9. Christy Dignam – Aslan frontman
- 8. Terry Wogan – one of the legends Ireland has sadly lost in the last ten years
- 7. Frank Kelly – best known for playing Father Jack
- 6. Michael Gambon – renowned for Harry Potter
- 5. Maureen O’Hara – a beloved actress
- 4. Seamus Heaney – one of Ireland’s greatest poets
- 3. Dolores O’Riordan – the Cranberries frontrunner
- 2. Sinead O’Connor – a true Irish legend
- 1. Shane MacGowan – one of many legends Ireland has sadly lost in the last ten years
10. Gay Byrne – a death that brought great sadness
The people of Ireland were devastated when legendary presenter and radio host Gay Byrne died in 2019 of cancer.
Gay Byrne, most notably, was the first-ever and longest-running host of The Late Late Show between 1962 and 1999, a whopping 37-year period.
After his death, RTE aired a Late Late Show tribute for Gay Bryne, which became one of the most-watched programmes of 2019.
9. Christy Dignam – Aslan frontman
Christy Dignam was best known for being the frontman of Irish rock band Aslan. Some of their most well-known songs include ‘Crazy World’, ‘Where’s the Sun’, and ‘Wish You Were Here’.
Dignam died in June 2023 after a decade-long battle with cancer. He was one of many Irish legends who died this year alone.
8. Terry Wogan – one of the legends Ireland has sadly lost in the last ten years
Terry Wogan was a leading media personality, often referred to as a national treasure, in both Ireland and the UK from the late 1960s.
Having worked for the BBC for most of his career, his death from cancer in 2016 was an incredibly sad event for people who knew and admired him all over the world.
While he had many professional achievements, we perhaps loved him most as the Irish presenter for the Eurovision Song Contest between 1971 and 2008.
7. Frank Kelly – best known for playing Father Jack
Best known for his role as the lovable lunatic Father Jack in Father Ted, Frank Kelly passed away in February 2016 to the devastation of many.
In a strange twist of fate, Frank actually died on the anniversary of the death of his Father Ted co-star Dermot Morgan 18 years earlier.
6. Michael Gambon – renowned for Harry Potter
One of the legends Ireland has sadly lost in the last ten years is Michael Gambon. Known most famously for portraying Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise, Michael Gambon’s passing in September of this year brought sadness to many across the globe.
Before appearing in Harry Potter, though, he acted in many productions of works by William Shakespeare and started his career alongside Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre.
5. Maureen O’Hara – a beloved actress
beloved Irish-American actress and singer, Maureen O’Hara died at 95 years of age in 2015. She was a legendary Irish actor, born and raised in Dublin, perhaps best known for starring alongside John Wayne in The Quiet Man (1952). Thus, she is one of the most famous people from Dublin of all time.
4. Seamus Heaney – one of Ireland’s greatest poets
Seamus Heaney was one of Ireland’s most prolific and celebrated poets. Moreover, to this day, he is considered one of the best poets in the world, and some of his most famous works include Death of a Naturalist and Bogland.
He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995 and was influenced by the likes of W.B. Yeats, T.S. Eliot, and Robert Frost. Furthermore, in his lifetime, he was offered the position of Poet Laureate of the UK but declined for political reasons.
3. Dolores O’Riordan – the Cranberries frontrunner
Dolores O’Riordan was one of the most famous Irish people of all time, as she was the frontrunner for one of Ireland’s greatest bands, the Cranberries.
Perhaps her most famous songwriting of all time was seen through ‘Zombie’, a protest song about The Troubles in the North.
Her voice was completely unique, and she famously brought a lilting soprano, keening, and her strong Limerick accent to her music. She died in 2018 at just 46 years old.
2. Sinead O’Connor – a true Irish legend
Sinead O’Connor’s death brought great sadness to people who admired her all over the world. She led a loud and unapologetic lifestyle and wasn’t afraid to voice her views and opinions to the world.
From boycotting the Grammy’s to tearing up a picture of the Pope on live television, she made the world listen to what she had to say. She was a legend, an icon, and is very much missed.
1. Shane MacGowan – one of many legends Ireland has sadly lost in the last ten years
Most recently, Ireland and the world lost the legendary Pogues frontman, Shane MacGowan. Shane MacGowan was known for his iconic and unique voice, his masterful songwriting skills, and his merging of punk style with Irish folk music.
His funeral was attended by many, where people laughed, cried, danced, and sang as tales were told of MacGowan, his life, and the iconic legacy he leaves behind.
So, that concludes our list of ten legends Ireland has sadly lost in the last ten years, not forgetting ‘Fields of Athenry’ composer Pete St. John, activist Christine Buckley, and many more who we have lost in the last decade.
