County Roscommon - People

People

John Fitzgibbon (1845-1919) Michael Wheatley wrote of Fitzgibbon: 'He himself sold land to the Congested Districts Board (CDB), oblivious to what a later age would call 'conflict of interest'.' Nationalism and the Irish party: provincial Ireland 1910 - 1916 (New York, 2005), p. 36> Wheatley was referring to the fact that Fitzgibbon was a member of the CDB in Castlerea when the transaction took place. Fitzgibbon started his working life in his father's drapery business in Castlerea <'These were the county's first prime ministers', (Roscommon Herald centenary supplement 1859 - 1959)> Seen as a spokesman for the tenant, Fitzgibbon exercised his powers of persuasion and oratory at meetings across Roscommon. His political life spanned 30 years, from the land war to the ranch war. He was also involved in the Gaelic League, the temperance movement and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (DATI). In 1910, he became MP for South Mayo. He served on the Castlerea board of guardians and was a member (later chairman, 1901), of Roscommon County Council.

  • Baron de Freyne
  • Douglas Hyde (1860–1949) - an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945. He founded the Gaelic League, one of the most influential cultural organisations in Ireland. Hyde is buried in the Hyde Museum, Frenchpark, Roscommon.
  • Percy French (1854–1920) - one of Ireland's foremost songwriters and entertainers. He has also become recognised for his watercolour paintings.
  • Chris O'Dowd (born 1980) - an Irish actor born in Boyle, County Roscommon. Best known for starring in Channel 4's comedy The IT Crowd.
  • Maureen O'Sullivan, Ireland's first international movie star, was born in Boyle, County Roscommon.

Read more about this topic:  County Roscommon

Famous quotes containing the word people:

    “The common notions that we find in credit around us and infused into our souls by our fathers’ seed, these seem to be the universal and natural ones. Whence it comes to pass that what is off the hinges of custom, people believe to be off the hinges of reason.”
    —Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)

    “To be perfectly, brutally honest, those of us who are still carrying diaper everywhere we go are not at our most scintillating time of life....We need to remember that at one time in our lives, we all had senses of humor and knew things that were going on in the world. And if we just keep our social networks open, there will be people ready to listen when we once again have intelligent things to say.”
    —Louise Lague (20th century)

    “Let’s holler and ask him if he won’t prescribe
    For all humanity a complete rest
    From all this wagery. But what’s the use
    Of asking any sympathy of him?
    That class of people don’t know what work is....”
    —Robert Frost (1874–1963)