Dungannon - Notable People

Notable People

One of Dungannon's most famous sons is Thomas J. Clarke (although he was actually born on the Isle of Wight), the first signatory of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic (Poblacht na hÉireann). Clarke was a key figure in the 1916 Easter Rising and was executed by the British authorities on 3 May 1916, aged 59, for his role in the Rising. The Dungannon GAA club is named after him.

Dungannon is the birthplace of professional golfer Darren Clarke, motorcycle racer Ryan Farquhar, artist Victor Sloan, snooker player Patrick Wallace, TV presenters Adrian Logan, Joanne Salley, and rally driver Kris Meeke.

Dungannon is also the birthplace of actor Birdy Sweeney, who appeared in numerous television programmes and motion pictures.

Professor Séamus MacMathúna (Celtic scholar) and Professor P G (Gerry) McKenna (Biomedical Scientist and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ulster) are two distinguished academics who attended St. Patrick's Academy and were elected Members of the Royal Irish Academy (Ireland's most senior ranking academic body).

Pittsburgh industrialist Henry W. Oliver and his brother, United States Senator George T. Oliver, were born in Dungannon in 1840 and 1848 respectively.

Thomas Wilson Spence, Wisconsin lawyer and legislator, was born in Dungannon.

Geraldine McQueen, singer, fictitious character of comedian Peter Kay.

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