Ireland is a small island country in the Atlantic Ocean with a population of around 4.6 million. Starting in the 1700s, a mass exodus began, unleashing an enormous Irish diaspora that’s concentrated in the US, Canada, Australia and countries throughout Europe and South and Central America.

This diaspora has gone on to make great contributions to the world and has helped make the Irish holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, a globally recognized and celebrated event.

The city of New York, for instance, hosts the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world.

But just because the Irish diaspora vastly outnumbers the domestic population doesn’t mean that Ireland has stopped being a wonderful, exceptional country.

Throughout history, Ireland has fostered brilliant and benevolent people who have helped shape the world we live in today.

Here are just a few:

John Tyndall - physicist - 1820-1893

Climate change is the biggest threat facing the planet. Yet it’s a mostly invisible and slow-moving problem. Without an understanding of the mechanisms at play--how carbon, methane and other greenhouse gases from human activities accumulate in and alter the atmosphere--then symptoms of climate change--droughts and floods, rising sea levels, extreme temperatures, etc.--might be viewed as naturally occurring events.

Fortunately, humanity at least recognizes how climate change happens and that’s partly thanks to the Irish physicist John Tyndall. He proved the Greenhouse Effect back in the 1800s. Scientists have been building on these initial discoveries ever since.

Tyndall also discovered why the sky looks blue.

Mary Robinson - president - 1944-

Women are underrepresented in governments around the world. Only 22% of government seats globally are held by women, even though women are half of the world’s population.This disparity obviously contributes to the gender inequalities seen across societies.

Mary Robinson helped to smash the persistent political glass ceiling above women when she was elected as the first female president of Ireland in 1997. Robinson is regarded as a progressive figure in Irish politics who bridged divides between opposing groups, championed the marginalized and promoted human rights.

She left office two months before her term ended to assume the role of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and has since dedicated her life to this cause.  

Oscar Wilde – writer – 1854-1900

Oscar Wilde is one of the most influential playwrights of the 19th century. His work explores themes ranging from the complexity of developing an identity, the concepts of sin and redemption, what it means to be truthful and many others.

Over the years, Wilde has become an icon for the gay rights movement. During his life, he was constantly harassed and persecuted for being gay. This legacy is particularly relevant this year, because the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is fully welcoming gay groups for the first time.

Robert Boyle - chemist - 1627-1691

For science to be successful, strict protocols have to be followed, otherwise results would never be considered definitive or even useful.

This idea of structure is best embodied by the scientific method, that step-by-step system memorized in high school. While it may seem like a drag in the classroom, this seemingly boring model has led to basically all major scientific discoveries of the past several centuries.

Robert Boyle devised the method during his illustrious career as a chemist, physicist, inventor and philosopher. He’s considered by many as the father of modern chemistry and one of his most enduring discoveries is Boyle’s Law.

Bono - musician - 1960-

Bono is best known for being the exuberant lead singer of U2, but he’s just as passionate when it comes to global activism.

He’s campaigned extensively to address the AIDS epidemic in Africa, advocated for third-world debt relief and thrown his international clout behind a range of other issues.

Bono also founded the ONE campaign, an organization that campaigns for global unity and the end of poverty around the world.

St. Patrick - missionary - 5th century

Can’t have a St. Patrick’s Day list of Irish heroes without St. Patrick, right?

Who exactly is this mysterious figure who has become a rallying cry for college students and revelers around the world? Well, he’s not the party animal that his name means to many.

Above all, St. Patrick is known for his deep religious belief in a country where the Christian religion is central to personal identity. St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish. He was British. He was captured by Irish pirates at the age of 16, escaped 6 years later, and then returned to Ireland where he began his life’s work of spreading his faith and baptizing people.

Ireland and Britain have had a bitter and bloody relationship throughout history. So St. Patrick’s British heritage and Irish allegiance have come (at least by some) to be seen as a symbol of unity. He’s a reminder that nationality should never be the basis for hatred of other people. Instead, all people should look beyond cultural distinctions and recognize the common humanity that binds us all together.

There’s a reason why a lot of people embrace Irish culture on March 17th and it’s not just because shamrocks, leprechauns and pints of Guinness are fun. It’s also because, deep down, people understand that other cultures should be appreciated and celebrated. Nobody chooses where they are born and what cultural perspectives they initially absorb. But everyone can choose to respect and even honor the diversity that defines humanity.

On this St. Patrick’s Day follow the lead of these Irish heroes and help to advance humanity by contributing to the common good.

TopicsCurrent eventsCitizenshipIrelandHistoryMary RobinsonBonoSt. Patrick's Day

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