There have been countless Irish people who have gone to America and forged successful careers in movies, music, sport and technology.
With so many American people having Irish family backgrounds, the country is usually quick to embrace these stars and welcome them as one of their own. Now the people of America have been asked which one Irish person they like the best.
The most popular person was Liam Neeson, who beat the likes of likes of Bono, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Farrell to the unofficial title of America’s favourite Irish person.
The Ballymena actor came top in a survey carried out by E-Poll Market Research, which collects data on almost 9,000 celebrities and knows what the Americans like and know about them.
Neeson has had a fine career in acting, with iconic roles such as Michael Collins, Zeus and Oskar Schindler in his portfolio.
However, it is thought to be his recent character of Bryan Mills in the action trilogy Taken that has won the hearts of the American audiences. Here is a YouTube clip of that famous scene where he warns his daughter’s kidnappers of his ‘special set of skills’.
The 65-year-old is also more than happy to laugh at himself as he demonstrated in his hilarious cameo in the Ricky Gervais comedy Life’s Too Short.
The other Irish people that ranked high with the Americans included 50 Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan, Hollywood star Colin Farrell and U2 rocker Bono.
Here is the list of top 15 in full.
1. Liam Neeson
2. Pierce Brosnan
3. Bono
4. Colin Farrell
5. Michael Fassbender
6. Liam Cunningham
7. Jonathan Rhys Meyers
8. Chris O’Dowd
9. Jamie Dornan
10. Cillian Murphy
11. Gabriel Byrne
12. Fionnula Flanagan
13. Aidan Gillen
15. Saoirse Ronan
15. Caitriona Balfe
The survey consisted of 46 separate personality attributes, to which Neeson scored the perfect 100.
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