List RulesTop Irish writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and plays
The best Irish authors, ranked by fans of Irish literature. This list includes George Moore, who is considered the first great modern Irish novelist, as well as names like James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, famous writers of classic Irish literature. The names on this list are considered to be some of the best Irish writers and the list includes the birthplace of the authors, along with additional biographic information.
The list asks the question, "who are the best Irish authors?" and includes poets, novelists and nonfiction writers from all genres and eras for a comprehensive list. These writers from Ireland have contributed to not only Irish literature, but the international canon of some of the greatest novels, essays, short stories, poems, and plays of all time.
The best Irish authors list can be voted on and is open, so please add any great Irish writers that are missing and vote up your favorites.1
6014James Joyce
Rathgar, Ireland2
5015Oscar Wilde
Dublin, Ireland3
357Brian O'Nolan
Strabane, U.K.4
3812Samuel Beckett
Foxrock, Ireland5
3611Maeve Binchy
Dalkey, Ireland6
3211Jonathan Swift
Dublin, Ireland7
4831William Butler Yeats
Sandymount, Ireland8
2710Seamus Heaney
Castledawson, U.K.9
2812George Bernard Shaw
Dublin, Ireland10
3217C. S. Lewis
Belfast, Ireland11
2511Frank McCourt
Brooklyn, New York12
205Joseph O'Connor
Dublin, Ireland13
185John Millington Synge
Rathfarnham, Republic of Ireland14
177William Trevor
Mitchelstown, Ireland15
155Emma Donoghue
Dublin, Ireland16
145John Banville
Wexford, Ireland17
145Edna O'Brien
Tuamgraney, Republic of Ireland18
147Brendan Behan
Dublin, Ireland19
91A.E.
Lurgan, County Armagh20
125Colm Tóibín
Enniscorthy, Ireland21
127Frank O'Connor
Cork, Republic of Ireland22
148Seán O'Casey
Dublin, Ireland23
149Roddy Doyle
Kilbarrack, Ireland24
139Marian Keyes
Limerick, Ireland25
2830Bram Stoker
Clontarf, Dublin