The Irish TV network RTÉ conducted a survey to find the most representative people from Ireland for the Irish.
At the end of 2009 Ipsos/ MRBI, the independent market research agency, conducted a survey amongst a nationally representative sample of Irish respondents aged 15+.
On Monday March 22nd the top 40 names from this survey were put up on the RTÉ website (in alphabetical order), and people were then given the chance to vote for their greatest Irish person from that Top 40.
Two weeks later, the web vote closed and the Top Ten was announced. They were (in alphabetical order): Bono, Dr. Noel Browne, Michael Collins, James Connolly, Stephen Gately, John Hume, Phil Lynott, Padraig Pearse, Mary Robinson and Adi Roche.
Now, after thousands of public votes on the RTE Website, the search for Ireland's Greatest has been narrowed down to the final five: Bono, Michael Collins, James Connolly, John Hume and Mary Robinson.
On September 27th, the network will air the interview with Bono.
