A new survey of the Irish public has revealed the famous people we look up to most - and it's good news for both Ryan Tubridy and Katie Taylor.
Late Late Show host Ryan was named the 'most admired' celeb in broadcasting while Bray boxing champ Katie earned the title for sports for the second year running.
They made up two of the top three overall most admired celebrities, with U2 frontman Bono rounding out the podium places.
In the consumer research, ONSIDE used a nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults across Ireland to compile their Star Track 2022
Sport
Katie Taylor retained her status as Ireland’s Most Admired Sports Personality for the sixth year in a row, albeit down 7% to 18% in 2022, though a Croke Park homecoming bout with Amada Serrano is on the cards for 2023.
Joining Taylor on this year’s podium are past players and media pundits Roy Keane (+2%) and Brian O’Driscoll (+1%), while golfer Shane Lowry (+4%) and horse-racing star Rachael Blackmore (+2%) made most ground in the chasing pack for the hearts and minds of the Irish public in 2022.
According to John Trainor, Founder and CEO of ONSIDE: “Katie Taylor has an avid fan base of over 680,000 Irish adults that see her as their number 1 Irish sports star. Within that base, she could potentially sell out Croke Park twice over with active supporters that will want to see live, the biggest event in women’s boxing history, if staged in Ireland”.
TV, Radio and Entertainment
Outside of sport, the ONSIDE STAR TRACK 2022 also found that Ryan Tubridy retained his number 1 status as the most admired television or radio personality in Ireland, achieving his highest score in over 10 years at 18%.
Meanwhile Marty Morrissey, Ray D’arcy and John Creedon replaced Graham Norton, Marty Whelan and Ian Dempsey in the Top 10 most admired broadcast personalities.
U2 lead singer Bono, who has just released his autobiography ‘Surrender’, topped Dermot Kennedy and Christy Moore in the research category regarding most admired Irish music and live entertainment stars.
Trainor notes that: “with the largest avid fanbase in the category of almost 370,000 Irish adults, and with 6 in 10 Irish adults in general book readers in Ireland, Bono can expect a strong base of sales for his new book in the Irish market in the run into Christmas”.
Aslan front man Christy Dignam was the biggest mover in the music and live entertainment category in 2022, up 11 places to joint 5th with Hozier.
Trainor concludes: “Not only are the athletes, broadcasters and music talent on our lists familiar and distinctive in their respective fields, but their influence and willingness to speak out on social and environmental issues positions them as model ambassadors and corporate speakers for companies seeking to communicate effectively to consumer and corporate audiences in Ireland in 2023”.
READ NEXT:
- Top Kinahan gangster had ‘escape hatch' in Dublin home 'concealed by hanging carpet’
- Ireland weather: Met Eireann's 'damaging' double yellow warning for Monday as wind and ran to batter country
- Explosive new files claim Irish gang behind murder of couple who vanished without a trace
- Pub claps back at outraged woman's complaint over Sunday dinner saying 'you're barred'
- I'm A Celeb viewers in 'utter disbelief' after campmates shock exit from first trial of series
