Top ten Irish Americans of 2014 - who were the big winners?

It is almost coming to the close of 2014 and the annual lists are begin drawn up.

Here’s our Top Ten Irish Americans for 2014.

John O’Keefe:

Nobel Prize winner in medicine, John O’Keefe is a proud son of the South Bronx and has roots in Cork. His work on the brain’s GPS system may help cure Alzheimer’s disease.

Samantha Power:

The Irish-born US Ambassador to the UN has been central in major developments including the battle against Ebola and the American humanitarian response.

Stephen Colbert:

Taking over from David Letterman in 2015 was huge news in the entertainment business. The proud Irish American has big shoes to fill.

Maureen O’Hara:

Maureen O’Hara’s honorary Oscar was the culmination of a lifelong dream for the Irish actress forever installed as Irish America’s sweetheart.

Jimmy Fallon:

Jimmy Fallon taking over from Jay Leno was a deserved accolade for the Irish American talk show host who has made the show his own.

Mitch McConnell:

Mitch Mcconnell taking over Senate leadership was a lifelong ambition for the Scots Irish Kentuckian who was honored by the Ireland Fund in 2007.

Liam Neeson:

Liam Neeson for continued smash-box office hits and recreating a new leading man persona after enduring great personal tragedy.

Vice President Joe Biden:

Vice President Joe Biden will be even more important as Obama’s emissary to the senate under GOP control. Still in the frame for 2016 if Hillary does not run.

Paul Ryan:

Paul Ryan, mastermind behind the GOP budget strategy that proved so successful in the election. He is still a likely frontrunner for 2016.

Maureen Dowd:

Maureen Dowd most influential journalist in The New York Times will now also be writing for the NYT magazine in 2015. Watch out!