1. Jean Byrne (40s)

It's easy to be a 'quirky weather person', but RTé's Lady Gaga of meteorology manages to bring an irreverence to the weather report without resorting to Martin King-style chumminess. Inspired a Facebook group two Christmases ago after she wore a bizarre silver outfit. It's now a nightly sport guessing what she'll wear next.

2. Sinead O'Connor (44)

O'Connor as a true artist has persevered through the decades, exploring her creativity with a voice that sounds as heartbreakingly awesome as ever. This country owes her several apologies for disregarding her views on the Catholic church, all of which now seem perfectly valid.

3. Marian Keyes (47)

Keyes is one of the most successful Irish novelists of all time, but addiction and depression have shadowed her success. Thankfully, she isn't afraid to tell it like it is, refusing to gloss over her problems with PR spin, and instead opens up to her readers with bravery and honesty.

4. Maura Derrane (39)

Derrane is irreverent and upbeat, with a permanent glint in her eye. She has long-hauled it too, traversing three networks (TV3, TG4 and RTé). She's currently the queen of daytime TV on RTé's Four Live.

5. Anne Doyle (58)

Doyler is nothing short of an icon at this stage. But her straightlaced news delivery is at odds with her fun-loving attitude and penchant for a night out (most often, it seems, at McGrattan's off Baggot Street in Dublin). You can add her killer crop and wicked sense of humour to her list of amazingness.

6. Maria Doyle Kennedy (46)

She's enjoyed a sort of steady success, yet has never reached the Irish celeb a-list, and is all the cooler for that. Her latest role will garner her one of her biggest audiences, as an Irish nanny in Dexter. Then there are the tunes – and you have to admire a lady who released a single called 'Fuckability'.

7. Sharon Horgan (40)

Ireland has a long history of hilarious women, and Horgan is adding to that lineage with a string of writing, acting and stand-up credits for the BBC along with an occasional column in the Guardian. We're kind of jealous of her high-achieving family, what with Shane Horgan as her older bro.

8. Gemma Hussey (72)

She breaks the stereotype of retired politician who retreats to their suburban pile to mull over their memoirs. Hussey, author, feminist, ultimate non-conformist, has been promoting women's involvement in democracy around Europe since she quit party politics, and isn't afraid to tweet opinions either.

9. Orla Brady (49)

Dubliner Brady is a stalwart of TV series Shark, Mistresses, Proof and The Deep. Random fact No 1: she provided the voice for one of the actors in an Indiana Jones video game. Random fact No 2: she was the model for the lady in red in the 'Singing Butler' painting, the most popular art image in Britain. How's that for a life in anecdotes?

10. Collete Fizpatrick (36)

The hardest-working woman in TV3 also doubles as an Evening Herald columnist, illustrating that her skills don't solely lie in broadcast media. Composed, friendly and devoid of pretentions, she displays a sharpness and likeability that many female broadcasters would do well to take note of.