Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! What better way to celebrate a truly Irish holiday like this than by taking a look at some of Irland’s most famous superheroes, supervillains, vigilantes and mutants that many might not even be aware exist.
With the rise of comic books and comic book characters in popular media, it’s sometimes hard to remember all the fantastic characters and stories outside of the big names. The characters listed here might not be household names, but that doesn’t mean they should be dismissed. There are some great stories to be experienced, thanks to them.
Saint Patrick’s Day Comics
So without further ado, here are seven Irish comic book characters you should know about this Saint Patrick’s Day:
Sean Cassidy A.K.A Banshee
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First appearance: The X-Men #28
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Affiliations: Horsemen of Death; X-Corps; Generation X; X-Men; Factor Three; NYPD; Interpol
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Species: Human Mutant
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Powers and Abilities: Enhanced hearing; Flight; Sonic Scream
Sean Cassidy is undoubtedly Ireland’s most famous mutant. Going by Banshee, Sean is a longtime friend and ally to the X-Men thanks to his unbelievably powerful “sonic screams,” which allow him the ability to fly and attack opponents using only his voice. Before meeting the X-Men, though, Sean was discovered by Changeling, who invited Sean to join Factor Three. However, when Sean discovers the true goal of Factor Three, he declines, but they soon capture him and, after placing a headband of explosives on him, forcing Sean to join them and obey their every command.
While on a mission to New York, Sean, now going under his codename Banshee, has his first run-in with the X-Men, and after Professor X uses his telepathy to disarm the headband, Sean joins forces with them and helps the X-Men destroy Factor Three for good.
Siobhan McDougal A.k.A. Silver Banshee
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Aliases: Siobhan Smythe
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First appearance: Action Comics #595
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Affiliations: The Society
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Species: Human Mutant
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Powers and Abilities: Supersonic speed, screams, screeches; Superhuman durability, hearing, strength; Sound manipulation and generation
A list like this wouldn’t be complete without at least one true supervillain, and The Silver Banshee is just that. Siobhan McDougal was the first child born into an old Gaelic clan that occupied an island midway between Scotland and Ireland for a thousand generations. When Siobhan’s father died, her uncle decided that he would allow no woman to lead their clan. Instead, her younger brother Bevan would become the new leader.
In order to lead the clan, there is a ritual that has to take place, and after learning about her brother and uncle’s betrayal, Siobhan decides to go forward with the sacred ritual on her own. However, while in the middle of calling upon supernatural forces, Siobhan is interrupted by her brother. This distraction proves to be disastrous when Siobhan finds herself pulled against her will into the infernal netherworld.
While trapped in the netherworld, an entity known only as “The Crone” offers Siobhan the power she desires and the ability to return to Earth, but in return, demands payment in the form of an occult book previously owned by Siobhan’s father. Back on Earth as the Silver Banshee, Siobhan goes looking for the book and kills anyone who stands in her way.
Matthew Michael Murdock A.K.A. Daredevil
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First appearance: Daredevil #1
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Affiliations: Defenders; New Avengers; S.H.I.E.L.D.; Marvel Knights; The Chaste; The Hand
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Partnerships: Fantastic Four and Scarlet Witch
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Species: Human Mutant
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Powers and Abilities: Echolocative sense; Superhuman senses; Skilled martial artist, acrobat and stick fighter
While not from Ireland, Daredevil’s undeniably Irish roots were enough to land him on this list. Matt Murdock is a Catholic Irish-American who grew up in New York City with a gambling alcoholic boxer for a father. After being blinded as a child when a radioactive substance fell onto him, Matt develops “radar senses” far beyond any normal human ability. When Matt’s father is murdered because he refused to throw a boxing match for money, Matt’s deep and ever-present Catholic guilt over his father’s death pushes him to become a vigilante.
After graduating from law school, Matt and his best friend start-up their law firm, Nelson & Murdock, which Matt puts his energy into during the day and then at night, donned in a costume modelled after a devil, Matt goes as Daredevil and takes to the criminal underworld of New York City as a masked vigilante.
Molly Fitzgerald A.K.A. Shamrock
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First appearance: Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1
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Affiliations: S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Species: Human Mystic Mutant
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Powers and Abilities: Probability Manipulation
If you ask anyone to mention an Irish superhero, they’re probably going to bring up Shamrock. Shamrock truly is one of the most stereotypical Irish superheroes around. Dressed all in green with a Shamrock on her chest, Molly Fitzgerald is a superhero with the “luck of the Irish”. She has the power to manipulate any and all probabilities in her favour thanks to acting as a vessel for souls who have died as innocent victims of war.
These souls can manifest themselves in split seconds, allowing for odds to be turned in Molly’s favour while also bringing bad luck to any she opposes. Shamrock has appeared throughout many different comics throughout the years, but as of her 2010 reboot, she can be found running a superhero salon.
Proinsias Cassidy A.K.A Cassidy
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Aliases: Little Tom
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First appearance: Preacher #1
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Species: Vampire
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Powers and Abilities: Vampirism
One of the most enduring characters in the Preacher comics was fan-favourite Proinsias Cassidy. Cassidy is an Irish vampire known for his hard-drinking and drug-abusing ways. After arriving in the United States with a trail of bodies behind him, Cassidy meets Jesse and Tulip, and they soon become good friends. However, when Cassidy finds himself falling in love with Tulip, it starts to have disastrous consequences for all involved and relationships soon sour.
For anyone who has yet to read the Preacher comics, I won’t go into any spoilers, but I will say that Cassidy had a genuinely heartbreaking redemption arc, and it’s no wonder he has such a cult fan following.
Eric O’Grady A.K.A. Ant-Man
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Aliases: Slaying Mantis; Derek Sullivan; G.I. Ant-Man
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First appearance: The Irredeemable Ant-Man #1
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Affiliations: Damage Control; Initiative; Secret Avengers; Shadow Initiative; S.H.I.E.L.D. Thunderbolts
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Species: Human
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Powers and Abilities: When wearing the Ant-Man suit: Size manipulation; Insect communication; Flight; Flame projection
If you’re looking for a character to hate-read about, then Eric O’Grady, a man of absolutely no morals, is your guy. As you can probably tell from his name alone, Eric is Irish and worked as a low-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. One day while Eric was at the S.H.I.E.L.D. offices Wolverine attacked, and Eric was ordered to guard Hank Pym and the Ant-Man suit while the threat was being neutralized. When Hank refuses to stay put, a panicked Eric knocks him unconscious, and during the confusion, Eric’s friend and roommate takes the Ant-Man suit.
A while later, Eric’s friend is killed by a HYDRA agent, and Eric then takes the opportunity to steal the Ant-Man suit off of his friend’s dead body and instead of returning it to S.H.I.E.L.D. instead chooses to keep it for himself, using the suit to steal and stalk/spy on women.
Thomas Monaghan A.K.A. Hitman
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First appearance: The Demon Annual #2
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Affiliations: Justice League; United States Marine Corps
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Species: Human Mutant
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Powers and Abilities: Telepathy; X-Ray vision; Capable hand-to-hand combatant and highly skilled at all types of firearms
Hitman or Thomas “Tommy” Monaghan is an Irish anti-hero. Tommy was an ex-Marine and Gulf War veteran who turned into a contract killer after being attacked and bitten by a Bloodlines parasite called Glonth. However, instead of dying from the bite, it unexpectedly triggered Tommy’s metagene and granted him x-ray vision along with telepathy.
Now capable of reading minds as well as seeing through objects, Tommy took on the moniker of Hitman and started operating out of the Cauldron, the Irish district of Gotham City as a contract killer. Tommy specialized in killing metahumans and supernatural threats that regular contract killers usually avoided due to their dangerous nature.
This is by no means a totally comprehensive list of all of the amazing Irish characters throughout comic books and comic book history but it is seven of our personal favourites. If we missed one of your favourites, let us know in the comments below and let’s make today all about those characters.
If this list inspired you to expand your comic book knowledge or even just revisit an old favourite, then remember to head over to Critters and Comics and join me in comic book addiction this Saint Patrick’s Day.