The 18th-century nun Nano Nagle was today named Ireland's greatest woman.
Sister Nagle, who died in 1784, was awarded the accolade over a host of well-known figures, including campaigner Christina Noble, former Olympic swimmer Michelle Smith, murdered journalist Veronica Guerin, and former president Mary Robinson.
Listeners on RTÉ Radio's Marian Finucaneshow awarded the title to Cork-born Sr Nagle, who was credited with establishing girl's education in Ireland through the founding of the Presentation Sisters.
Sr Jo Piggott said she nominated Sr Nagle for her extensive achievements and in light of Cork being the European Capital of Culture for 2005. Sr Piggott said the nun, who was born into a wealthy family and educated in France, had a change of heart after viewing the disadvantaged women in Cork.
The phone poll at the radio station had listeners pitch over the past few weeks the reasons why their nominee should be given the accolade of "Ireland's Greatest Woman".
There were over 25,000 votes cast for the nominees for Ireland's Greatest Woman, with 23.5 per cent going to Sr Nagle, 21.4 per cent for former president Mary Robinson and 19.8 per cent for Michelle Smith.
The presenter, who is leaving her mid-morning slot for a weekend radio show, said: "One of the things, presumably why this got so much coverage around the world, was the amount of people that voted for Michelle Smith.
"It really was quite astonishing and it was from all over the country. It was said that Michelle Smith was in disgrace but it would appear that there are an awful lot of people that don't accept that."
The swimmer, who was banned from the sport for four years in 1998 for charges of manipulating a sample, was one of the 10 finalists in the show's competition.
Ms Smith, who won four medals for swimming at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, was nominated by her husband Erik De Bruin for the competition.