Profiles by Shane Hegarty
Gráinne Hassett architect
The 35-year-old was recently awarded the first Kevin Kieran Bursary for Architecture. Comprising a €50,000 research bursary and a building commission offered by the OPW, she will study emerging building methods and components, and the impact they will have on the art of architecture. As one half of Hassett Ducatez Architects, she has picked up several awards over the past decade, was shortlisted for the 2001 Young British Architect of the Year, and the firm has recently been commissioned to design an urban space in Dublin's north inner city. It is her ability to mix the elements of design with the practicalities of construction, however, which mark her out from the pack.
Lisa Burke scientist
The Sky News weather girl may not quite be at the cutting edge of scientific progress, but the 25-year-old from Co Laois is believed to have piqued the interest of the BBC, which is apparently keen for her to become the new face of its science programmes. Resident in the UK since the age of 10, Burke is a bona fide scientist thanks to a first class Masters degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, where she also won two prizes and a scholarship. She postponed her PhD for her present job, which she says suits her thanks to its mix of "personality and science". That may be music to the BBC's ears.
John Deasy politician
In a party still in crisis, John Deasy is proving one of Fine Gael's more able performers. Newly elected to the Dáil last May, the 35-year-old Waterford TD was appointed the party's spokeman for Justice, Equality and Law Reform but has made his name as much for having a go at his own party as criticising the Government - most notably over Fine Gael's stance on Dessie O'Hare. He has criticised fellow TDs for their reliance on prepared scripts in the Dáil and has highlighted the snail's pace at which Bills pass through. Aggressive and forthright, where some would have wilted at being thrown into the spotlight at the beginning of a political career, he seems only to revel in it, important qualities given the continuing state of his party.
David Norris chef
Having brought award after award to The Mustard Seed in Ballingarry, Co Limerick, during his time as head chef there, Norris went out on his own, opening Restaurant David Norris in Tralee, Co Kerry, in December 2000. Since then, he has established the venue as the town's first landmark restaurant. Consistently excellent, using organic whenever possible, its pastas and bread made in-house, the restaurant has established itself as a culinary highlight of any visit to the Kingdom, and he as one of the country's best chefs.
Seamus McGarvey cinematographer
You may not have heard of Seamus McGarvey, but it's increasingly likely that you've seen his work. The cinematographer doesn't get too much of the glory, but it's his job to crystallise the look of a movie, and the 35-year-old is developing into one of the industry's finest. His biggest movies to date have been the comedy High Fidelity and the thriller Enigma, but this year could see him move up a notch if he secures an expected Oscar nomination for his work on the Virginia Wolfe biopic, The Hours.
While McGarvey's name may not be known to many outside the industry, by the end of 2003 he could be one of Hollywood's best-known Irishmen.
Suki & Nic designers
Known to their parents as Suki Stewart (25) and Nicola McCutcheon (29), the clothes designers spent 2002 expanding their reach in Ireland, and looking to the UK market. They design clothes that they would want to wear themselves, they say, which means original, bright, well-cut, borderline bohemian and accessible. Their second collection - encompassing the full range from T-shirts to jackets, menswear and womenswear - enhanced their growing reputation as rising stars of mid-market chic. In a tough market for indigenous designers, they have established themselves in shops across Ireland, and 2003 will see them advance on London, where they are tipped to make an impact.
Paul Tierney footballer
The Salford-born 20-year-old pushed himself on to the Manchester United bench earlier this season. Since then, he has been loaned out to second division Crewe Alexandra where he has established himself as the regular left-back and has now been signed until the end of the season. After that it's likely that United manager Alex Ferguson may send him on further loan spells as an exercise in toughening him up. However, both United and the Republic of Ireland are currently examining their options at left-back, and given that Ferguson has marked him as a player of great potential - and having already represented the Republic of Ireland at under-21 level - Tierney may be the one to capitalise.
Roamal Perera businessman
2003 will be a big year for the 3G mobile phone, meaning a big year for Roamal Perera. You may not recognise his name, but it's increasingly likely that you'll be making use of the technology he is behind. His company, Network365, develops software for mobile phone transactions and payments and last year won a contract with mobile phone giants Hutchinson 3G which will see the technology introduced in phones across the world. The Sri Lankan - who has lived in Ireland for the past decade - is already hugely successful having sold his software company Isocor for a reputed $280m in 1999, and he was one of 40 technology analysts invited to the World Economic Forum.
Leanne O'Sullivan poet
The 19-year-old from Beara, west Cork is already proving a poet of some maturity. She was winner of the Secondary School category of the Seacat National Poetry Competition in 2001, ahead of 600 entered poems. She followed that by winning last year's national Poetry Slam organised by RTÉ Radio One's Rattlebag. Her subjects are obvious ones of adolescence, school, parents and love, but her poems are intelligent, lyrical and wholly accessible. Her reputation is growing outside Ireland too, and earlier this year she was invited to read at the Taos Institute in New Mexico.
Newton Emerson satirist
The pen behind the excellent Northern Ireland satirical website, PortadownNews.com, Emerson became something of a censorship cause célèbre when Freeserve refused to host his site on the basis that it might cause "offence and anxiety". He attracted the ire of campaigners determined to shut down the site, and was forced to resign his day job. Portadown News survived, and now the 33-year-old who describes himself as a "liberal unionist" has a column in the Irish News and is an irregular guest on TV3's Agenda. He is developing a reputation as a sharp, humorous - and fearless - commentator on the absurdities of the Northern conflict.