I Googled myself this morning. Not, you understand, to see what people are saying about me, if anything. I just wanted to find the reference to a paper I published a couple of years ago.
The results were fascinating. I have a fairly rare name, other than in Ireland. But it seems that all the other people with my name are high achievers in their chosen fields.
They are:
A recently murdered gangster in Dublin who had 'people queuing up to kill him'.
2 doctors
1 Professor of Nuclear Physics.
1 professional soccer coach (albeit in the US).
1 Special Effects designer.
There's also an eponymous verse novel about an Irish pornographer, by Anthony Burgess. Not his best, to be honest.
Note to self: must do some work.
What are your namesakes up to?
7 comments:
There is ONE other Graham Quirk. He is a councillor and (i think) ex-mayor of Brisbane. I was expecting a few Irish namesakes but whilst Quirk is not uncommon in Ireland, Graham is. It's quite scary actually because when you google my name, the first 2 pages are mostly links to me. If I were to warrant a stalker (I can't see a reason for anyone having the inclination) they could find most of my personal details within a few clicks.
There's a reason why there aren't many Graham Quirks in Ireland: Graham's more of a Scots-Irish protestant name, while Quirk is Irish-Irish - I know it doesn't work like this in the UK, but over there, especially in the North, Protestant first names are predominantly Scottish.
aah yes, good point. My Dad is Irish so maybe it was my Mom who put her foot down on my first name. My Dad wanted me to be called Joseph which ended up as my second name. Still, at least it's fairly original.
Your Google results are far more interesting though.
It would appear I am an actress and a make-up artist!
Someone famous shares my name (looks smug)
Oh, it was a woman. (closes door quietly behind him)
Excellent finds. Keep looking! Ewar - yes, one of the greatest actors of her day. Though of course that wasn't her birth name - until relatively recently, women were known in public by their husbands' first names as well.
Excellent finds. Keep looking! Ewar - yes, one of the greatest actors of her day. Though of course that wasn't her birth name - until relatively recently, women were known in public by their husbands' first names as well.
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