Number 1.

Sergeant Forge - Halo Wars

So here we are at the top of the pile and I have a small problem. I don’t have another Irish game character I can mention. I considered anthropomorphic canine Fox McCloud from Star Fox and Super Smash Bros Brawl, but there seems to be some contention as to whether or not Fox is Irish or Scottish. Henry, the grey suited assassin in No More Heroes is Irish, but journalistic integrity forbids me discussing with any authority a game I haven’t played. I briefly considered using Tekken's Anna Williams but as I’d mentioned her all ready that didn’t feel right either.

Then I remembered Sergeant John Forge, the hero of Halo Wars. He displays a number of personality traits that have me convinced the man is Irish, despite the fact there is no profile information about his genealogy available.

So I did the only rational thing a man with too much time on his hands would do and contacted Graeme Devine, the Lead Designer for Halo Wars. Within an hour Mr. Devine had very kindly emailed me back. Unfortunately Graeme revealed they'd never gone as far as characters family pasts, but he did say this:

"I could go for Forge having Irish roots.  If I had to make up a quick family tree I would say he can trace his direct family tree back to Ellis Island and then onto a military career in the US Army and WW2."

Well damn that's good enough for me! So here’s my evidence of his (suspected) Irish heritage, beware though, there are some big ass spoilers for the plot of Halo Wars plot ahead:

He punches superior officers: the Irish are not famous for respecting authority or for considering the long term implications of a quick bit of violence, we’re not good forward thinkers.

He’s gallant: the aforementioned officer punching was due to said officer hassling a woman; likewise when Anders is kidnapped Forge is single minded in rescuing her.

Without hesitating Forge lays into the Arbiter, an opponent bigger, faster and stronger than he is, the Irish have been doing this all through history, we like punching above our weight category.

He fights dirty: also we like to win and are pretty unscrupulous about the odds. Don't play poker with me, I cheat. Forge likewise has an Ace of Clubs on his shoulder.

He named his combat knife ‘Lucy’ and if you’ve ever met an Irish girl you’d know giving a killing object a girls name is something an Irish man would think of.

He’s a bravado and a braggart but he backs it up with integrity. That’s right, as friends we might be mouthy pains in the ass, but when you get in trouble we jump right in there.

And the biggest evidence that Forge is Irish (and the biggest SPOILER so read ahead at your peril), at the games conclusion Forge is all too willing to sacrifice himself to save everyone else. If the Irish love anything more than thick bitter beer it’s becoming a martyr, we’re crazy for it.

Becoming a martyr pushes Forge straight up to the full five shamrocks. You don’t get more Irish than that.