Celtic tigress: McAleese tops Rowling and queen in powerful women poll

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese has left Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Britain’s Queen trailing in her wake after being named the 21st most powerful woman in the world.

Elizabeth MacDonald, co-author of the Forbes list, said that Mary McAleese’s success was borne out of Ireland’s economic boom.

“She is the first native of Northern Ireland to hold the position and has been hailed the People’s President,” she said.

There are the only four Britons to make the top 100 and all trail President McAleese.

Top of the pile for a second year running is US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who became the first African American to take the post in January this year.

She is closely followed by Yi Wu, China’s vice-premier and minister of health, known as the country’s Iron Lady.

Yulia Tymoshenko, the Ukrainian prime minister occupies third position.

To compile the list, the magazine looked at public visibility, measured by press exposure, and economic impact.

The remainder of the top 10 were Gloria Arroyo, President of the Philippines, at number four, Margaret Whitman, chief executive of eBay, at five, Anne Mulcahy, chief executive of Xerox, Sallie Krawcheck, chief financial officer of Citigroup, Brenda Barnes, chief executive of Sara Lee, Oprah Winfrey, US chat show host and chairman of Harpo, and Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Rowling meanwhile has replaced Cherie Blair as Britain’s most powerful woman.

Rowling, whose fantasy children’s tales have transformed the once struggling single mother into a billionairess, came in at 40th place, up from 85th position last year.

Rose Marie Bravo, chief executive of Burberry, is 63rd while the Queen is the fourth Briton, trailing behind in a humble 75th place.