Millions of people in Britain today have Irish ancestry. From emigrants escaping the Great Famine to well into the 20th century, the Irish have come to Britain in search of a better life.
When celebrities trace their family history on Who Do You Think You Are?, they often discover an Irish connection. Some already knew about it, and for some it was a surprise. Here are five of the best Irish-themed episodes of Who Do You Think You Are?
1. Brendan O'Carroll
Brendan O’Carroll is best known as the creator of the hit comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys, but on Who Do You Think You Are?, he uncovered a dark tale in his family history, trying to solve the mystery of the 1920 murder of his grandfather Peter O’Carroll in Dublin. He discovered that Peter was murdered by a British paramilitary during the Irish War of Independence because of his family’s involvement with the Irish Republican Army. “We’re beyond justice I think, at this stage,” he reflected, “but at least we got the truth.”
2. Aisling Bea
Actor and comedian Aisling Bea discovered her family history is deeply entwined with Irish history. Her 3x great grandmother Martha Sheehy saw her husband killed by rioting farm labourers in 1841 and profited during the Great Famine by buying up people’s land when they were evicted. Her great grandfather Pádraig O’Briain was an activist for Irish independence who fought in the Irish Volunteers and was involved in the failed 1916 Easter Rising.
3. Boy George
On Who Do You Think You Are?, Culture Club singer Boy George found out that his grandmother Bridget spent her childhood in a notoriously cruel convent school in Dublin. He also found that his great aunt was married to Thomas Bryan, considered a hero of the Irish independence movement, who was executed by the British in 1921.
4. Emma Willis
Big Brother presenter Emma Willis found out that her 5x great grandfather Richard Fowler was an Irish Protestant and Loyalist who was involved in the 1797 murder of a Catholic father and son, a discovery that she said made her feel “quite sick”. However, she was also proud to discover that another Irish ancestor, Michael Kirwan, was a celebrated stonecutter and marble mason considered “an Irish genius”.
5. Julie Walters
Acclaimed actor Julie Walters’ mother Mary O’Brien emigrated from Ireland to Britain in 1938. Tracing her family history, Julie discovered that two of her great grandparents in County Mayo were involved in the Land League, a 19th-century movement for Irish land reform.
