Discovering roots gave me connection to Ireland

Comedian and presenter Paddy McGuinness has stated discovering extra about his Irish ancestors and their hyperlinks to Joe Biden’s forefathers has given him a “real spiritual connection” with the nation.

The Bolton-born star, whose surname is widespread within the Irish diaspora, stated earlier than being requested on to the Daily News’s ancestry present Who Do You Think You Are?, he had at all times felt “ignorant” when visiting on account of lack of awareness about his roots.

He stated one in all his highlights had been discover out his great-great-grandparents lived “on the same street” in Mayo because the US president’s ancestor.

He additionally stated he had came upon about his grandfather’s service in World War Two, which had included a “Spitfire connection”.

The former Top Gear and A Question of Sport presenter traces his roots to the west coast of the Irish Republic within the present, which can be broadcast on 22 August.

While there, he found that his great-grandmother, Bridget McGuinness, had been born within the county to Mark McGuinness and Winifred Molloy, who had been neighbours of Mr Biden’s ancestor Edward Blewitt in Ballina.

During a go to in 2023, Mr Biden visited Mayo and was introduced with a 200-year-old brick recovered from the location of his household’s ancestral house within the city.

The then-Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar informed these gathered in Ballina on the time Mr Biden was “the most Irish of all American presidents”, earlier than the president addressed the gang in entrance of St Muredach’s Cathedral, a constructing Mr Blewitt helped to produce bricks for.

McGuinness stated the present had allowed him to “feel a real spiritual connection” to his Irish ancestry”.

Standing on a Mayo beach, he said it was “completely lovely right here on the west coast of Ireland” and “fairly a romantic thought” that his great-great-grandparents “might have been taking part in on right here as children, strolling up and down right here”.

“It’s simply been one in all them the place there’s so many pretty little surprises,” he stated.

“My grandad on my mum’s facet with the Spitfire connection, my ancestors over right here in Ballina who lived on the identical avenue as Joe Biden’s ancestors.”

However, he stated the “greatest spotlight” had been “really seeing my granddad’s conflict medal”.

“That, for me, was an actual second the place I felt like I used to be holding a bit of historical past in my hand,” he stated.

Who Do You Think You Are? starring Paddy McGuinness will air at 21:00 BST on 22 August on Daily News One.