St Patrick’s Day: 7 Celebrities You Don’t Know Have Irish Heritage

St Patrick’s Day, a cultural holiday, is celebrated annually on March 17, marking the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

We are all very much aware of the Irish diaspora around the world, but are you aware of the fact that many famous people and Hollywood stars have Irish roots? Take a look.

Robert DeNiro

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, De Niro’s Irish ancestry comes from his father, Robert DeNiro Sr, whose mother Helen O’Reilly was Irish,

Tom Cruise

Hollywood legend Tom Cruise’s Irish roots date back over 800 years. The Cruise family came to Ireland during the twelfth century.

Johnny Depp

Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is connected to Ireland through his mother’s side, Betty Sue Palmer. More details about his ancestors have yet to be discovered.

Anne Hathaway

The Academy-winning star’s father, Gerald Thomas Hathaway, and mother, Kate McCauley, both have Irish roots that connect Anna to two Irish counties: Donegal and Cork.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey never shies away from talking about her Irish roots. Carey’s mother, Patricia Hickey, comes from an Irish-American background, whose ancestors lived in the small, green country.

Barrack Obama

Did you know the 44th President of the United States had an Irish connection, which comes from his mother’s side, and connects him to the village of Moneygall in County Offaly, Ireland?

Meryl Streep

The legendary actress Meryl Streep is connected to Ireland through her maternal great-great-grandparents, Manus McFadden and Grace Strain, who lived in the Horn Head district of Dunfanaghy before emigrating to Pennsylvania in the 18th century.