10 MASSIVE Celebrities With Irish Roots

For such a small island country, Ireland has surely cross-pollinated the planet.

After the Great Irish Famine, which spread like wildfire between 1845 and 1849, there was mass emigration from Ireland. This resulted in Irish blood seeping through new lands and down into generations and generations of those who can now say they proudly share our Irish heritage.

These ten massive celebrities with Irish Roots rack up to be Ireland’s biggest claims to fame. You’d have never of guessed them!

10. Kurt Cobain

Frontman and lead singer of Nirvana had Irish roots. Today he is still considered one of the most influential musicians of all time, shaping the sound of alternative rock.

Tragically the musician died at the tender age of 27, having committed suicide. Kurt Cobain hailed from descendants of County Cork, Ireland.

9. Grace Kelly

This Hollywood starlet has roots linking her family heritage back to County Mayo. She notably became the Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III in 1956. She’s remembered for roles in films such as Mogambo (1953), The Country Girl (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955), in which she starred alongside Cary Grant.

8. Robert DeNiro

It may come as a surprise, but the original taxi driver (from the eponymous film), Robert DeNiro, actually traces his heritage back to Ireland. The American actor, producer and director has an impressive portfolio spanning decades in Hollywood. He’s also earned himself a list of accolades including two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

7. Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel is an actress, model and singer-songwriter who shot to fame with leading roles including Elf (2003) and 500 Days of Summer (2009). Although the American beauty hails from California, it is true she too shares in Irish ancestry from her mother’s side of the family.

6. Tom Cruise

Hollywood legend Tom Cruise happens to share in Irish heritage, too. Back in 2013, the megastar touched down on the Emerald Isle in a bid to discover his Irish roots. What he found was that he is the great-great-great grandson of Patrick Russell Cruise and Teresa Johnson who married in Warrenstown House, County Meath in 1825.

Cruise is as A-list as they come and said that his link to the Irish people was “a great honour for him and his family.” He is best known for his roles in Risky Business (1983), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), War of the Worlds (2005) and the Mission: Impossible franchise, amongst many many others.

5. Barrack Obama

Amongst these celebrities with Irish roots is also Barrack Obama. Yes, the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 is Irish, little did you know! In fact, his Irish ancestry goes all the way back to 1850, when “Falmouth Kearney, the 19-year-old son of a local shoemaker, left Moneygall to begin a new life in the United States.”

The Former President visited the small community of Moneygall and his ancestral home in Country Offaly during his time in office, where his eighth cousin, Henry Healy greeted him!

4. Anne Hathaway

This Academy Award-winning starlet traces her roots back to two Irish counties: Donegal and Cork. And, even with her Oscar-winning status, Hathaway claims to keep in touch with relatives, such as cousin Noel, back on the Emerald Isle.

She has expressed intentions of relocating to somewhere in Ireland – the only downside is the weather, she says! She’s recognised for her roles in films such as Brokeback Mountain (2005), The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).

3. Johnny Depp

Depp’s Irish roots come from his mother, Betty Sue Palmer. Although he has never shared full details of his line of ancestry to the press, it is something he has revealed he would be interested in exploring, himself.

Depp is famed for his roles in productions such as Edward Scissorhands (1990), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Rango (2011).

2. Meryl Streep

This mega Hollywood A-lister traces her roots back to Dunfanaghy in County Donegal. Her “great-great-grandparents were Manus McFadden born ca. 1831 and Grace Strain born ca. 1842, natives of Hook Head” in the northern region.

Meryl Streep has been nominated 389 times, won 156 awards for her craft, and been a runner-up 17 times.

1. Will Ferrell

Rounding up this list of celebrities with Irish roots is the world-renowned funnyman Will Ferrell. Having made numerous trips to Ireland to trace his genealogy, he has pinpointed his heritage to County Longford. In fact, his surname Ferrell is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name O Fearghail.

This Hollywood gem has too many films to list, but top shout-outs go to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Elf (2003) and Old School (2003).