We’re all very proud to be Irish.
In fact, everyone in the world seems to want to be Irish.
And we’ll allow some blow-ins – Ed Sheeran, Matt Damon, Garth Brooks.
Now we have another celebrity whose roots can be traced back to Ireland. And that is the one and only Taylor Swift.
She is set to jet into Dublin next week for her three sold out shows in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
So of course the whole country has gone into Swiftie mode.
And EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, with their genealogy partners The Irish Family History Centre, have taken a look at Taylor’s family tree.
In 1836, aboard the ship AMY from Derry, 21-year-old dressmaker Susan Davis and 21-year-old weaver Francis Gwynn embarked on a journey to America, beginning a love story that spanned generations.
After their two-month journey from Ireland to America, they settled in Philadelphia and three years later they married each other.
Together they raised six children, Ann, John, William, Francis, Joseph, and Mary.
Although sadly, five of those children predeceased Susan and Francis, they were survived by daughter Mary Gwynn, who is Taylor Swift’s great-great-grandmother. Mary laid the loving couple to rest, a mere two months apart.
Aileesh Carew, CEO of EPIC, commented: “In tracing Taylor Swift’s roots back to 1836, EPIC exemplifies its vital role in preserving the rich tapestry of our past, ensuring that each individual thread contributes to the vibrant narrative of our collective history.
“As audiences prepare to witness Taylor’s performances in Ireland, we invite visitors to visit and experience the moving and unforgettable stories of those who left the island of Ireland, and how they influenced and shaped the world.”
