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| Bruce Springsteen (@Matthew Orel) |
Bruce Springsteen’s Irish roots traced before his upcoming Dublin concert
Westmeath town lays claim to ‘The Boss’ as he prepares for Dublin gig
Bruce Springsteen is being invited to the Midlands town of Mullingar after a new book traces his Irish roots to that area. The rocker is playing Dublin on July 17th.
The book Land of Hopes and Dreams by Greg Lewis and Moira Sharkey traces Springsteen’s roots to his great great grandmother Ann Garrity who left Westmeath for America in the 1850s.
Lewis and Sharkey discovered that Springsteen has Irish roots through his paternal grandmother Martha O’Hagan. She married Springsteen’s grandfather, Anthony Springsteen, who was of Dutch ancestry, in 1899.
And it turns out that Martha’s grandmother, Ann Garrity, hailed from County Westmeath.
In fact, Springsteen’s great-great-granny hails from Mullingar, the very same town as the late, lamented Joe Dolan.
Garrity left Ireland in 1852, five years after the famine devastated much of Ireland.
She settled in the town of Freehold, New Jersey, where Bruce himself was born 60 years ago.
Springsteen requested a signed copy of the book when it came out.
Mullingar Town Council and Westmeath County Council have now invited “The Boss” to visit his Irish roots.
A spokesperson told the Irish Mirror paper:
“I was delighted to hear Bruce Springsteen has roots here. I look forward to welcoming him to his ancestral home.”
The book’s co-author Greg Lewis told the paper:
“Family and roots are something that are important to Bruce and you can see it in the music.”
“His wife Patty actually has roots in Belfast as well so there is a big connection with both of them.”
The book’s other author Moira Sharkey also revealed that the Boss had ordered a copy of the book for himself.
“Bruce has not been back in Ireland since the book came out. So we were delighted when he ordered a copy and also signed one for us.”
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James O’Shea wrote more about Springsteen’s Irish ancestors last year; read about them here!
