Is it true that Bruce Springsteen is Irish?

Everyone seems to be saying that Bruce Springsteen is Irish, but is he really? Or is he just following in the same 'Irish' footsteps as Barack O'Bama?

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So what’s the story with The Boss being Irish? I thought he was born in the U.S.A...

According to the song yes, he was born in the U.S.A., so he’s not actually Irish, but having said that there’s a bit of Irish in everyone. Like with most Americans - take Obama, JFK, Charlie Sheen and Jennifer Lopez, for example - there was a relative of Bruce who originally hailed from Ireland but who left our shores in search of a better life and/or in flight from blight-ridden spuds.

Now, someone has traced those roots to Mullingar and before you can say “Irish Whiskey”, The Boss has been claimed as one of our own. His Irish ancestry can be found in a new book called ‘Land of Hope and Dreams: Celebrating 25 Years if Bruce Springsteen in Ireland’, by Greg Lewis and Moira Sharkey, which traces Springsteen’s roots to his great-great-grandmother who left Westmeath for America in the 1850s.

What age is the Boss? He must be near the pension by now? How come someone didn't trace his roots years ago?

Well, there are a number of reasons as to why someone would have traced those roots to Ireland now. Maybe it has taken them this long for a few birth certs to come to light. Or maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that Bruce is playing a gig over here on July 17. Who knows?

Oh right. So do we know who this great granny was?

Great great granny. She was called Ann Garrity and according to Irish Central, she left Ireland in 1852, five years after the famine devastated much of the country. She settled in the town of Freehold, New Jersey, where Bruce himself was born 60 years ago. Bruce still claims Freehold as his place of residence. But now he can claim to be Mullingar's second greatest musical export too.

Who's Number 1?

You're on this site and you have to ask? Ireland's third famous Joe, after ourselves and Joe "Talk to Joe" Duffy, Joe Dolan, of course.

Right. So I bet Mullingar is hoping to see Bruce pop by for a catch up?

Well if that’s what you’re thinking then you’d be right. Mullingar Town Council and Westmeath County Council have invited the rock and roll star to visit the town next week, reports The Irish Mirror. We wouldn’t be surprised if he did pop by for a look around since family ties are so important to him. How do we know? Well, just listen to his music...

Anything else?

Well yes, actually. His wife Patty actually has roots in Belfast according to the Irish Independent, so all the more reason for him to stick around these parts after his gig in the RDS next week. He can't stay too long, though, as he has a few gigs in Norway to get to by the following weekend.

Norway? Is there anything in that book linking him to some long-forgotten Viking blood?

Quite possibly, sir, quite possibly.