The Daily Shift’s Megan Ecock takes a look at the news released by Tourism Ireland today…
Tourism Ireland have unveiled details of Royal bride and mother-to-be Kate Middleton’s Irish family connections, just days before St Patrick’s Day.
At an event in London’s House of Commons yesterday, which was attended by British Prime Minister David Cameron and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, it was revealed the Duchess of Cambridge’s Irish roots connections through the Lupton family from Yorkshire with the Fitzmaurices, a noble family from Co. Kerry. The Fitzmaurices, in turn, have family ties with Brian Ború, the first High King of Ireland.
The wife of Prince William is also said to be ‘almost certainly’ related to Edward III through his links to William Fairfax, a 16th Century nobleman. This revelation coincides with Tourism Ireland’s efforts of encouraging the Irish diaspora and people with a connection to the Emerald Isle to visit the country this year as part of 2013’s Ireland’s Family History Year.
Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said
“From Brian Ború to the Earls of Kerry, to the Duchess of Cambridge, there is a whole world of heritage and ancestry to discover. The history, culture and family links between Ireland and Great Britain stretch back generations. With one in six British people claiming an Irish grandparent, we are encouraging them to visit the island of Ireland [this year], to learn more about their heritage. Hundreds of clan gatherings, as well as genealogy and local history events are planned in Ireland this year, as part of The Gathering Ireland 2013. Our message to the Irish diaspora in Great Britain, and throughout the world, is that there has never been a better year to visit Ireland.”
Speaking at yesterday’s event, Gibbons kicked off a week-long programme of St Patrick’s Day celebrations in London and elsewhere around the globe.
Tourism Ireland’s ‘green machine’ of publicity will span Great Britain, mainland Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, as well as emerging tourism markets such as China and South Africa.
