Roots Archive
Roots: Reynolds and Haughey
This month we are featuring the families of our new Taoiseach [Prime Minister] Albert Reynolds,…
Roots: Unusual Irish Names
My recent article on “That’s Not an Irish Name” has prompted a lot of comment…
Roots: That’s Not an Irish Name!
Names such as Kelly, Murphy, O’Brien and Ryan are distinctively Irish and are widely known…
More Articles
How Name Changing Hid a Heritage
Barry Manilow. Yes, I know, most think of him as a Jewish fellow from Brooklyn – and he is. But he’s also a quarter Irish, and due to certain circumstances […]
Meg Ryan’s Irish Heritage
She’s going back to her acting roots, so I took a dive into her ancestral ones. It’s been a while, but Meg Ryan, America’s rom-com queen, anointed through her memorable […]
Manx, Music, Military, Moxie, and a Bit Irish
Roots detective Megan Smolenyak researches Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham’s roots What can’t Hannah Waddingham do? I’m late to the party discovering her talents in her portrayal of team owner, […]
Roots: The “Mul” Names
A large range of Irish names begin with the prefix “Mul.” Examples include Mulcahy, Mulvihill, Mullally, and Mullan. These names have no familiar connections, but like the names beginning with […]
The Undisgraced Ryans
Given its status as one of the ten most numerous surnames in Ireland, the name Ryan is recognizable to most people as a telltale indicator of green in the veins. […]
Irish Roots: The Kennedys
The name Kennedy or O’Kennedy is derived from the Gaelic O’Cinneide, which is itself derived from the original Gaelic form Cean Eidig meaning “rough head.” This was the name by […]