I wrote a few days ago (at: https://eogn.com/page-18080/13391849) about Tim Walz’s ancestry from Luxembourg. Now, as more amore genealogists research his heritage, they are finding more information about more ancestors from more countries. He is the latest American politician to have his roots traced back to Ireland – but where exactly his ancestors are from is a matter for debate.
The 41st governor of Minnesota’s relatives are said to have hailed from County Wexford. American genealogist Megan Smolenyak, who has been tracking politicians’ roots since Barack Obama first ran for president in 2008, believes his ancestors are from Ferns in the county. However, local genealogists are suggesting it is Kilmore which is about 52km down the road.
Ms Smolenyak told BBC News NI that Mr Walz was “about 1/8th Irish”, pointing out that his ancestors moved to Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska.
She said, according to records, Mr Walz’s great-grandmother was called Laura Ellen Sullivan. “A surname like Sullivan is a clear sign that you have Irish ancestry,” she said. “I started working backwards then following the trail from there. “His ancestor’s name was Sullivan. I found James Sullivan who was from Ireland, his daughter was Laura Ellen Sullivan.”
The hunt is now on for distant relatives of the man who could be another American in the White House with Irish connections.
You can read more in an article by Barry O’Connor published in the BBC News web site at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz5r5yl624ko