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Meryl Streep wants to further research her Irish roots

"I want more time in Ireland " says Oscar star

By
BUZZ BRADY,
IrishCentral.com Showbiz Writer

Published Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 6:57 AM
Updated Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 11:40 AM

 

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Meryl Streep is seeking to research her Irish great-grandmother and to spend more time in Ireland.

The acclaimed actress says that Grace Strain, her great-grandmother born 1865 in Donegal, is someone she wants to find out far more about.

Her daughter Grace is named after her Irish ancestor:

 "I want more time in Ireland. I feel the need to do real scientific work on her ancestry,” she said.

She first became aware of her Irish connection when filming "Dancing at Lughnasa," the Hollywood adaptation of Brian Friel's stage play of the same name.

In that movie, she plays a Donegal-born older woman who is watching her life ebb by in a small Donegal backwater.

Streep went back to Donegal for a showing of the movie and talked about her ancestor who is from Creeslough, also home of Irish country and western star Daniel O'Donnell.

Her Irish roots are not far from where Matthew Broderick, whose grandfather hailed from the area, and Sarah Jessica Parker regularly vacation.

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5 Comments

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Posted by bankie1932 on Mar 20, 2011, 02:55 PM EDT
Great to hear about that,my wife is Frances McGarvey from Ramelton Donegal and her Grandmother was Jane STRAIN.
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Posted by corkkerry on Feb 10, 2010, 10:45 PM EST
It only makes sense that Ms. Streep is partly Irish!
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Posted by grandmaguns on Feb 10, 2010, 10:29 PM EST
Glad to hear that Meryl's family is from Count Donegal, but Daniel O'Donnell hails from Kincasslagh not Cresslough. His people lived down the road from my father.
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Posted by FastEddy on Feb 10, 2010, 07:40 PM EST
"Julie and Julia" is a winner, even if you don't like to cook.
Report abuse
Posted by dessieglynn on Feb 10, 2010, 02:33 PM EST
my childhood home in dublin was a strain- built house.
 


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