The newly appointed head of the CIA, John Brennan, plans to retire to his parents’ homeland of Ireland once his term ends, his family claim.
John Brennan, whose father Owen hails from Kilteevan, Co. Roscommon, was nominated by President Obama on Monday to be the new director of the CIA.
His father, a blacksmith, emigrated to the U.S. along with his mother, also a Roscommon native. They are both still hale and hearty.
If Brennan’s nomination is confirmed, he will replace former director General David Petraeus, who stepped down after details of his affair with his biographer were exposed last November.
The 57-year-old delivered an address at the Institute of Institutional and European Affairs last October. During another one of his trips last fall he made his way across the Shannon to visit his family in Roscommon.
Read More: Obama nominates Irish American John Brennan to be next CIA director - VIDEO
"He has visited Roscommon over the years and always calls in to see us when he's here," his first cousin Patrick Diffley told the Belfast Telegraph.
Diffley added: "He said to us that he wanted to retire here. He told us that if he got this post he'd do his term and then hopefully like to come home and settle here.”
Brennan’s cousin who lives in Lecarrow, Co Roscommon, says the CIA adviser doesn’t usually give advance notice of his trips.
"My mother Bridie is his father's sister and he always pays a visit. The trip in November was a flying visit. He had been in Paris and came over to see us all. We didn't know he was coming at all. That's the way he is."
Brennan’s cousin did try to probe the CIA director about his work, but the Irish American remained tight lipped.
"We were trying to get it out of him about the Bin Laden raid but he wasn't saying a word. He joked that we were like the Irish mafia," recalled Diffley.
The close family member said his cousin is like any average joe.
Read More: Obama terrorism chief John Brennan woos the Irish vote while in Dublin
"He's a very normal person to talk to but he doesn't discuss his work at all. He dresses very normally and if he was walking down the street you wouldn't have a clue what he does. He seems different when he’s on TV.”
Diffley said he hopes to visit Brennan this summer and hopes to meet his family.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.89west | Jan 11, 2013, 11:01 AM EST
since when did he complete the senate vetting process?
seamus60 | Jan 11, 2013, 10:35 AM EST
He might get free flights with the job. Are those rendition flights still sneaking through Iris airports.
pilib04 | Jan 11, 2013, 10:24 AM EST
Brennan is planning on doing what I would like to do. We were married in Ireland, however, my "better half" and children frown on it. Can't go back and forth since we are on a limited pensioners income. I'm happy for Brennan and sure that he will be able to afford unlimited travel back and forth. Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court presently spends half his time in Ireland. That would be the dream. Anyway, happy to hear that some are able to do this. Good luck to Brennan at CIA.
donwreford | Jan 10, 2013, 11:27 PM EST
Brennan, just appointed to the CIA and already thinking of retirement? I would think the CIA and those like organizations have little to be proud of considering the history or these covert operators,the boys love the the spy system, possible seen to much of Fleming and to many movies like, The Third Man.
irishpjk | Jan 10, 2013, 10:36 PM EST
wtf. If his relatives don’t learn to get control of the diarrhea of the mouth he will be out before he gets in.
darragh S | Jan 10, 2013, 09:03 PM EST
The thing about Brennan is that he will do things his way. I kind of have respect for O'Bamma in trusting those he has appointed and not micro managing things. Its good to see another Irish Man at the Helm of the CIA. You have to wonder if its a cliche on 'Wild Bill' Donovan whom headed the OSS as Father of the American Intelligence Service. The Brennan's I have known, one of whom was for a time my Teacher are all hardy and tough men, kind of what Id imagine Donovan to be like and very smart people to. A wise man once said Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing that a tomato doesn't belong in a fruit salad." This has been a theme for COM since O'Bamma came to power though through trial and error I think this time he has made the right choice. Depending on how well this works out though might see him become unpopular in Ireland and will that affect his desire to retire in Ireland?
Bocktherobber | Jan 10, 2013, 08:45 PM EST
Does that include the Saudi Arabs who are your close allies, or just the Arabs you've been told to dislike by Fox News?
Pittsburghkid | Jan 10, 2013, 07:31 PM EST
Brennan is unacceptable, because he cannot see the threat of Arab Terrorism. Of course I am racist because I oppose an Obama appointee. How does it go. They are so mad that we have a Black President, that they will stop everything.
89west | Jan 10, 2013, 06:19 PM EST
Brennan by the mere fact his folks come from the old country provides him with Irish citizenship. Going a step further and securing an Irish passport would in all likely disqualify him from obtaining a security clearance from the US Gov't. That is not likely the case as he was a former employee of the agency. However, his recent TV appearance has him sounding like a groveling amadan. Any wonder we are held up to ridicule by the rest of the world.
seanomelb | Jan 10, 2013, 05:20 PM EST
OMG darkstar is back shouting again
STEVENSTAR | Jan 10, 2013, 05:18 PM EST
BUT AMERICANS CAN ONLY COME INTO IRELAND ON A 90DAY VISA EVEN THE ONES WHO THINK THEY ARE IRISH ... UNLESS YOU HAVE IRISH CITIZENSHIP WHICH IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET IF YOUR AMERICAN .....NEW EU LAWS !!!! ALTHOUGH ITS OK FOR HALF OF EASTERN EUROPE TO MOVE HERE , NOT WORK , CLAIM BENEFITS AND LIVE OFF THE STATE ...
irishpjk | Jan 10, 2013, 05:10 PM EST
wtf.If his relatives don’t learn to get control of their diarrhea of the mouth he will be out before he gets in.
seanomelb | Jan 10, 2013, 03:57 PM EST
No need to be bitter and twisted at his appointment.He's a fine man.
seanaci | Jan 10, 2013, 03:50 PM EST
I guess now that another mob hit-man, Whitey Bolger, plans to retire to Ireland have run into a slight shag there'll be room for Obama's button man. His potential neighbours in Ireland should be wondering if the relatives of some of his victims may not turn up in the guise of tourists to have a few words with Brennan.
Brolaur | Jan 10, 2013, 02:40 PM EST
That's all we need now; another Spook. What's that about O'Reilly being a historian? O'Reilly is just a loudmouth.
Smyrnian | Jan 10, 2013, 02:40 PM EST
I wish Mr. Brennan all the best.
joannehc | Jan 10, 2013, 02:34 PM EST
Even though he MAY have dual citizenship, he will be fine. American citizenship takes precedence and he is native born.
shuvonn | Jan 10, 2013, 12:44 PM EST
If he was really Irish, they'd have to water board him to shut him up :-)
89west | Jan 10, 2013, 11:34 AM EST
Brennan will be disqualified from accepting the appointment, should he hold dual citizenship which may very well be the case based on his connections to the old sod.
handsome68 | Jan 10, 2013, 10:33 AM EST
"He's a very normal person to talk to but he doesn't discuss his work at all. He dresses very normally and if he was walking down the street you wouldn't have a clue what he does. He seems different when he’s on TV.” Do you want he should wear a trench coat and look shifty-eyed or whatever is the image of a CIA agent? Life is stranger and more complicated than, e.g., Hollywood movies portray life.
Paul Hogan | Jan 10, 2013, 09:42 AM EST
They should have waterboarded Him Then he would haved Talked
maryosullivan | Jan 10, 2013, 08:58 AM EST
"O'Reilly most popular historian " ?? Hope this is an early April Fool's joke. This is the same person who,not too long ago, admitted on TV that he had never heard on April Glaspie and he presumes to tell the world about Middle East politics. God help us