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Kate Middleton can trace Irish lineage back to High King Brian Boru

Britain's House of Commons hears bizarre link with historical hero

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 7:22 AM

Updated Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 9:48 AM

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See more: Irish Ancestry

Kate Middleton, Duchess Catherine of Cambridge, has an ancestor in Irish hero Brian Boru

Photo by Google Images

Britain’s Queen in waiting Kate Middleton is related to Irish warrior Brian Boru – and singer Chris de Burgh.

The Irish connections of the Duchess of Cambridge were unveiled in London’s House of Commons on Monday night.

Website TheJournal.ie reports that the connections were unveiled at an event attended by British Prime Minister David Cameron and his Irish counterpart Enda Kenny.

Keen to promote The Gathering, Tourism Ireland chiefs announced details of their research which traces Katie’s Irish roots all the way back to the warrior who fought the Vikings in the Battle of Clontarf.

The tourism body said that genealogists’ research shows that Prince William’s wife has connections through the Lupton family from Yorkshire with the Fitzmaurices, a noble family from Co Kerry.

The Fitzmaurices have links back to Brian Boru, the first High King of Ireland.

The Kate Middleton effect pushes Irish designer Orla Kiely’s sales over $15 million

The news came as Tourism Ireland rolled out an initiative inviting members of the British House of Commons and House of Lords to explore their Irish family connections.

The move comes as 2013 is named Ireland's’ Family History Tourism Ireland chief Niall Gibbons said: “The history, culture and family links between Ireland and Great Britain stretch back generations.”

Recent reports have confirmed that Middleton is also related to Irish singer Chris de Burgh and his model daughter Rosanna Davidson.

A PDF of the Duchess’s family connections to Ireland can be viewed here.

See more: Irish Ancestry , Irish Roots , Irish Genealogy

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44 Comments

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Scottmcgowan | Mar 17, 2013, 09:44 PM EDT

Darragh S: I am not talking about folklore here - I am aware of the legend of the Celts of Ireland being descendants of one of the lost tribes of Isreal. I am also not talking politically here. I am simply repeating the geneological history of the English royal family who are descended from the Ango Saxon royal houses, of Scotland, of Ireland, of Wales, of France, of Spain, of Denmark, etc. I assume that the genologists are not making up the historical records - but then the Brits have been known to do this, God knows! At any rate, for what it is worth, I do believe that the descent of the Queen from the Royal House of the Kings of Ireland is probably true. Bottom line, of course, it is of minor interest and importance. Hell, I cannot even trace my family in Ireland beyond 1800 - thanks to the English occupiers who destroyed so many of the Irish records.

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CaptainCon | Mar 16, 2013, 11:10 AM EDT

Congratulations for the daftest and most obvious attempt at constructing a lineage for Ms Middleton. I wonder did the House of Commons hear of her first generation descent from an air hostess- known to senior royals as 'Doors to Manual'? What a load of old made up nonsense calculated to aggrandise the family of a commoner who married a royal. Complete nonsense.

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darragh S | Mar 16, 2013, 04:22 AM EDT

@Scottmcgowan Well apparantly Boru is a descended from Neil O'Neil right. Now in Irish Folklore the Neils descended from a daughter princess of the Southern House of Isreal whose lineage extends back to the the House of King David. So he is a Jew. Make what you want of that. Politically I am not sure what to make of the whole idea of the Queen being related to Brian Boru. It certainly does not make her a Dalcasian or Irish. Perhaps though this is where her fondness of the Royal Irish Guards, one of her personal protection units comes from. And if you look at Our Dalcassian Coats of Arms, you will notice that most of us are endowed with symbols from the Crusades which we fought in especially mine. Alright bud!

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curtisjohnson | Mar 15, 2013, 10:29 PM EDT

For the record, descent from Brian Boru is claimed by at least one of the queen's official websites (on both sides of the family). I have no idea what the validity of this claim is.

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Scottmcgowan | Mar 15, 2013, 03:59 PM EDT

Darragh S: Point 1: Believe "my" story? It is not "my" story but historial fact. Queen Elizabeth traces her line directly to Brian Boru via the Kings of Thomaond and Kings of Leinster, both houses of which are descended directly from Brian Boru. See the following: Montague-Smith, Patrick W. (1967). The Royal Line of Succession. London: Pitkin Pictorials LTD. And then you say ..."apparently he is a Jew>" Racist comment to say the least. Point 2: Oh, Ireland is a Modern Democratic republic?? Wow, I did not know that! Thanks for informing me - how stupid of me not to know that the Irish people do not claim the throne of England. I never said that the Irish people claim the throne of England. I guess you fail to see the humor and the irony of discovering that Brian Boru's distant descendant is on the throne of England! P.S. You can find the definision of "irony" in the dictionary. Point 2:

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darragh S | Mar 15, 2013, 10:15 AM EDT

@Scottmcgowan If we are to believe your story about Brian Boru then apparently he is a Jew. Oh it all makes sense now.

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darragh S | Mar 15, 2013, 10:11 AM EDT

@Scottmcgowan Ireland is not Feudal so Irish people do not claim the throne of England. Ireland is a Modern Democratic Republic. Its really that simple. The Obrians can kiss my Murphy Irish Arse.

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Stiofain | Mar 15, 2013, 12:19 AM EDT

Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.Does that ring a bell,at all?

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Scottmcgowan | Mar 14, 2013, 02:45 PM EDT

Brian Boru already has a direct descendant sitting on the throne of Great Britain. Elizabeth II is decended through both her father, George VI (via Brian Boru's granddaughter, Dearbforgail (died 1080),wife of Dermot MacMailnamo, Kiong of Leinster and of Ireland and her mother (via Brian Boru's son, Teige (Terrance - died 1023. So, in effect the Irish already hold the crown! This information is easily available through Elizabeth's geneological history. Wonder how many Orangemen would find this acceptable!

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Willie Frazer | Mar 14, 2013, 11:13 AM EDT

Am not going tae fight with you Mr Puffin and it is not the free presbyterian way af doing things, I will leave you to the Lord, but a hiv tae say wan thing here now to STEVENSTAR. STEVEN ye say we are all Americans up here in my BELOVED ULSTER and am damned if a can figure that out now.Ulster dis not belong to America STEVEN,A know us free presbyterians are not that wile smart but a can tell the difference fae the union jock and the stars an strips,and even though a hiv not seen it in a while, there are no stars on our union joch.The only stars a see STEVEN is the one that you hiv a wireless connection too ,a only joking Steven,a will pray tae the Lord for your vision,

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jimod4343 | Mar 13, 2013, 07:46 PM EDT

Laughed so much at these comments that I just splurged tea all over me keyboard. I hoope iiit keps wrking properrrly utherwise I shal send a bill to BUKKIngham palace - just kiddin'

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seanomelb | Mar 13, 2013, 07:12 PM EDT

Tom Swinford sometimes I think I am posting on the "cuckoo nest herald" Some of those posting below sure are crazy.

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puffin | Mar 13, 2013, 05:39 PM EDT

wullie mon dear,will ye hae a titter o wit,yince ye are prayin tae the gud lord tae damn me soul and next prayin for my salvation,i didnae ken were ye are frae,i dinny nae what ye are aboot

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IrelandNorth | Mar 13, 2013, 03:55 PM EDT

Wait till she gives birth to that heir apparent to the throne of England, and call it Patrick/Patricia, as reliable rumours are having it. What ever will the Irish do then when King Patrick I or Queen Patricia I ascend to the throne of that realm? The offspring of the loins of Kinf Dermot I of Leinster adn his duaghter Pricess Aoifa married to Strongbow.

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ancavker | Mar 13, 2013, 01:53 PM EDT

STEVENSTAIR: And yet so many Irish in Ireland keep up to date on all the latest royal family news. Why are you stealing someone else's culture? And what is this obsession with Manchester Utd? So many Irish people tell me because of the Irish connection, and yet many of the players over the years were Plastic Paddies in England. You know the ones whose great granny Mary came over 100 years ago. And why is it when I visit Ireland every one is decked out in the latest American fashion? Did Michale Koor's become Michael O'Koor at some point? And what is it with everyone now drinking Budweiser? Don't you have your own beers? Why are the Irish in Ireland stealing other people's culture?

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