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How Patriots quarterback great Tom Brady found his Irish roots

Traced them to Cavan and Cork on ‘great’ trip to Ireland with his father

By
JAMES O'BRIEN,
IrishCentral.com Staff
Published Sunday, January 29, 2012, 7:41 AM
Updated Sunday, January 29, 2012, 8:10 AM

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Tom Brady


New England Patriots hero Tom Brady was selected 199th in the famous 2000 draft that saw five quarterbacks picked ahead of him.

He says it was his underdog Irish spirit that kept him focused, however -- but no doubt his Irish temper was up when he was picked in the second last round.

Brady, 33, has often talked up his roots, particularly when the New England Patriots played in London against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009.

Back then the Patriots quarterback took time out in a press conference to underline the pride he has in his Irish roots.

“My father is 100 percent Irish. We took a trip over there together and visited some of the places where my family came from,” says Brady. “That was a great experience for me and obviously, I am very proud of my Irish roots.”
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Brady is no stranger to Britain and Ireland and also spoke of the fond memories he had of golfing trips he took to the Emerald Isle and Scotland.

"I’ve been golfing in Ireland and Scotland as well. I’ve really enjoyed my time over there. Anyone who’s been over to that part of the world comes away with a greater sense of history. I know this will be a great experience for the players.”

And Brady, through his father, Tom Sr., is well aware of his own Irish history.

Irish America spoke to Tom Brady Sr. a few years back, and he told our sister publication that his great-grandfather was from County Cavan and great-grandmother, who hailed from County Cork, were both immigrants from Ireland who came to the States during the potato famine.

For all Irish and Irish-American fans of gridiron, knowing that one of the greatest New England Patriots to ever don a shirt is proud of his Irish blood is one more element to consider in next week’s Super Bowl.

In a humorous nod to Brady’s Irish root Patriots owner Robert Kraft stated that Brady was ‘talking Gaelic’ during a recent spat with Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien.

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See more: Irish roots , American Football , Tom Brady
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12 Comments

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faberm1 | Jan 29, 2012, 09:52 PM EST
Maith an fear thú a Tom! Tá áthas orainn go bhfuil tú an bhrodúil as do dhuchais Gaelach! (Good on ya Tom! We are glad that you're proud of your Irish roots.) I wish you well as you discover much more of your Irish heritage. Is maith sin! (It's great!) I have explored my roots by seriously studying the language of my ancestors. You might enjoy that.

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Murph46 | Jan 29, 2012, 07:48 PM EST
ciardexy if american football is a rubbish sport,why are you all over these posts?You a rubbish collector?

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ciaradexy | Jan 29, 2012, 05:12 PM EST
Carrick, Id suspect that Irish people have no interest in American football in general regardless of where they are from in Ireland! Its a rubbish sport.

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ciaradexy | Jan 29, 2012, 05:11 PM EST
Murph, its Irish not gaelic.

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Murph46 | Jan 29, 2012, 04:58 PM EST
Thoin-and yes it is kiss my...

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OldMariner | Jan 29, 2012, 03:12 PM EST
How wonderful! This makes me proud of my Irish heritage.

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Paullus | Jan 29, 2012, 01:37 PM EST
Pog Ma Thorin? (Ah, does that translate into K*ss my a88?) Also, you only mention his Irish roots: does his mother have a different ancestry?

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Nicomax | Jan 29, 2012, 01:26 PM EST
Tom Coughlin coached at Boston College, which we now know is more Irish than either Michigan [Brady's alma mater] or for that matter Notre Dame, so that could be a factor.

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carrickcourt | Jan 29, 2012, 11:45 AM EST
Interesting that Brady has Co. Cavan roots, like me. I suspect any distant relations in Co. Cavan of Tom Brady's likely know nothing about North American football but a lot about GAA sports and real football (soccer).

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Carlastowe | Jan 29, 2012, 10:37 AM EST
I think Tom Brady should stand up & help SAVE LENNOX!!!

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ballyhip | Jan 29, 2012, 10:27 AM EST
I am a life long Pats fan and saw the first "exhibition" and reg. season game back in 1960...but Tom Coughlin looks exactly like my departed Uncle Tom from Ballahaghderren, Roscommon. So who is more Irish? Can you run a story on Coughlin?? Too lazy to do my own research but I'm betting that Coughlin has closer roots.

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Murph46 | Jan 29, 2012, 10:01 AM EST
He was talking Gaelic-Told him to Pog Ma Thoin

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