George Clooney is one of the most recognisable faces in the world, and the Hollywood icon can trace his Irish roots all the way back to Abbeyleix.
Clooney is currently promoting his new movie, ‘The Boys in the Boat’, and made an appearance on RTÉ’s daytime show, ‘Today’.
He spoke with presenters, Daithí Ó Sé and Maura Derrane about his visit to Laois a few years ago.
The 62-year-old actor / director spent time in Ballyfin House at a Clooney family reunion.
“I came back three years ago to visit all the family; it’s so fun,” Clooney said.
“I had just a great time. And I saw all these family members that literally looked like my father.
“There was a song from Abbeyleix that was about me, it was really fantastic.”
The song in question is the wonderful ‘Here’s to you George Clooney,’ by AbbeyFolk, the well-known five-piece ballad group from Laois.
The song tells the story of Clooney’s family emigrating to the Us – and what might have been had they stayed.
Clooney got his big break on long-running medical drama, ER, and is best known for his leading roles in some of the biggest movies of the last 30 years, including O Brother Where Art Thou, Ocean’s Eleven, and The Descendents.
His career has been more focused on directorial roles lately, as is the case with his new film.
The Boys in the Boat is based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown.
The film follows the University of Washington rowing team, and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
It stars Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) and Joel Edgerton (Warrior).
Laois may not have to wait too long before once again welcoming the actor / director, who said he plans to return soon.
“We had a great time, and I’ll go back when the kids are a little bit older, because I really want them to get to know that part of our family,” Clooney said.
“It’s a big part of our lives growing up in Kentucky, because this part of the Clooney family left during the potato famine, so we still have a pretty strong family connection.”
Over the past ten years, Clooney has become increasingly focused on his humanitarian work and activism.
He is married to Lebanese-British Human Rights Barrister, Amal Clooney (formerly Alamuddin) with the pair focusing their attention on causes including the Armenian Geneocide, the war in Syria, Gun Control, and LGBT rights.
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