The Irish heritage of Tim Walz, US vice presidential nominee, can be traced to his great-great-grandparents, James Sullivan and Anna Lacy, who emigrated from Co. Wexford in the late 19th century.
Tim Walz, 41st Governor of Minnesota and Kamala Harris’ running mate in the US presidential election, can claim Irish ancestral roots in Co. Wexford.
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Writing for Irish America, genealogist Megan Smolenyak revealed that James (Jimmie) Sullivan and his wife Anna Lacy emigrated from Wexford to America in the latter half of the 19th century. This couple were two of Tim Walz’s great-great-grandparents on his father’s side. Since everyone has 16 great-great-grandparents, having two of Irish birth indicates that the Democratic Party’s nominee for vice president is one-eighth, or 12.5%, Irish.
Smolenyak has unearthed the baptismal record for James Sullivan; interestingly, Tim Walz’s father was named James and his own middle name is also James. According to the baptismal record of 12 November 1840, James Sullivan’s parents were Daniel Sullivan and Ellen Doyle. The witnesses for the baptism were Denis Doyle and Martha Cullen.
Smolenyak initially believed that James Sullivan hailed from Ferns; however, as pointed out by local genealogists, the baptismal record she uncovered actually derives from the Roman Catholic parish of Kilmore, located more than 40km south of Ferns town. However, Kilmore parish is within the Diocese of Ferns, which explains the mix-up.
Smolenyak also found James’ obituary, which was published in the Hartington Herald in Nebraska on 6 June 1918:
“This may sound fulsome and an exaggerated eulogy, but to those who knew ‘Uncle Jimmie’ as he was familiarly known by his friends, it will be considered just and appropriate. After all, the greatest man is he who in his sphere does the most good, and Uncle Jimmie Sullivan was always ready to help a neighbor, and to him a neighbor meant every human being without exception… He sowed the seeds of kindness, not of hate, he reaped the rich harvest of love, for I know that James Sullivan had not one enemy in all the world, and that is the grandest epitaph that can be written on the tomb of man.”
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James and Anna had a daughter, Laura Ellen Sullivan (1873–1941), who was one of Tim Walz’s great-grandmothers. She married John Friederich Walz (1874–1961), and together they had a son, Raymond Anthony Walz (1904–88), Tim’s paternal grandfather. Raymond’s son, James Frederick Walz (1929–84), was Tim’s father. Tim Walz was born in 1964 and was raised in Valentine and Butte, both in Nebraska, before relocating to Minnesota in 1996.
If elected, Walz will not be the first man in the White House with roots in Wexford. Two of President John F. Kennedy’s paternal great-grandparents hailed from Co. Wexford: Patrick Kennedy from Dunganstown, south of New Ross and his wife Bridget Murphy from the civil parish of Owenduff. Bridget likely came from the townland of Cloonagh, just a few kilometres from Dunganstown.
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In 1963, America’s first Irish-Catholic president visited Dunganstown. There, he connected with Mary Ryan, his closest living cousin in Ireland, along with other relatives and the local parish priest. Photos of Kennedy sharing a cosy cup of tea with cousin Mary quickly made headlines around the world.
>>> RELATED: Tracing John F. Kennedy’s Irish ancestry through Wexford, Limerick, Cork and Fermanagh
If the Democrats secure victory in November, Walz won’t be the only one in the White House with Irish ancestry. According to her father, Kamala Harris is descended from Hamilton Brown, who was born in Co. Antrim in 1776.
>>> RELATED: How Irish is Kamala Harris? US vice president’s Irish roots explained
Efforts are now focused on finding living Irish relatives of Tim Walz, who could soon join the ranks of Americans in the White House with Irish heritage.
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