Taylor Swift’s Irish roots

As Swifties prepare for sold-out Eras Tour shows in Ireland, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum has been exploring Taylor Swift’s family’s ties to Ireland, including one incredible love story.

This week, the Irish capital will welcome Taylor Swift’s mega ‘Era’ tour, which will see hundreds of thousands of Swifties attend her three sold-out shows at the Aviva Stadium. Swift is known to visit Ireland often for quiet breaks, but ahead of her long-awaited concerts in Dublin, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum has been researching her Irish ancestry and her family’s journey to the United States.

They link their research to her hit song “Love Story,” the first single from her second album “Fearless.” They write: “On September 12, 2008, Taylor Swift rose to fame with her single ‘Love Story.’

“This was her first exploration of romance, personal growth, and in some ways heartbreak and tragedy. But this was not the beginning of her relationship with these themes. Before ‘Love Story,’ there was a love story.”

The genealogy experts at EPIC announce: “On Saturday, June 11, 1836, two young people emigrated from Ireland to the United States aboard the ship AMY from Derry. Together with some friends, they sought their fortune in Philadelphia.

“Susan Davis was a 21-year-old seamstress, Francis Gwynn a 21-year-old weaver. Their chance encounter laid the foundation for a story that would span generations and have a global impact far greater than either of them could have ever imagined.”

The couple completed a two-month voyage across the Atlantic, arriving in Philadelphia on August 20.

While researchers aren’t sure if Susan and Francis left Ireland together and then went their separate ways or stayed in touch, they found that the couple married three years after their arrival. Susan and Francis have six children – Ann, John, William, Francis, Joseph and Mary.

According to EPIC, “Sadly, five of those children predeceased Susan and Francis. They left behind a daughter, Mary Gwynn, Taylor Swift’s great-great-grandmother. Mary laid the lovers to rest just two months apart. Some speculate that the latter died of a broken heart, but this may just be a myth.

“The story of Susan and Francis is a wonderful reminder that love can help us endure the toughest journeys, a theme expressed so often in Taylor’s writing. What would the young couple crossing the Atlantic in the 19th century think of their great-great-great-granddaughter’s stratospheric rise to fame? Enormous pride, no doubt.”

The Dublin Emigration Museum also discovered Swift’s connections to Dublin:

“In 1866, Taylor Swift’s great-great-grandfather George Findlay enlisted in the Royal Navy and later settled in Britain after meeting Emma Maria Whiffin in South Africa. Their son George was born in Southampton, but they separated shortly afterwards.

“When he married Louisa Anna Darling in Dublin in 1880, he registered as a bachelor. The Findlay family, with their roots in the trades, had been members of the Dublin hosiery guild for at least three generations and, as they became more prosperous, moved through areas such as Phibsborough, Portobello and Harold’s Cross.”

Aileesh Carew, CEO of EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, said of these genealogical finds: “By tracing Taylor Swift’s roots back to 1836, EPIC illustrates her important role in preserving the rich tapestry of our past, ensuring that every thread contributes to the living narrative of our shared history. As audiences prepare to experience Taylor’s performances in Ireland, we invite visitors to join us and experience the stirring and unforgettable stories of those who left the island of Ireland and how they influenced and shaped the world.”