In an appearance on BBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, where celebrities learn about their ancestry, McGuinness found that much of his ancestry could be traced back to County Mayo in Ireland. A not-so-surprising fact considering the television star's surname.
In the show, McGuinness visits Ireland, claiming he always felt like he had "a connection” to the country. However he had always felt “ignorant” when visiting due to his lack of knowledge on his ancestry.
The Farnworth-born presenter learned that his great-grandmother, Bridget McGuinness had been baptised in a parish in Mayo to his great-great-grandparents Mark McGuiness and Winifred Molloy.
In a surprising discovery, Paddy found that Mark and Winifred lived on the same road in Ballina as US president Joe Biden's ancestor Edward Blewitt.
Mr Biden has long claimed Irish ancestry, making the point to visit the small Mayo town during his tour of Ireland in 2023.
At the end of the programme, McGuinness is seen walking along the beach in Mayo.
“I do feel a real spiritual connection, even on this beach today, it’s absolutely beautiful here on the west coast of Ireland.” the former ‘Top Gear’ presenter marvels. “They could have been playing on here as kids walking up and down here, who knows.”
“It’s quite a romantic thought, but I like it. It’s just been one of them where there’s so many lovely little surprises, my grandad on my mum’s side with the Spitfire connection.”
“My ancestors over here in Ballina who lived on the same street as Joe Biden’s ancestors."
“I think the biggest highlight for me was actually seeing my grandad's war medal. That for me was a real moment where I felt like I was holding a piece of history in my hand.”
McGuinness, who had lost his father to colon cancer, said his dad “would have loved to find more out about our Irish ancestors, and it had been nice to bring him out to Ballina and what have you, but I’ll have a pint of the black stuff for him.”
