From left: Dr Michael Conway, who researched the CVlooney family tree, local resident Peter Purcell, Miguel Ferrer and his wife Lori Weintraub
Ferrer visited South Kilkenny
last week where he researched
his Irish ancestral roots.
Mr Ferrer (60) and his
wife Lori Weintraub visited a
number of locations in South
Kilkenny including Knockeen
and Tullahought.
Son of the late Rosemary
Clooney and a fi rst cousin of
George Clooney, the accomplished
actor has appeared in
fi lms including ‘RoboCop’,
‘Star Trek III: The Search
for Spock’ and ‘Iron Man
3’ and TV series including
‘Twin Peaks’, ‘Desperate
Housewives’ and ‘NCIS: Los
Angeles’.
While in Tullahought, he
visited Power’s Pub where he
enjoyed traditional Irish hospitality
and was given a lesson
in pulling a perfect pint of
Guinness under the guidance
of Marie Power.
The well-known couple
explored South Kilkenny and,
according to locals, were said
to have been “blown away” by
the beauty of the area.
During their Irish holiday,
Mr Ferrer wanted to learn
more about the Clooney
ancestral home.
He visited the parochial
house where he met Father
Nicholas Flavin and viewed
offi cial records relating to the
Clooney family.
Hollywood star “blown away”
by South Kilkenny
Miguel Ferrer, Tullahought
& the ‘Clooney connection’
KIERAN FOLEY REPORTS
Nicholas Clooney (great
great grandfather of both
Miguel and George) was born
at Knockeen, Tullahought
in 1829 and emigrated to
America shortly after the
Famine.
One local who met the
couple during their visit to
South Kilkenny told The
Munster Express that they
praised the welcome which
they received and the “unique
characters” which they met.
Mr Ferrer informed locals
that he was already planning
his return trip to Ireland.
It’s believed that George
Clooney and his wife Amal
may visit Ireland this summer
but it’s not yet known if a trip
to South Kilkenny is on their
agenda.
All in the South Kilkenny
area will be hopeful that the
glamorous couple will include
the area on their itinerary.
