De Niro’s Irish Hike

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Irish Voice Entertainment

De Niro’s Irish Hike

September 27, 2007

By Debbie McGoldrick

ROBERT De Niro is one of the most famous Italians to ever grace the silver screen, but believe it or not, according to the man himself, he’s also Irish – yes, Irish! Traveling home from Ireland on Monday via Aer Lingus and perusing the airline’s Cara magazine, an interview with De Niro, star of such classics as Raging Bull and Goodfellas, was notable for its last few paragraphs – the star fondly recalling a teenage trip to Ireland, and a vow to properly research his Irish roots.

In 1962, when he was 19, De Niro hitchhiked around Ireland, and even though the trip took place all those years ago, he still recalls the details as if it happened yesterday.

“I hitchhiked from Dublin to Galway,” he said. “And took the ferry out to the Aran Islands, and then I went down through the south. Slept in some fields, and people gave me blankets for sleeping outside – the caretakers of an estate.

“And I had breakfast with them in the morning. They were very friendly, yeah, and I had a great time.”

De Niro’s Irish family tree, he says, is right now undefined – what a fascinating job that would be for an interested genealogist – but he plans on rectifying that oversight.

“I want to actually do that,” he says. “I’m trying to do that now, as a matter of fact. I’m going to do that soon.”

Robert Mario De Niro, proud son of Ireland. Nice one!

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