By Debbie McGoldrick

Pretty party girl Tara Conner, the current Miss USA who is all over the news for upsetting her boss Donald Trump (obviously she must be doing something right!) is just a proud Irish American at heart.

Tara took to her new title with relish, living it up at a pad in Trump Palace in New York City and hitting all the right night-spots – which actually turned out to be a wrong move, because the partying has caught up with her big time. Tara, who just turned 21, is now headed to rehab.

The beauty queen was the cover story in the October/ November 2006 issue of our sister publication Irish America magazine, and she waxed enthusiastically to Declan O’Kelly about her rather distant Irish roots.

“Lawrence Conner came to America from Dublin in 1752 and eventually settled in Virginia in 1770,” she said. “My great great grandfather’s name was Johnny Conner and he had 11 children, one of which was my great grandfather Carmel Conner.

“My grandfather’s name was also Johnny Conner, so they carried the name on down and my dad’s name is John Conner. I also know that I have Irish heritage on my mother’s side, but I am not sure exactly from where.”

Tara must have the luck of the Irish, because on Tuesday Trump announced that he would let Kentucky-born Tara continue her reign as Miss USA, provided she cleans up her act.

“I think Tara is going to be the great comeback kid,” Trump said.