Derry’s mayor has invited Taylor Swift to visit and trace her roots, after it emerged the superstar singer has an ancestral link to the city.
Lilian Seenoi Barr has written a letter to the musician, urging her to come to Derry during her visit to Ireland next weekend.
Swift is performing three shows at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium next weekend as part of her Eras world tour.
This week it was revealed the Pennsylvania-born singer-songwriter’s great-great-great grandparents emigrated from Derry in 1836 to start a new life in America.
The discovery was made by EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, with genealogy partners The Irish Family History Centre.
Ms Seenoi Barr, who became Derry and Strabane mayor earlier this month, said news of Swift’s link to Derry had “stirred a wave of joy and curiosity” in the city.
Today I wrote to @taylorswift13 to ask her to come and visit Derry during her trip to Ireland!
— Mayor Derry Strabane (@mayordcsdc) June 20, 2024
We are proud to call Taylor a Derry Girl and are hugely excited to extend this invitation to her to help her trace her ancestral journey.
C'mon let's see if we can make this happen! pic.twitter.com/RBJZtg3ovv
In her letter to the singer, the SDLP councillor said she wished to offer a “heartfelt invitation” for her to come and see the city from where her ancestors, dressmaker Susan Davis and weaver Francis Gwynn, departed at the age of 21.
“We are extremely proud to call you a Derry girl and are hugely excited to extend this invitation to you to come visit and allow us to help you trace your ancestral journey and explore the places and stories that form part of your heritage,” the mayor wrote.
She added in the letter: “As someone who has inspired millions with your music and philanthropy, we believe that your visit would be a poignant and inspiring homecoming, bridging past and present in a celebration of your roots.”
