Additional Coverage:
- Woman who ‘can’t believe her Irish ancestors moved to Texas’ sparks outrage in TikTok comments (irishstar.com)
A TikTok video meant to be a heartwarming homage to Irish heritage has sparked debate online. User Anna Leigh, known as The Bucket List Vagabond, posted a video of herself at Kilkenny Castle. The video text reads: “Really can’t believe my Irish ancestors lived here and decided to move to Texas.”
Leigh’s caption elaborated: “I always knew my family had Irish roots, but I never expected to find my family’s last name all over a 13th-century castle. Kilkenny Castle was home to the Butlers from 1391 to 1936, and standing inside, seeing my family’s last name on portraits, plaques, and records, made it all feel real.”
Leigh’s visit was inspired by her grandfather, who recently passed down a family history book. Too frail to travel himself, he encouraged her to explore their ancestral home.
“From a castle in Ireland to cowboy boots in Texas, my family’s journey has been wild,” Leigh wrote. “And now, thanks to my grandfather, I’ll never forget where we came from.”
However, several commenters questioned Leigh’s characterization of her ancestors’ move. Some alluded to the Great Famine, a period of mass starvation between 1845 and 1852 that claimed an estimated one million lives and led to mass emigration.
“Did they happen to move between 1845–1852?” one commenter asked, while another pointedly added: “‘Decided’ to not starve from the Famine.”
During this time, Ireland, under British rule, continued exporting food while its population suffered.
One commenter offered a suggestion: “Not to be rude but may I suggest the EPIC museum rather than the art gallery? You can learn a lot about your ancestors ‘decisions’ there.
I know you mean well but we’re still getting over it here.” The comment highlights the lingering sensitivity surrounding the famine’s impact on Irish history and identity.