CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was treated to a family history lesson on his first official state visit to the Emerald Isle.
Much of the international coverage of Mr Trudeau’s visit has focused on a potential ‘bromance’ brewing with new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Mr Varadkar stole the headlines in his first meeting with Mr Trudeau, after the 38-year-old sported a pair of bright red socks with various Canadian symbols patterned in.
As well as his meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Trudeau also visited the Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, where he was presented with research into his own Irish roots.
The research, carried out by staff at the museum, reveals that the 45-year-old has roots in Co. Cork.
Through his mother, Margaret Sinclair, Mr Trudeau is a direct descendant of the Bernard family from Bandon, Co. Cork.
In 1661, Francis Bernard married Mary Freake and had six daughters and two sons, the research shows.
Mr Trudeau is descended from their younger son, Arthur Bernard, who was High Sheriff of Cork in 1697 and MP for Bandon from 1713 to 1714.
In 1695, Arthur Bernard married Anne Power of Mount Eglantine, Co. Waterford.
Justin Trudeau also visited the Great Famine Memorial in Dublin. (Picture: Getty)The Powers and their relatives the Boyles were part of the intellectual elite of late 17th and early 18th century Ireland.
Arthur and Anne also had a large family, 10 daughters and four sons, including Trudeau’s six-times great grandfather, Francis Bernard. Francis got his degree from Trinity College in 1729 before moving to England.
“Wow, this is news to me,” Mr Trudeau said as he learned of his rebel county roots.
The research also uncovered that Mr Trudeau’s four-times great grandfather relocated to Singapore and Malaysia, which was then part of the colonial Indian ‘station’.
His family remained there for a century, until 1906 when they emigrated to Canada.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, accompanied Mr Trudeau to the museum, and said once everyone in Bandon heard the news, it would be all over the local newspaper.
“Better hope I don’t run against you,” Mr Trudeau joked.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already experienced running against somebody you can’t beat,” Mr Coveney replied.
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