Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep has spoken of her love of and connections to Donegal. Her maternal great-great-grandparents, Manus McFadden and Grace Strain, were from the Horn Head area of Dunfanaghy. She visited Donegal in Donegal in 1998 for the premiere of Dancing At Lughnasa and later named her daughter, Grace, after her great-great grandmother. US actress Meryl Streep speaks during a "Rendez-Vous With Meryl Streep" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep has spoken of her love of and connections to Donegal. Her maternal great-great-grandparents, Manus McFadden and Grace Strain, were from the Horn Head area of Dunfanaghy. She visited Donegal in Donegal in 1998 for the premiere of Dancing At Lughnasa and later named her daughter, Grace, after her great-great grandmother. US actress Meryl Streep speaks during a "Rendez-Vous With Meryl Streep" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep has spoken of her love of and connections to Donegal. Her maternal great-great-grandparents, Manus McFadden and Grace Strain, were from the Horn Head area of Dunfanaghy. She visited Donegal in Donegal in 1998 for the premiere of Dancing At Lughnasa and later named her daughter, Grace, after her great-great grandmother. US actress Meryl Streep speaks during a "Rendez-Vous With Meryl Streep" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)

11 famous people who have family roots in Derry and Donegal

By Laura Glenn
Published 19th Jun 2024, 10:13 BST
Did you know there are several famous people across the world who claim Derry and Donegal heritage?

While they may not have been born here, well-known faces such as Meryl Streep, Lewis Capaldi, Declan Donnelly and more, have strong family connections to Derry and Donegal and speak very proudly of their roots.

Check out our picture gallery and let us know if there’s anyone we missed!

Comedian, musician, children’s author, actor, playwright and TV star on shows like Eight Out of Ten Cats, Live at the Apollo and most recently, The Great British Bake Off Stand Up To Cancer' David O'Doherty recently told the Journal how his great-grandfather, Seamus O’Doherty, ‘was from 23 Creggan Street’ in Derry.He said: 'They were revolutionary types, my great-grandparents. He moved to Dublin in 1914 for the 1916 Rising and we’ve been there ever since.”

9. David O'Doherty

Comedian, musician, children’s author, actor, playwright and TV star on shows like Eight Out of Ten Cats, Live at the Apollo and most recently, The Great British Bake Off Stand Up To Cancer' David O'Doherty recently told the Journal how his great-grandfather, Seamus O’Doherty, ‘was from 23 Creggan Street’ in Derry.He said: 'They were revolutionary types, my great-grandparents. He moved to Dublin in 1914 for the 1916 Rising and we’ve been there ever since.”Photo: dj

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'Downton Abbey' and 'Coronation Street' actor Rob James-Collier is connected to Inishowen via his mother and he has family living in the area.British actor Rob James-Collier poses on the red carpet upon arrival for the world premiere of the film "Downton Abbey: A New Era" in London on April 25, 2022. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP) (Photo by NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP via Getty Images)

10. Rob James-Collier

'Downton Abbey' and 'Coronation Street' actor Rob James-Collier is connected to Inishowen via his mother and he has family living in the area.British actor Rob James-Collier poses on the red carpet upon arrival for the world premiere of the film "Downton Abbey: A New Era" in London on April 25, 2022. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP) (Photo by NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP via Getty Images)Photo: NIKLAS HALLE'N

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