Tim Walz has Irish ancestors – but where are they from?

The hunt is now on for distant relatives of the man who could be another American in the White House with Irish connections.

Whatever way the US presidential election goes, Fianna Fáil senator Malcolm Byrne from County Wexford is hoping a relationship can be built with Mr Walz.

“Certainly from a Wexford perspective, we’d like to develop the links with the governor of Minnesota,” he said.

“There are a number of local historians and genealogists who are looking at the research that’s being uncovered in the US. Originally we thought it may be from the town of Ferns that the connection was based,” he added.

“It is now possible it might actually be from the village of Kilmore, but there are certain connections between what would have been the Diocese of Ferns.”

The Emerald Isle will almost certainly retain some representation in top level US politics when Joe Biden leaves the White House in January.

Mr Walz becomes the second running mate with claimed ancestry from the island in this year’s presidential election, after Donald Trump announced ‘Scots-Irish hillbilly at heart’ JD Vance as his pick for vice-president.

And, of course, Joe Biden is inordinately proud of his own personal Irish heritage – he had ancestors in County Mayo and County Louth.

He mentions it at every opportunity. During the election campaign in 2020 he was asked for a “quick word for the BBC”. He swiftly replied: “The BBC? I’m Irish!”