In 2013 the Irish Family History centre was commissioned to research the Irish roots of Bruce Springsteen. His Irish immigrant ancestors were the
Gerrity family of Rathangan, co. Kildare, with additional connections to Kelly, Farrell and McNicholas. Between 1851 and 1854, the Gerrity family emigrated and settled in Monmouth, New Jersey.
Further investigation of the family has revealed that Bruce Springsteen’s musicality might be part of his Irish heritage. Bruce’s (x3) great grandfather - Christy Gerrity - was a traditional musician, and well-regarded as a fife player.
The fife is a small, high-pitched wind instrument. It’s easy to imagine that such an instrument could have been in the limited luggage Christy was able to carry with him when leaving Ireland in 1851.
In New Jersey, Christy performed with
Captain Mount’s ‘Monmouth Blues’. He played his music at political meetings, in processions and at picnics, and was a keen supporter of the democratic party; not unlike Springsteen, who performed for and supported Democratic Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Christy Geraghty was born 1806 in Rathangan, Kildare in Ireland and died on 25th August 1884 in Freehold township, New Jersey, US.
His obituary paints a picture of a musician, and a man very involved in the community he settled in.
‘He always took a warm interest for the success of the Democratic party, and down to a recent period played the fife…at the head of all the democratic processions of the town, and in this capacity…his fame went abroad throughout the country.’
We’re celebrating the launch of our brand new podcast
Emerald Roots with the story of Christy Gerrity - available to listen to now - and our upcoming issue of
Irish Lives Remembered magazine will have its feature article - written by the researchers of the Gerrity family, Helen Moss and Fiona Fitzsimons - dedicated to ‘The Boss’.
ENDS
Emerald Roots Podcast:
https://shows.acast.com/emerald-roots
A Podcast on all things Irish, Family and History!
With fun chats, fab interviews and fantastic guests, we'll be covering everything you need (and want) to know about Ireland and those elusive Irish ancestors.
Preview Article for Issue 59 of
Irish Lives Remembered:
www.irishfamilyhistorycentre.com/article/bruce-springsteens-irish-roots-by-fitzsimons/
Irish Lives Remembered
is a free digital magazine packed with pages of Irish Genealogy resources, from special feature articles, book extracts and our regular columns: there’s something for everyone.
The
Irish Family History Centre provides the premier genealogical research services in Ireland. The Centre is situated in the historic CHQ building in Dublin, and is partnered with EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.
www.irishfamilyhistorycentre.com/
All queries can be directed to
Caitlin Bain, Marketing Manager
caitlin.bain@eneclann.ie