Julie Walters Uncovers Dark Irish Family History | Who Do You Think You Are? UK

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In each episode, one of Britain's best-loved celebrities traces their family tree to reveal the surprising, extraordinary and often moving stories of their ancestors. We publish new videos twice a week with the most memorable moments from the show. Subscribe now and click on the bell 🔔 to get notifications every time we upload a new video!

[kevinwhelan]

Julie's mother, like my own, was from Mayo. They are one TOUGH people and have punched above their weight the world over. Respect!❤❤❤ Thanks for posting this.

[lovedaybebe]

I know this sounds off topic, but I’ve just started watching Peaky Blinders ( late to the party) and I had poor family from Ireland living there at that time, and I am marvelling that I’m here at all ! Such resilience and determination our ancestors had ! Feel like I should be thankful to them, more often !

[PhilRock]

The front porch "the pillars"of Palmers house is still there in Rush Co.Dublin. I used to play in the ruins as a child.

[corkboy]

For anyone that ever wondered why the Irish hated the British establishment so much and fought so hard for independence from them, now you know why!

[asr]

It drives me mad people call it a potato famine!! There was tonnes of food exported to Britain from Ireland, just that the poor people could only grow potatos in the miserable plots "they" gave us. Genocide.

[MsCj]

Julie Walters, Imelda Staunton, Steve Coogan, Stephen Mangan & Molly Shannon - all hugely talented actors from Mayo stock, love to see it.

[laurapalmer]

I'm Irish and my surname is Palmer. I've always had an uneasy feeling about how my ancestors would have come here originally. Heartbreaking stuff.

[KateDavis-hv]

This makes me feel angry, sad and disgusted by what was done to our people.

[MHAdvocateUK]

Landlords in the UK are doing similar today. Turf people out regardless because they cannot afford extortionate rents. My friend has just ended up homeless and is in a homeless hostel. He lost his job and then got kicked out as the landlord increased his rent by another £250pm.

[wheredidthetimego]

Some Rich people have been oppressing poor people for many centuries haven’t they?

[pgl]

My grandfather was born and raised very close to Islandeady. I wonder if my great grandparents were also tenants that petitioned to Sir Palmer for mercy.

[SB-mmzh]

Does this remind anyone of what is currently happening in a certain place in the middle East at the moment and for decades and which is and has been ignored by the world???? I'm talking about land being confiscated from the natives and their being thrown off their own land.

[deborahross]

On my Mother's side via her Father. I'm related to a former President and to a man who went with William the Conquerer when he went to England and conquered. Don't know much about my Father's ancestry. I do know I'm English, Irish and German may be a touch of Scottish too. God bless.

[teviottilehurst]

My mother's maiden name was Palmer. My dad's Catholic great grandfather was forced to emigrate from Ireland (Mayo) to England because of the potato famine. My ancestry DNA tells me I'm English 49%, Irish 31%, Welsh 11%, Scottish, 3%, Danish 4% and German 2%. Born in England with an Irish surname. Definitely side with my Irish familly 😢😢😢😢

[MB-hctk]

Heartbreaking but also makes you wonder just how many British people have Irish heritage and don’t realise it …the figure they gave in my sons history book was an estimated figure of 250000 Irish people went to England as part of the diaspora during famine (or genocide times whatever way you want to look at it ) but perhaps even more. Having spoke to British friends over the years many did not know a fraction of what went on. I’m not sure if any of it at all is taught in British schools as part of their history ( considering Ireland was part of the uk at the time I feel it should be seen as part of their history too ) perhaps then people would be more understanding.

[DeirdrePower]

I found a letter frump my grandmother recently .. explaining how her grandmother in co Clare had been evicted from her house and farm and her house burnt down by the English ..
happy ending .. she went on to have have 12 more children and another farm with the help of God

[shelleygibbons]

My family emigrated from north Ireland 🇮🇪 potato famine dirt poor . My dad's side . 1/4 irish . + 1/4 so very Normandy french . 50 percent everything scottish

[SweetOne.]

The career of the third Viscount Palmerston as foreign secretary and prime minister has been thoroughly studied, but few are aware that he was one of the first Irish landlords to finance the emigration of starving tenants to America during the great Irish famine.

[thelolguy]

If any good has come out of all these documentaries and the knowledge that has been past on it’s that now the English have some idea why they are hated the World over. They used to walk around with their heads in the sky with all the airs and graces, oblivious to what they and their country had done, the pain and suffering they had caused. Now they might just start to see the wee Irish aren’t what they thought we were. All we were doing was looking for a way out. A way for them to leave us be

[carolinejohnson]

My ancestors left Ireland because of the potato famine and moved to