Pierce Brosnan
Brosnan in 2008, photo by PrPhotos
Birth Name: Pierce Brendan Brosnan
Place of Birth: Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
Date of Birth: 16 May, 1953
Ethnicity: Irish
Pierce Brosnan is an Irish actor, film producer, environmentalist, and activist. He is known for playing James Bond in four films, and for his roles in The Matador, Dante’s Peak, The Thomas Crown Affair, and The Ghost Writer.
Pierce was born in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, to May (Smith) and Thomas Brosnan, a carpenter. He grew up in Navan, County Meath for twelve years, and moved to London, England, during his teenage years. He has said:
It amuses me in some respects that they should confuse me with an Englishman when I’m dyed-in-the-wool, born and bred Irishman … I don’t necessarily fly under any flag.
Pierce was raised a Catholic and has stated that he has strong faith in God. He also studies Buddhism.
Pierce was selected People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2001. He is thus far the only Irish-born man to have been given this title by the magazine.
Pierce is married to journalist and author Keely Shaye Smith, with whom he has two children. He was married to Australian actress Cassandra Harris until her death in 1991, and the couple had three children.
Pierce’s paternal grandfather was Pierce Brosnahan (later Brosnan, the son of John Patrick Brosnahan, later Brosnan, and of Margaret Pierce/Pierse). Pierce’s grandfather Pierce was born in Rathanny, Ballymcelligott, County Kerry. John was born in Kerry, the son of John Brosnan and Bridget Sullivan.
Pierce’s paternal grandmother was Jane Costello (the daughter of Michael Costello and Jane Hagan). Pierce’s grandmother Jane was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, to Irish emigrants, from Queen’s County (now County Laois).
Pierce’s maternal grandfather was named Philip Smyth (later Smith, the son of Patrick Smyth).
Pierce’s maternal grandmother was Kathleen Reilly (the daughter of Michael Reilly and Mary Monaghan).
Source: Genealogy of Pierce Brosnan – https://www.geni.com
Once again, I would like to inform you that Irish civil records are now accessed with images attached them: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie
Pierce’s paternal grandparents were Pierce Brosnahan (later Brosnan, the son of John Brosnahan, later Brosnan, and of Margaret Pierce) and Jane Costello (the daughter of Michael Costello and Jane Hagan). Jane was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, to Irish immigrants, from Queen’s County (now County Laois).
Pierce’s maternal grandparents were Philip Smyth (later Smith, the son of Patrick Smyth) and Kathleen Kelly (the daughter of James Kelly).
Was that Brosnan’s grandmother or great-grandmother who was born in the U.S.?
Sorry for late reply. Jane’s census record shows that she was born in “America”, along with some of her siblings. However on her 1880 U.S. Census, she was born in “Ireland”. Meanwhile, her name is not found on the Irish civil birth records. I made the conclusion that she was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Meanwhile, are you sure of Pierce’s great-grandfather? John Brosnan had no middle name, and the names of his parents are unverified.
It’s clearly the same man in this genealogy. Whether it’s accurate, I don’t know.
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=kabred&id=I2254
Okay, I can see it right now.
Is “Costello” an Irish name?
Yes, it is.
Pierce’s maternal grandmother was Kathleen Reilly (not Kelly), and she was the daughter of Michael Reilly and Mary Monaghan.
He looks more typical Anglo-Saxon English to me than Irish. I though he was Scottish anyway for some reason. He’s a similar type to Hugh Grant imo