(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
by Shelley Germeaux
Fans of the Beatles know that all four lads were from Liverpool, England, but not as many are aware of the deep Irish heritage that three of them — John, Paul, and George — share. As the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, if you get misty-eyed over Ireland while singing along to “Oh Danny Boy”, you might enjoy a bit of Beatles Irish history.
Liverpool has been called the “Capital of Ireland” because an estimated three-quarters of its people have Irish roots. Irish immigrants poured into Liverpool after the 1798 rebellion as well as the Great Famine of the 1840s, greatly impacting its demographic make-up. Three-quarters of the Beatles also have Irish roots– Ringo Starr is the only Beatle with no trace of Irish background.
It’s no secret that John Lennon was a huge fan of Elvis Presley when he was a teenager. Lennon formed his first band, The Quarrymen, which would later become The Beatles, as a result of his love for Elvis Presley and rock and roll.
