It’s a well-known fact that if a person achieves global fame in the world of art, entertainment, politics or sport then there is a very good chance that they have some remote link to our glorious, wet rock in the North Atlantic.
By Robert Carry
If any sort of a link can be established, regardless of how remote, then we own that individual and we can rightfully expect them to publically attribute their greatness to the Irish blood in their veins, appear on the Late, Late Show and ultimately lead the St Patrick’s Day parade down O’Connell Street.
Not many people know this but Paris Hilton, American sex tape star, socialite and jailbird, is as Irish as having three aunty Marys.
Paris Whitney Hilton was born way back in February 1981 in New York, to businessman Richard Hilton and his wife Kathy Hilton (née Avanzino). Although the Hiltons are something of a melting pot with Norwegian, German, English and Italian ancestry, there is also a particularly prominent Irish connection.
Both her parents were California-born, but you don’t have to go much further back to find the first Irish-born relative. While one of her great-grand parents is the famous Conrad Hilton, founder of the hotel chain responsible for a large chunk of the familial wealth, another is Dorothy Adelaide Callahan who was born in 1905 in Dublin. She found her way to the States where she lived until her death in 1984 – three years after Paris’ birth.
Paris came to Ireland back in November 2006 to launch a perfume range where she, with typically clingy American over-statement, confirmed the link. When asked why she had chosen our fair isle as the location for her perfume launch, she responded, “Because I’m Irish.â€
Drink-addled
The interviewer resisted the urge to say “No you’re not,†or to point out that bathing yourself in a green light while filming a homemade sex tape doesn’t make you Irish. The drink-addled convict then added, “I’ve never been here before and I’ve always wanted to come here, my whole life. I’m fourth generation Irish. My great grandmother Dorothy Doogan was from Dublin.”
Hilton added that she had developed a thing for Irish men, continuing, “Irish guys are hot. Colin Farrell is definitely hot and Cillian Murphy has the sexiest eyes. I’d like an Irish guy.â€
A further link was found during the trip when the Simple Life star’s mother revealed she planned to use the trip to seek out a long-lost nanny. Kathy Hilton said she couldn’t leave Dublin without trying to get in contact with Marie Clifford, from the city, who looked after her when she was ten or 11.
So there you have it. Next time you run into Paris Hilton, play the Irish card. You could be a sex tape star within hours.
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