Muhammad Ali is Irish, say researchers

Ananova ^ | 02/08/02

[Arkle]

Muhammad Ali is Irish, according to new genealogical evidence.

Researchers at the County Clare Heritage Centre in the south west of Ireland have unearthed documentation to show one of Ali's great grandfathers came from the county town of Ennis.

It seems Abe Grady, born around 160 years ago in County Clare, emigrated to the United States in the 1860s. He settled in Kentucky and later married an African-American woman.

Their son also married an African-American and one of the daughters of that union was Ali's mother, named Odessa Lee Grady. She married Cassius Clay, senior, and they settled in Louisville, where their son, later to become known as the Louisville Lip, was initially given his father's name on his birth in 1942.

He later changed his name to Muhammad Ali when he converted to the Nation of Islam after winning the world title in 1964.

Genealogist Antoinette O'Brien said: "Through research being carried out for the Irish language TV station TG4 on Ali, we established Ali's great-great grandfather, John Grady, the father of Abe, rented a house and a small garden in Ennis with a rateable value of fifteen shillings (75p) in 1855.

"There is no doubt that Abe Grady was Ali's great grandfather. I am not sure whether Ali knows about this - we have not yet managed to contact him."

The development has delighted the small town of Ennis. Local council chairman Michael Corley said: "We would like to honour Ali as one of the heroes of the 20th century and invite him here."

[SP67]

Does this disqualify him from getting reparations?

[HRC]

He only gets 1/4 from the looks of it.

[Savage Beast]

Maybe this news will inspire Cassius to reconvert; maybe he'll become an Irish Catholic. That would certainly be an improvement.

[Aubrey Maturin]

He must be one of those "Black Irish".

Sorry Muhammed, I couldn't resist.

[Happygal]

Mohommad Ali is from Ennis? *ROFL*

``Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee, begorrah!''

[sheik yerbouty]

No, it merely adds a pint of Guiness to it.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Will he now remove Irish jokes from his colorful ethnic repertoire?

[Sabramerican]

Abe

Maybe they should have gone back further.

[machman]

In that picture, he seems to have a bit of a Leprechaun's sparkle in his eye.

[Paradox]

IRISH in em! That explains why he was a great fighter..

[DainBramage]

It also explains why you can't understand him when he talks.

[philman_36]

Caption..."What you talking about Antoinette?"

[r9etb]

I couldn't resist.

You're quick -- I was just about to post the same joke....

[kassie]

My thoughts exactly.

[N. Theknow]

Maybe this news will inspire Cassius to reconvert; maybe he'll become an Irish Catholic. That would certainly be an improvement.

Convert to Catholicism from being a....Shaker?

[skateman]

Funny, I never thought of the Irish as being traitors or cowards.

[Happygal]

It also explains why you can't understand him when he talks.

~raising an eyebrow~
Come over here, and say that! ;-)

[koba]

Shaquille O'Neill is Irish also. Even his name is Irish.