Real-life Mrs Brown lived next to O’Carrolls

Mrs Brown of the comedy TV series could have a basis in reality — as it turns out that creator Brendan O’Carroll’s grandfather lived next door to a woman of the same name a century ago.

The coincidence has emerged from research on an expanding website, www.findmypast.ie, aimed at helping people at home and abroad find their Irish family histories.

It turns out a grandfather of Brendan O’Carroll, who celebrated winning a situation comedy prize at Britain’s National Television Awards last night, lived on the same road as a Mrs Brown.