Irish roots far and away the best honour, says Cruise

Tom Cruise, renowned for his dedication to his fans, lived up to his reputation at the premiere of his film Oblivion last night in Dublin.

The actor spent over an hour on the red carpet outside the Savoy Cinema on Dublin’s O’Connell St, signing autographs and posing for pictures with his adoring public.

Thousands of fans lined the street for hours to catch a glimpse of the now honorary Irishman.

Cruise said he was fascinated to learn of his heritage, which had come as a huge surprise.

He even tried his hand at speaking some Irish.

“After I got my heritage I had to go pull myself a pint of Guinness, it was a lot of fun.”

The star said he was looking forward to audiences seeing his new movie, saying he was really pleased with it.

He added he would also consider shooting a film in Ireland in the future.

“We don’t have the film script, we don’t have locations yet, but we shot here for Far and Away and it was such a great experience.”

Earlier, he said proof of his Irish roots is a great honour for him and his family.

Cruise said he had been taken aback by the depth of his family history.

“I knew I was Irish but I had no idea where it went and the depth of it. It goes all the way back to the 12th century.

“I’m very proud to be Irish. There’s a pride in America of being Irish. I can’t wait to come back and I want to visit the land of my ancestors and the castle that they had.”

Cruise also had engagements with the Irish Film Board, a pre-recorded Late Late Show interview and a visit to the Guinness brewery during his whistlestop visit which began when Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore presented the star with a framed certificate of his Irishness at Iveagh House.

Genealogists, who were commissioned by Tourism Ireland on behalf of The Gathering, revealed the extent of his Irish links.

Cruise was a direct descendant of ‘hero landlord’ Patrick Russell Cruise. His great-great-great grandfather returned from the US to Ireland after his land agent forced families from farms in Co Westmeath in 1843. The landlord restored tenants to 500 acres around the townlands in Paristown and Dardistown.

Cruise was born Tom Cruise Mapathor IV in 1962.

The research showed the Cruise and Mapathor families settled in Ireland, with roots going back 800 years with a third family, the Russells, also prominent. The Cruises can trace their history back to Strongbow.