Taylor Swift turns out to be a Derry Girl – pop megastar invited to city as ancestral links revealed

It comes as excitement among fans grows in anticipation of performances in Dublin at the end of this month.

Taylor Swift rose to fame with her single Love Story exploring themes of romance, personal growth, and in some respects, heartbreak and tragedy.

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum has now discovered that there was a love story before Love Story.

It began 172 years before the hit single, on 11 June 1836, when two young people emigrated from Ireland to the USA, aboard the ship Amy sailing from Derry.

Susan Davis was a 21-year-old dressmaker, Francis Gwynn a 21-year-old weaver.

Their chance encounter sewed the seams of a tale that would transcend generations, and created a global impact far greater than either could have imagined.

Their two-month-long voyage culminated in the ship docking in Philadelphia on August 20.

It’s unclear if Susan and Francis departed together and went their separate ways, or if they stayed in touch. What is clear is that three years later, the pair married.

Their love burned bright, and delivered them six children named Ann, John, William, Francis, Joseph, and Mary.

Although sadly, five of those children predeceased Susan and Francis, they were survived by daughter Mary Gwynn, who is Taylor Swift’s great-great-grandmother. Mary laid the loving couple to rest, a mere two months apart.

Some might speculate the latter died of a broken heart, or that might just be folklore.

Current Derry Mayor Lilian Seenoi-Barr has described herself as a proud ‘Massai woman and Derry girl’.

She emigrated to Derry from her home country of Kenya and has made Derry her home, becoming the first black mayor in Northern Ireland.

Ms Seenoi-Barr now helps other emigrants to settle in the city as founder of the North West Migrants Forum.

As Taylor Swift’s ancestral ties allude to, more than 10million Irish people left these shores for a life elsewhere.

Ms Seenoi-Barr said she was not “one bit surprised” to hear that Taylor Swift’s roots may have ancestral links to the city and that she intends to invite her to visit Derry when she is in Ireland later this month should her schedule allow it.

“Everyone wants to be a Derry girl — it’s the most privileged accolade there is,” Ms Seenoi-Barr said.

“Anyone who follows Taylor Swift’s success story will not be surprised that she may have Derry roots — she is a talented songwriter, singer and performer with a genuine down to earth personality — all the traits of a Derry girl!

“This is such exciting news for the city ahead of her three-night sell out shows in Dublin when she will perform to tens of thousands of music lovers from across the island.”

She added: “We are extremely proud to add Taylor Swift to our hall of fame and would love to have her come visit and trace her Derry roots.

“The fact that she is an activist for gender rights and for more women representation in leadership further confirms her traits as a true Derry girl.

“Who knows we may see Taylor Swift popping up in a future Derry Girls movie. How amazing would that be!”