Lilian Seenoi-Barr, the newly-elected Mayor of Derry City and Strabane, has penned a letter to pop superstar Taylor Swift inviting her to visit Derry later in the month.
Swift's ties to Derry were recently revealed by EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, just before Swift brings her smash hit Eras Tour to Dublin's Aviva Stadium for three sold-out nights this month, June 28 - 30.
"I am honored and delighted to share the news that over 170 years ago, your great-great-grandparents left the shores of the city of Derry in the north of Ireland on board a ship called 'The Amy' to travel to Philadelphia in the United States in search of a better life," Seenoi-Barr wrote in her letter to Swift.
"We are extremely proud to call you a Derry girl and are hugely excited to extend this invitation to you to come visit and allow us to help you trace your ancestral journey and explore the places and stories that form part of your heritage."
Seenoi-Barr noted that the people of Derry have followed Swift's "remarkable" journey in recent years, adding that Derry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years.
"We have become a city that embraces diversity and champions innovation, while holding a deep respect for our rich cultural heritage," she wrote.
"As someone who has inspired millions with your music and philanthropy, we believe that your visit would be a poignant and inspiring homecoming, bridging past and present in a celebration of our roots."
Seenoi-Barr said Swift's presence in Derry would simultaneously honor her ancestors and inspire a new generation of youths to follow their dreams with passion and determination.
Today I wrote to @taylorswift13 to ask her to come and visit Derry during her trip to Ireland!
— Mayor Derry Strabane (@mayordcsdc) June 20, 2024
We are proud to call Taylor a Derry Girl and are hugely excited to extend this invitation to her to help her trace her ancestral journey.
C'mon let's see if we can make this happen! pic.twitter.com/RBJZtg3ovv
Of course, this month won't be Swift's first time visiting the island of Ireland.
Back in 2018, Swift reportedly spent Christmas at Glin Castle in Co Limerick with her now-ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. The pop star is believed to have fallen in love with the Munster area of Ireland when she visited there before performing two shows in Dublin’s Croke Park that summer.
Swift even threw some support to the local Glin GAA club, purchasing raffle tickets. When Swift announced that she was bringing her Eras Tour to Dublin this summer, Glin GAA in Co Limerick said they would love to present her with a GAA jersey upon her return.
In July 2021, eagle-eyed Swfities noticed that that pop star had shared pictures believed to have been taken in Porstalon, Co Donegal.
Taylor Swift has shared some lovely moments enjoying Magherawarden Beach, Portsalon yesterday. We hope @taylorswift13 you had a wonderful time in #Donegal #keepdiscoveringdonegal #LoveDonegal @DiscoverIreland @wildatlanticway https://t.co/6P6cxc0H9V
— Donegal Tourism (@govisitdonegal) July 25, 2021
A few months later, Swift was snapped in Belfast where her then-boyfriend Joe Alwyn had been filming "Conversations with Friends," an adaptation of Irish author Sally Rooney's novel.
❤️| New photos of @TaylorSwift13 in Shu Restaurant on Lisburn Rd! pic.twitter.com/mbEKBOzazN
— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) September 12, 2021
The following year, Swift gave Co Wicklow a shout-out on her song "Sweet Nothing" from her "Midnights" album.
I spy with my little tired eye
Tiny as a firefly
A pebble that we picked up last July
Down deep inside your pocket
We almost forgot it
Does it ever miss Wicklow sometimes?
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