Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the comedian said his family, including his five-month-old granddaughter Patty, travelled to Mayo to visit the house where his Father’s great-grandparents were born.
He told his audience that he had discovered he has a lot of family in Mayo, after tracing his ancestry online through Ancestry.com.
Mr Kimmel admitted that his family hadn’t realised their trip coincided with the Irish presidential election.
“Friday was their election, and no one seemed terrified,” he joked, comparing the seemingly calm atmosphere in Ireland with the high political tensions back home in the US.
During the segment, Mr Kimmel showed a photo of Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys shaking hands and asked his audience what about the photograph felt different to them.
“Two women, yes, that’s a big one, but also the day before the election [they are] sharing a warm embrace,” he said.
“Connolly won and, get this, her opponent said, ‘Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best’,
“Two very’s, no caps, no whining about the election being rigged. Makes you wonder what’s wrong with these people,” he kidded.
The studio audience burst into a cheer as Mr Kimmel pointed out that American voters are not used to such gracious behaviour, a sharp contrast to the bitterness that has become a natural part of recent US Presidential elections.
The photo of Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys shown on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Photo: Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The 57-year-old went on to reflect on how Irish people view America under President Donald Trump, saying that many people he met in Mayo and elsewhere were “worried” about what’s happening across the Atlantic.
“They had a lot of questions I couldn’t answer like ‘Why is he knocking down the White House?’ I don’t know. Nobody knows. I don’t think he even knows.”
Mr Kimmel said it was a great trip to Mayo and also praised the warmth and generosity of the Irish people, saying his family were struck by the kindness they experienced everywhere they went.
“Everything they say about the Irish people is true, we had not one bad experience with anyone,” he said.
Mr Kimmel shared a story about his niece leaving her purse behind in a pub.
A local woman found the purse, tracked down the hotel where his niece was staying, and personally drove there to return it, refusing to accept any money by way of thanks.
“[She] really seemed confused about the idea that my niece would even offer her money for it, they don’t know we have more of a hostage type situation when we find a purse,” he joked.
It’s good to know that, even to famous Hollywood visitors, Ireland’s reputation for warmth and kindness holds true.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.