The Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco will host an evening event on Thursday, April 30 at 19:00, exploring the deep and often overlooked Irish roots of Princess Grace and the lasting legacy of her family’s transatlantic story.
The 45-minute discussion, followed by a drinks reception, will bring together retired diplomats Peter K. Murphy and Pierre Joannon—both of whom knew Princess Grace personally—alongside Dublin historian William Harrison Jr., whose academic research has examined the 1961 State Visit of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace to Ireland.
The talk will trace Princess Grace’s ancestry back to County Mayo, where her grandfather John Henry Kelly was born in 1847 before emigrating to Philadelphia in 1867 at the age of 20. From that starting point, the conversation will follow the family’s journey through Irish-American history and eventually back to Ireland through Grace Kelly’s own life and role as Princess of Monaco.
A central theme will be the landmark 1961 visit, when Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace travelled to Ireland, including a visit to the Kelly homestead in Drimurla, near Newport in the west of Ireland. The modest two-bedroom cottage, located near Lough Feeagh, marked a poignant moment in Princess Grace’s personal history, her first visit to the land of her ancestors.
Speakers will combine diplomatic insight, historical research and first-hand recollections to examine how the visit was organised, what it represented diplomatically at the time, and its cultural resonance for both Ireland and Monaco.
The discussion comes amid continued interest in Princess Grace’s Irish heritage, following a 2023 tribute by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, who unveiled a sculpture in Newport honouring his mother’s connection to County Mayo.
The evening will conclude with audience discussion and a reception, offering guests the chance to continue the conversation in a more informal setting. Tickets are priced at €10 and include a post-event drink, and can be reserved on the PGIL website here.
