John C Reilly

Irish American actor John C Reilly has admitted that he got down on his knees and kissed the ground when he finally made it to Ireland for the first time.

It was brilliant." I thought it was important to come here and help bring people together." I thought it just went over the bridge and that’s it - lights out, goodnight everybody. Speaking about this role as International Guest of Honour at the Dublin parade, John said, "I really embraced the part. "You guys get to be Irish all year round. "Next of all, we’re up on Dawson Street and we’re going to The Liberties. I was like oh my god, my cheeks are going to crack from smiling. My dad is somewhere probably enjoying it more than me." "He was the fountainhead. Each year he’d take one of us over to visit and I didn’t get my turn with him." "I thought, `I’m making dreams come true! The fifth of six children, John’s deep grá for Ireland is all down to his proud Irish dad, who passed away several years ago. I wanted to show what it meant to me.