Few would think there would be any connection between one of the world’s biggest rockstars and the Co Tyrone parish of Termonmaguirc.
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, who died by suicide in 1994, spoke in the months before his death of discovering his Irish heritage, but never managed to find out the extent of his roots here.
Samuel and Letitia Cobane, as the original spelling was, left the Carrickmore townland of Inishatieve with their six children in 1875 for Ontario, Canada.
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Five generations later and the renowned Nirvana frontman was born in Seattle to his parents Donald and Wendy on 20 February 1967.
After a talent for music and art was quickly discovered by Kurt and his family, he went on to tour the world with the band, most famous for its album Nevermind and song Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Kurt married Courtney Love in 1992 and their daughter Frances Bean was born soon after, with their daughter sharing the name of her great grand aunt, daughter of Carrickmore man John James Cobain.
The hugely talented musician suffered for years with physical and mental health issues, as well as substance abuse before his death at the age of just 27. His death came three days before Nirvana were due to perform at the RDS in Dublin.
The village of Carrickmore recently held an event to mark the link between Cobain and his Co Tyrone ancestry, walking from the family home in Termonmaguirc to the Patrician Hall in the middle of the town.
A plaque now proudly sits at the entrance to the hall, outlining the heritage of the Cobain family in the area. Many of Cobain’s relatives continue to live in the area today.
Chairperson of the Patrician Hall, Eilish Gormley, said those in the village were very proud of the link.
“We had a culture night activity there in September and a walk to the Cobain ancestral home in the village.
“We also had a Cobain themed traditional session with some local musicians which was brilliant.
“We’re very proud obviously that we’ve got a connection to it. There are still loads of family in Carrickmore that are directly connected.”
Speaking the year before his death, Cobain said he had never felt more spiritual than when spending time in Ireland.
“I never really knew about my ancestors until this year, when I learned the name Cobain was Irish,” Cobain said in 1993.
“My parents had never bothered to find that stuff out. When we toured Ireland, I walked around in a daze.
“I’d never felt more spiritual in my life. It was the weirdest feeling and I have a friend who was with me who could testify to this.. I was almost in tears the whole day.
“Since that tour, which was about two years ago, I’ve had a sense that I was from Ireland.”
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