Bruce Springsteen's theme song may be "Born In The USA" but he's really an Irishman.

A new book celebrating the rock star's great concerts in Ireland over the past 25 years gives a detailed account of his family history and reveals his roots are in Co Westmeath, rather than his beloved New Jersey.

The book 'Land of Hope and Dreams' traces Springsteen's family tree back to the generation which left famine-ravaged Ireland in the 1850s.

Published to mark the 25th anniversary of his first Irish concert at Slane Castle in 1985, the book shows that Springsteen has very strong Irish connections.

According to the authors Moira Sharkey and Greg Lewis, these links go all the way back to Springsteen's great great grandmother. She was a young woman called Ann Garrity, who grew up in the Mullingar area and emigrated to America to escape the deprivation in Ireland in the immediate aftermath of the famine.

She arrived in the United States in 1852 and settled in the town of Freehold, New Jersey, where her descendants stayed over the next few generations, down to Springsteen's own arrival. The Boss himself was born in Freehold 60 years ago.

Like his father before him, Springsteen grew up in Freehold and went to the local St Rose of Lima School, where he was taught by nuns.

Springsteen was in the school from 1955 to 1963 and then transferred to Freehold High School where he joined his first rock band. He later made Freehold famous in one of his songs.

"This is the first time the full extent of Springsteen's Irish roots has been uncovered," said Derry-born Moira Sharkey.

"Bruce's paternal lineage is made up of generation after generation of Irish men and women."

So although his great great grandmother came from Mullingar, he also has links to other places in Ireland.

"His father's ancestors include the family names Garrity, Farrell, McNicholas, Sullivan, O'Hagan and McCann," Sharkey says.

Springsteen's grandmother on his father's side was an Irish woman called O'Hagan, and her family tree can be traced back to Ann Garrity from Mullingar.

"The Springsteen surname comes from his grandfather Anthony Springsteen who married into the Irish family -- his wife was Martha O'Hagan," Sharkey adds.

The authors suggest that this Irish heritage may help to explain why The Boss is so popular here.

"Springsteen has an incredible connection with Irish audiences, selling out show after show down the years. Perhaps this family history reveals why that connection is so strong," Sharkey says.

The new book, which is published this month, features more than 150 photographs from the 10 Irish tours which The Boss has done.

^{Published by Magic Rat Books is available from www.springsteeninireland.com and a limited number of bookshops.}