It looks like Tom Cruise is still excited about his Irish ancestry. The actor was raving about his Irish roots on Jimmy Kimmel Live in America last night.

The Hollywood star told the television host about his recently-learned Irish ancestry that traced back to 9th century. 'I had no idea it went back that far' Cruise said.

the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore presented him with a certificate of Irishness. It is an official recognition by the government of those that are proud of their Irish ancestry and heritage.

800 year-old ancestry

Research commissioned by Tourism Ireland for his visit has unveiled that his family history contained knights in the 12th Century, rebels in the 17th Century and Patrick Russell-Cruise.

The knights in Tom's family were among the first wave of Anglo-Normans to invade Ireland between 1169 and 1176.

In 1176 Augustino de Cruce, one of Strongbow's knights, acted as a legal witness to a grant by Strongbow of lands in Dublin. The Cruise family established themselves in Ireland, and held lands in Dublin and Meath including Naul in north county Dublin and the civil parish of Cruicetown in County Meath to which the family gave their name.

While Patrick Russell-Cruise reinstated tenants on his lands in the 19th Century following their eviction against his wishes by an unscrupulous land-agent. Tom Cruise is a 5th-generation direct descendant of Patrick Russell-Cruise.

Last night, the 50-year-old even took a stab at putting on his best Irish brogue.