The career of Paul McCartney hardly needs an introduction. The Beatle was born James Paul McCartney on June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England, to Jim and Mary Patricia (Mahon) McCartney. Read more Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson’s Irish rootsMcCartney family’s Irish rootsMary’s father was born in Ireland, and she was Roman Catholic, while Jim’s great-grandfather was an Irish native and Protestant. It is unknown which part of Ireland Paul McCartney’s paternal ancestors came from, but it is known that they first emigrated from Ireland to Galloway, Scotland, and then to Liverpool. Mother Mary of “Let It Be”Poignantly, Paul's mother, Mary, died when he was just 14.