Wait a second, Matt Cassell is Irish? Really?

This from the always excellent Reiss's pieces in the Globe - printed early 2008 however I am only seeing it now;

Do you have any plans for your time off?
“My wife and I are going to take a trip to Ireland and check out some of our heritage. Then I’ll just come home, relax a bit, and get ready to go.”

So Cassell has Irish roots? Nice one.

If Matt Cassell didn't get that sweater in O'Carrolls Irish gift shop I don't know where he got it!!

Is it compulsory for Patriots QBs to have Irish roots? Apparently Brady's family is from Cork originally.