// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Andy Burnham has a lot of Irish roots - will he play on them during his visit?
Andy Burnham once said his three biggest influences growing up were Everton, Labour and the Catholic Church
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was quick to talk up his proud Irish roots on his last visit to Northern Ireland and we can expect more of the same this time.
Back then, the Mayor of Manchester was still plotting his route to Westminister when he addressed the Alliance Party conference in March.
"If only my ancestors who left Drogheda for Liverpool in the late 1800s could see me now," he told delegates in Belfast before going on to say: "It's nice to feel wanted by a political party."
That was a pointed dig at the then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who was trying to block Burnham's pathway to No 10.
Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heelat a recent Everton match
Now Burnham is back in Northern Ireland as prime minister and expect his Irish heritage to feature once more.
He may mention that his father Roy is a Protestant and his mother Eileen is Catholic.
A former altar boy, Burnham has said his Catholic upbringing had a big impact on his life.
In fact, he once said his three biggest influences growing up were Everton Football Club, Labour and the Catholic Church.