A deathbed conversion of someone who knew they were dying. Old age coupled with inability to cope with the fear of death is what I would chalk it up to.
Don't know if you have noticed, but religious people have this weird tendency to claim they were part of the other side to garnish fake respect for their argument.
I also am mostly of Irish decent (So much so that I am directly decended from all the Kings of Connacht) and I don't think I should be guilty by simply sharing something uncontrollable.