Obama’s ancestral home Moneygall still abuzz after visit

Henry the 8th , Obama’s cousin says ‘there is a hive of activity’

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Obama's cousin Henry Healy

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Despite Obama’s departure from his ancestral home of Moneygall, his visit is continuing to have an  effect on the Offaly village.

As American and Irish flags fly side by side in the town, one Irish-American tourist stopped into the town to soak up the atmosphere.

“I was on my way from Glenstal Abbey to Dublin and after seeing the visit I had to stop,” said Kathy Klugman, from Denver Colarado.

“It’s been an amazing week to be here, between the Queen’s visit last week and this,” she told the Irish Times.

President Obama’s eighth cousin, Henry Healy was out and about speaking to tourists about the visit.
“It’s still very busy, there’s a hive of activity, people are travelling from all around to come and see his home place,” he said.

“Someone called my house today asking to buy my tie off me, they were going to drive from Athlone. I hope that it continues; like every rural village we could do with every bit.

“It’s good to see people coming, and for a good reason,” he added.

In Donavan’s shop, Clodagh and her husband John who own Obama’s ancestral home spoke about showing the President around the house on Monday.

“He just said ‘I can’t believe I am standing on the floor my ancestors left in 1851’,” she said

She is hopeful the Presidential visit will encourage more Americans to come and visit the Offaly town.

“Up to now it would have been mostly Irish [visitors] but they say after he has been here you get the Americans,” she told the Irish Times.

Local publican Ollie Hayes was welcoming revelers to his bar on Tuesday as he posed for pictures outside telling them: “we are living the dream”.

Guinness representative Valerie Leyden arrived to remove the keg of Guinness which the President drank from, she hinted there were big plans for memorabilia.

“There’s something along the lines of a hall of fame,” she said.

On the main street An Siopa Beag owner, Mary Fanny spoke about meeting the president and described him as a “normal individual”.
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