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President Obama may only stay in Ireland for five hours

Initial White House planning shows very short stay

NIALL O'DOWD,

IrishCentral.com Founder

Published Thursday, March 31, 2011, 4:44 PM

Updated Thursday, March 31, 2011, 4:44 PM

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President Obama disembarking Air Force One - initial plans suggest he will only be in Ireland for five hours

Photo by Life

Initial plans by the White House have President Barack Obama staying in Ireland for only a little over five hours according to sources, before heading to London on May 23rd.

The short time comes as a major shock to Irish authorities who are expecting at least a day’s worth of activities and an overnight.

However, at the initial planning stage, the White House personnel penciled in only five hours for the Irish leg of the European trip.

One White House insider called it a “hot minute” trip when asked to describe it.

The earliest plan has the president arriving in Dublin for several events and then flying by helicopter to Moneygall, the ancestral home of his sixth great grandfather Falmouth Kearney where he would land on the local GAA playing field.

He would then take part in the events in the village to celebrate his arrival.Afterwards plans are that he would fly to Britain where he is to take part in a state visit.

An insider said Obama was making the trip purely at the behest of American Ambassador Dan Rooney who had played a key role in Obama’s victory in Pennsylvania. As owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers Rooney’s endorsement had meant a tremendous amount to Obama.

Sources were quick to stress that the preliminary program may well be altered significantly as the date of the trip looms.

They also stated that there was a new awareness in the White House that such a short trip could have negative rather than positive implications for Obama among Irish Americans and that it would be seen as purely an election vote getting gimmick.

Nster.com

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57 Comments

15 - 57 | See all comments

MissingIreland | Mar 31, 2011, 01:13 PM EDT

To my friends in Ireland: May I say, from the U.S., that this trip is primarily a photo op. and vote getting stunt trying to show Americans that he cares about you. Hell, he doesn't even care about Americans (unless their registered democrats), so what are your chances? I say you have many pressing problems to deal with right now that are far more important than "entertaining" this guy. Ireland! Show him the door!!!!!!!!

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Oonaghx | Mar 30, 2011, 10:33 PM EDT

guiseppe - This man is a joke! There are those of us that feel he should never have been elected in the first place. It has nothing to do with a "lack of civility", its about giving a person the most important job in the US when that person does not have the ability or experience to do it. There is so much riding on this position but, Obama took one look at the job description saw that travel was involved and applied. Little did the well intentioned citizens that voted for him realize that the hope and change he chanted about was a load of BS.

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guiseppe | Mar 30, 2011, 09:58 PM EDT

I'm stunned by the lack of civility of some of the comments made regarding President Obama. Lord help us.

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kateomprint | Mar 30, 2011, 06:12 PM EDT

Maybe he shouldn't bother flying into ireland at all and just go straight to Britain hardly seems worth our while going through all this for just five hours

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hyattsville | Mar 30, 2011, 02:23 PM EDT

AAAArg Doc. The paranoids have taken over the computer room and are hammering away with the caps locked. Up the antipsychotic meds quick.

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Irishjule | Mar 30, 2011, 01:57 PM EDT

IF THE IRISH ARE LUCKY, HE WON'T COME AT ALL. HE IS THE MOST EGOTISTICAL, SOCIALISTIC, VACATION-LOVING, CONSTITUTION-IGNORING STUFFED SHIRT THAT HAS EVER BEEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT AMERICA AND HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT IRELAND. HE LIKES THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE U. S.

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Woodkern | Mar 30, 2011, 12:48 PM EDT

JeanneTherese, put down the meth pipe and take your keyboard off caps lock.

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JeanneTherese | Mar 30, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT

YOU ARE BLESSED THAT HE WILL ONLY BE THERE 5 HOURS. HE IS JUST USING OUR TAX DOLLARS HERE IN USA TO GET FREE TRAVEL. HE IS THE WORST PRESIDENT THE USA HAS EVER HAD AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE WELCOMED IN HIGH FASHION IN IRELAND OR ANY OTHER PLACE FOR THAT MATTER. HIS HISTORY OF BEING IRISH DNA IS FUNNY...WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE WAS BORN HERE IN USA. HE HIDES SO MUCH FROM US AND DOES TOO MANY THING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. MAN(HE)TALKS WITH FORKED TONGUE. BEWARE! HE IS MUSLIM AND IN BED WITH HAMAS....KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND PRAY THAT GOD IS AT YOUR BACKS.

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antoman | Mar 30, 2011, 09:11 AM EDT

I'll see your Queen and President Obama and raise you a Prince Albert of Monaco.

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Realist | Mar 30, 2011, 05:18 AM EDT

Well, the 5-hour stop over 'visit' sounds about right. It's commensurate with Ireland's place in the World and the US pecking order. A debt-ridden third World country off the North West coast of mainland Europe desperately seeking attention and financial aid.

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Advocate | Mar 29, 2011, 11:57 PM EDT

How much is this useless 'Vacation' costing We the SHEEPle? Why do we tolerate, and pay for, this hogwash? We don't care! Sad, but true....

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Advocate | Mar 29, 2011, 10:23 PM EDT

If Obama's plane takes off late from Washington DC he may have to sacrifice the 5 hour Irish visit and fly direct to England. Is a 5 hours visit worth the effort?

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merlemann55 | Mar 29, 2011, 09:22 PM EDT

I think it is a waste of money and an insult to Ireland. You would do all Americans a favor if you kept him there.

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peterson | Mar 29, 2011, 09:11 PM EDT

He has lost favor in the USA with the intelligent citizens! No further comment.

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hollabackgurl | Mar 29, 2011, 06:51 PM EDT

God, there are more trolls per square foot here than in a Norwegian fairytale.

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