Ireland celebrates Michelle Obama in advance of Presidential visit

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First Lady Michelle Obama

Photo by Just Jared

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G is for Gardening. In 2009, Michelle and her team created a garden at the White House to promote healthy eating options and alternative food sources in urban areas. She's also invited schoolchildren to the White House to help tend the garden and take part in other activities. And now there's a book about the project in the pipeline.

H is for Height. Michelle is not just a towering intellect but at five feet 11 inches tall, she is the loftiest First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt. Oh and by the way, Michelle works out in the gym "like a gladiator" according to her friends.

I is for Icon. Is it too early to call Michelle an icon? Well, the American media don't think so. The world "icon" seems to feature in every mention of Michelle whether it's in connection with motherhood or fashion.

J is for "Just don't screw it up buddy." Those were the words Michelle said to her husband moments before he went on stage at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, the event that began his relatively short road to the White House.

K is for Kenwood. The Obama's private residence is in Kenwood on the south side of Chicago. It's relatively modest abode but its historical features have made it a stop off on the Chicago Architecture Foundation bus tour.

L is for Linguini. Michelle cooks a mean shrimp linguini, her husband's favourite meal.

M is for Malia. The official Michelle Obama biography on the White House website says it straight: "When people ask First Lady Michelle Obama to describe herself, she doesn't hesitate to say that first and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha's mom." The Obama's oldest daughter was born on the fourth of July 1998. She lists "gymnastics and tap" as her interests but the media is taking a huge interest in something else - her height. At a mere twelve years of age, Malia is variously reported to be between five-foot-nine and five-foot-eleven inches tall which is at least nine inches taller than the average height of a girl her age.

N is for Non-profit organisation. When she worked for the Chicago Office of Public Allies her fundraising efforts set records. Twelve years later and nobody has since raised as much money for this non-profit organisation as Michelle has.

O is for Obama. She's been an Obama since 1992 but Michelle's maiden name is Robinson and she can trace her roots all the way back to her great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, who was a slave in South Carolina before the Civil War.

P is for Presidential visit. The First Family make their first visit to Ireland n May and wherever Barack goes Michelle will be there by his side.

Q is for Quitting. Long used to seeing the wives of politicians coming second to their careers, Michelle made some strict demands on Barack when he first entered politics. She also made him promise to quit smoking when he told her he was running for the Presidency. Recently Obama announced he has been tobacco free for a whole year.

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