It now appears that the White House decision to fly by helicopter despite high winds form Dublin to Moneygall last week was one fraught with danger.
Journalists present on the media helicopter which flew at the same time have now gone public and described the ride as the roughest in their experience and it is believed several of them got sick on route as the helicopter pitched and swayed in the gale force winds.
The decision to fly was a last second one and the Irish government were taken aback because the winds far exceeded normal levels for presidential helicopter trips. They had laid out an alternative trip by road to Moneygall.
New York Times reporter Mark Landler yesterday described the situation. saying that despite the weather ... “the military pilots decided to go anyway, and four helicopters took off with Mr. Obama and his retinue for a stomach-churning, 40-minute flight across the windswept countryside."
In Moneygall some of the American media stated that Obama’s impromptu downing of the pint of Guinness was in reaction to the dangerous trip.
There was more drama to come in Dublin according to the Times on the return trip “When the president’s aides climbed out back in Dublin, a fierce gust, combined with the wash from the helicopter’s rotors, caught Mr. Obama’s senior European adviser, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, and threw her to the ground.
“Ms. Sherwood-Randall got to her feet, but the wind ripped two bags out of her hands, scattering their contents — a sheaf of commemorative posters of Mr. Obama’s visit — across a field. A dozen Irish police officers chased after the fluttering pieces of paper in vain.
White House doctors on the scene examined Ms. Sherwood-Randall, who was shaken up, and she stayed on the trip.
One other point showing how happy Obama was to get to Moneygall was that when Secret Service men tried to usher him inside when it began raining he refused to go because he was having such a good time.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.McNamara31 | May 31, 2011, 05:34 PM EDT
John5319... How's that "bearing false witness" working for you?
ciarrai | May 31, 2011, 04:13 PM EDT
Obama has more guts, heart, decency and smarts than any 10 conservatives you could assemble. It's not even close. As to AnneChambersUSA, stay away from the cooking sherry. John5319, you are under the impression that he needs to get the Irish vote. I don't think he needs it. He will murder whomever it is that the Repubs finally throw up there. Any questions?
badolan | May 31, 2011, 02:43 PM EDT
Looks like the right wing, bug-eyed paranoid Obama haters are out in force. The scary thing is that they actually believe their own nonsense. They just can't abide by a rational and educated president. Obama must have been determined to get to Moneygall to deal with the wild ride it took to get there. I'm glad that he did. Of course, the crazies won't give him any credit. They just can't find it within themselves to. Small minds think alike.
micheals | May 31, 2011, 02:33 PM EDT
yes he can and he did
peterson | May 31, 2011, 01:13 PM EDT
This trip to the Europe he dislikes cost the Americans about a BILLION $$$$. Pretty soon the U.S. will run out of borrowing power. The Liberals are out of control !!
John5319 | May 31, 2011, 09:58 AM EDT
Racism ... is always the key word for the Socialists who lie TO DECEIVE, kill dreams, and destroy the intent of Freedom & Liberty. Don't you remember this: "Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. - John 3:10-12. Wake Up you ignorant "masses"!
goldenblade | May 31, 2011, 12:58 AM EDT
Anne - I bet you are not "pure" Irish. And it was Obama's relations that contacted him - not the other way round. I wonder what happens to Irish people when they move abroad and suddenly turn demented and racist?
AnneChambersUSA | May 30, 2011, 10:45 PM EDT
I love being Irish, I love Ireland. OBAMA is not Irish, he is made up by media hyperbole. The little people under your Irish grass are playing games with you. Better start saying your prayer's and thank the good Lord you live in Ireland. I wish I could come home for good, but will have to settle for "in Gods time". Best to all of you wonderful lads and laddies.
antoman | May 30, 2011, 01:34 PM EDT
@bunkerhill-Should you see my work boots outside the door don't barge in and cause a scene.Wish your wife and I well and feel free to stop by at the weekend. :)
John5319 | May 30, 2011, 01:31 PM EDT
Hey kevinhayes .... PROVE me I'm wrong ??????
kevinhayes | May 30, 2011, 01:23 PM EDT
@John5319 - go back on your meds, dude, and lighten up on all that crazy, right-wing dittohead trash talking. And encourage your buddy, Palin, to run in 2012.
haikued2 | May 30, 2011, 01:12 PM EDT
Why did you write this silly story?
BrendanWalsh | May 30, 2011, 01:11 PM EDT
Wow, next the UK's daily Mail will be telling the world how The Queen was lucky not to hit the rock of Cashel in her helicopter !..As for Obama's drinking problem?...well any man who is willing to be a mouth peace for the crooks who control the USA , deserves a drink .
bunkerhill | May 30, 2011, 01:01 PM EDT
My wife says she likes and misses antoman's outlook on life. She also says his outlook is very Irish and her own family would often respond in the same way.
John5319 | May 30, 2011, 12:09 PM EDT
In this modern age of technology why all the fuss after he's gone from the land of the Irish? Because it was a campaign stop on his way to France, Poland, yet the inclusion of Kosovo's president has caused a diplomatic wrinkle, prompting Serbia and Romania to boycott the event in protest. So for the New York Times to say that this trip was "one fraught with danger", falls in line with them being HIS Ministry of Propaganda and media outlet. The NYT is a joke!! They don't investigate his FAKE Social Security number,...but they did call General Petraeus, General Be-Tray-Us. Then for the writer of this article, to say "the pint of Guinness was in reaction to the dangerous trip" is a further JOKE !! Obama is use to drinking beer (Bud Light), at his "beer summit" were he tried to "calm" racial tensions after a cop(Crowley) arrested Obama's former college professor(Gates) for disorderly conduct during a burglary investigation at the professor's home. The police were answering a 911 caller's report of men breaking and entering the residence. Then Obama goes on to show his contempt for Cops by criticizing the arrest and the response BY THE police. Law enforcement organizations and members objected to Obama's comments and criticized his handling of the issue. In the aftermath, Obama stated that he regretted his comments. So much for this "most intelligent President ever". So now were are to believe, as this writer does, that he is also "the most fearless President ever" because of a Heli ride??? Cut to the chase and REPORT ON THE REAL investigation ... Just how somebody who lives in Hawaii, can get a Connecticut Social Security number, defraud the Social Security administration, release 2 photo-shopped FAKE birth certificates, and still use that Social number it to this day ?? Can't the Obama media mouthpieces "handle the Truth"? No, the lame-stream media is loving his Kool-Aid far too much.
billyjustin | May 30, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT
a to be sure, ye had a good time,and the most powerful country in the world battled high winds and rain, no one is stronger than (MOTHER NATURE), sure ye had a good time. slan
antoman | May 30, 2011, 11:09 AM EDT
@goldenblade-I'm going to pour a drop of holy water on the hard drive.
goldenblade | May 30, 2011, 10:52 AM EDT
Your computer is haunted, antoman ....
Trealach | May 30, 2011, 10:32 AM EDT
All this cufuffle over a bit of wind? rofl - Air supremacy my arse!!
antoman | May 30, 2011, 10:32 AM EDT
Thats strange.I did'nt make the first comment yet its attributed to my name.
goldenblade | May 30, 2011, 10:19 AM EDT
Lol archer504
archer50d | May 30, 2011, 09:56 AM EDT
The pilots are pros , they know what they are doing , anyway the presidential limo wouldnt be able to make some of the turns in offaly , bad enough it got stuck leaving the embassy , imagine a Massey ferguson having to rescue it in Offaly . now that would have been a youtube moment .!!!!
gingerman | May 30, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT
The Irish Sun reported on Saturday how one of the Chinooks was damaged landing in high winds at Dublin Airport. One of the blades snapped off when it struck the fuselage. Three chinnoks are still at the airport while it is being repaired.
goldenblade | May 30, 2011, 09:51 AM EDT
WHY IS THIS EVEN NEWS? Must be a slow day in the USA. Sure, we face fierce weather most days here in Ireland lol - I was out the other day on a dangerous mission with a dining room chair trying to rescue my cat out of wildly waving branches......as the saying goes ..."if you can't stand the heat..." I thought journalists were intrepid creatures but it appears they may lean towards the wimpish.
katetipp33 | May 30, 2011, 09:26 AM EDT
it s over and done whats the point of rehashing it now they are all safe who whats the big problem
antoman | May 30, 2011, 09:06 AM EDT
The Beast,the limo that carries Obama broke down.Marine One barely made it and were it not for people here putting a ladder to the side of Airforce One no one could get on or off.In other words if America were to invade Ireland they can be defeated by fighting them on wet blustery days.
antoman | May 30, 2011, 08:15 AM EDT
'a fierce gust, combined with the wash from the helicopter’s rotors' - now I am not 100% certain but I seem to remember that they wait for the rotors to stop before anyone disembarks. The bumby ride confirms that Barack has Irish blood in him - he wasn't going to be put off visiting his family by a bit of wind and rain.