A closer look at Obama’s ancestral home of Moneygall - VIDEO

Irish Central TV explores the County Offaly village

MOLLY MULDOON,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, April 24, 2011, 7:04 AM

Updated Sunday, April 24, 2011, 7:04 AM

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Obama's Irish roots can be tracked to Moneygall, County Offaly

It was a bright sunny day when we arrived in the quaint village of Moneygall in County Offaly, Ireland, to begin our piece on the visit of President Barack Obama this May.

Our first port of call was to "Ollie Hayes Pub" on the main street. Waiting inside were Ollie Hayes, Henry Healy (The President's eight cousin) and Canon Stephen Neill.

Henry gave us a brief history of Moneygall and spoke about another President who also came from the village. Ollie spoke about how he looks forward to showing the President how to pour the perfect "Pint of Guinness."

On a very interesting point, Canon Stephen Neill pointed out how the President's ancestors, the Kearney family, had helped organized much of the famine relief in this area.

Given the fact that First Lady Michelle Obama, organizes relief programs in America, it goes to show that the "Charity Gene" has traveled through 8 generations of the Obama's.

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OurselvesAlone | Apr 25, 2011, 01:47 AM EDT

met canon stephen neill shortly before 2008 and he was a very nice man and interesting fellow. His grandfather was in west Cork during the war of Independence and was a republican. Only thing I disagreed about with him was the reason for Fulmouth Kearney's emigration to the US. The Canon said that his relations had some land in America; I, on the other hand, believe that as a Church of Ireland member, living between the hurling (i.e., "republican") strongholds of Roscrea and Toomevara, he may have got out while the getting was still good and the grass in America was certainly still greener than that around him. Even though the Kearney family were cobblers, there would be little business in Moneygall, which is barely a village, never mind a town.

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mattpoet | Apr 24, 2011, 05:58 PM EDT

Hi Carrickcourt, Many thanks for your kind words. Its always amazing when I travel down to small towns and villages in Ireland to see how much history these places hold. I think it's what most people visiting Ireland remember most. We found Canon Neill (and the lads) a mine of information and so easy to interview. With regards to Magheracloone I recently filmed a small story telling night there and at Tydevnet . Would you like me to send you copys of the nights. Matt Ryan Ireland Correspondent

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carrickcourt | Apr 24, 2011, 11:23 AM EDT

Loved the video about Moneygall. Interesting to hear Canon Neil's voice as I have read an article he had in Irish Roots magazine about President Obama's Kearney ancestors a few years ago. Canon Neill being of the Church of Ireland I know from personal experience how a local Canon of the Church of Ireland can help with family research as a Canon of the Magheracloone, Co. Monaghan, COI was of a great help to me in showing me the original COI parish register of that COI parish. Of course it helped that my third cousin Jimmy was also a Deacon of this church.

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