69 Comments

• simplesandy | May 26, 2011, 11:50 AM EDT

  tell you what Ireland ..You can have him . won't take any time at all to make a fake birth certificate . oops wait maybe about 3 years or so . But he'll have one for being born in Ireland.then you take him. America dont have a pot to pi$$ in or a window to throw it out of.

• SusanneK | May 25, 2011, 09:59 PM EDT

  Hope Ireland gets back on track with its economy!!! Everyone loves Ireland.

• peterson | May 25, 2011, 09:28 PM EDT

  If only he really means what he says !!

• peterson | May 25, 2011, 08:55 PM EDT

  willieboy you sir are a complete moron. what could Obama being doing in the storm ravaged states that he cannot do from Europe? You nit wit it's the 21st century- if he could conduct a war from Air Force one then I think he's cery much able to stay abreast with whats going on here in the U.S. while he is abroad. This not the 19th century where traveling to Europe meant being completely out of touch for weeks on end- the way many of you wrap yourself in the cape of stupidity then prance around like a super hero astounds me.

• nicgearailt | May 25, 2011, 05:31 PM EDT

  Sadly I never made it to Moneygall...but I thoroughly loved watching the events as they evolved...it was a very human experience..seeing the most powerful couple in the world lift the spirit of a nation...if the naysayers cannot appreciate that fact...sad for them...I felt the joy of it all...well done Mr.President and your spectacular First Lady..it was a very special day for this unassuming country...and it's good good citizens..

• Jeannie0121 | May 25, 2011, 01:06 PM EDT

  How bad is it in Ireland? The U.S. is hardly a role model. I'm glad all the hoopla brought some money into their economy. I'm sure for years to come people will flock to Moneygall to see the now famous house and pub.

• GeorgeDillon | May 25, 2011, 11:26 AM EDT

  Great speech, Obama. But it's actions that count. Why have you bought in to so many of the miserable policies of the Bush Administration? At this stage I'd say you've lost my vote. Your loss is Ron Paul's gain.

• rndidonato | May 25, 2011, 08:24 AM EDT

  You can have him. We don't want him.

• cynicus | May 25, 2011, 07:17 AM EDT

  Hi, This guy is a 'sound man.' Great personality, great empathy, and a regular guy. Just one of the lads, when he gets a chance. I wonder why all the animosity- birth certs, ancestry, religion? Cheap shot politics? Jealousy? Could all this be a code for plain old colour-difference hatred? By the way, Mrs. Obama is pure class! She would make a great president in time!

• kateomprint | May 25, 2011, 07:02 AM EDT

  Look for crying out loud it was a great day. We always make people welcome it doesn't matter who they are. We enjoy a good craic and he and his wife seemed to enjoy it too. So he kissed babies and whatever isn't that every bloody politician the world over does. Enda Kenny is ok but are new Government seem to be forgotten about the people on the ground.

• TiocfaidhArmani | May 25, 2011, 06:09 AM EDT

  Tell me this republicans. How much of the $770 billion bail-out, granted under George W Bush, been paid back? Always hammering on about GM, which actually kept people in jobs and kept an industry alive, yet nothing about your old pals in Wall Street who caused most of the mess you're in!

• jnewnam | May 24, 2011, 10:17 PM EDT

  Dummies!

• jnewnam | May 24, 2011, 10:13 PM EDT

  Yes, but has General Motors, oops, I mean Obamamotors paid back the Senior Secured Bond holders -- Oh, dear, no, they illegally threw them over in favor of the unions and then got that mummified brain of Justice Ginsberg, who said she didn't understand the issue and then illegally pushed those bond holders of legal contracts over a cliff. GM only paid the government back because the government sold its illegal shares of GM on the market, actually GM paid nothing back, the new shareholders did. The value of what the received is still a great big question mark.

• aloistmartin | May 24, 2011, 09:09 PM EDT

  To The Obama Administration Everyday Is St.Patricks Day as Long as N.Ireland and The Republican Party Remain on The Back Burner !

• joeboy1 | May 24, 2011, 08:21 PM EDT

  what makes him black after all his great great great grandfather was Irish tired of hearing Afican American Irish American and so on we are American

• Portia777 | May 24, 2011, 07:49 PM EDT

  Enda Kenny's body language says it all." we do not fall that easily for words anymore, we have heard it all before, the charming performance one finger pointing at us and 3 at himself.

• willieboy | May 24, 2011, 07:23 PM EDT

  Let me see if I can get this right. There is devastation in the U. S. midlands hundreds dead, thousands missing, billions of dollars in property damage. and our President is AWOL. Having a pint in Ireland, sitting to dinner with the Queen of England, in short anything but attending to the problems at home. Funny how often this is the case. That the Irish are taken in by this liar and hypocrite does not surprise me. A country that ages ago was the seat of learnong for the world has become the butt of unkind jokes in this world. Wise up..

• midlandsmiss | May 24, 2011, 06:10 PM EDT

  Thank you Ireland for being a great host to our President. He did indeed have a great time, and I expect he and Michelle will be back some day with their daughters. I am a proud Irish-American who is proud to have Barack Obama as my president! In these difficult times, we are fortunate indeed to have a wise, compassionate and intelligent leader. Also quite impressed with your new Taoiseach, Enda Kenny!

• pilib04 | May 24, 2011, 05:59 PM EDT

  What a bunch of teabag haters. You folks just make stuff up. General Motors sold more autos than any other automaker in the world this past quarter. They also paid back all of the loans to the U.S. government. You folks just make lies and then repeat them over and over hoping someone will believe you. Is Feidir Linn!

• Ruzick1 | May 24, 2011, 05:51 PM EDT

  seagreen, the last time the American people were "paid back" for one of the G(overnment)M(otors) union-vote-buyi...er, loans, GM used other TARP loans to pretend to pay the taxpayers back early. They don't sell enough cars to pay back what they're claiming. Don't let "the One" pull the wool over your eyes.

• McNamara31 | May 24, 2011, 05:14 PM EDT

  lajollajan..People who support an intelligent, self made man, as our president, by your words must be: "Union people or people with government jobs, or on the dole - like food stamps! Do you know how ignorant that assumption is?

• deburca | May 24, 2011, 04:37 PM EDT

  lajollajan, explain what is different about President Obama's Israel Policy to that of GWBush.

• lajollajan | May 24, 2011, 04:29 PM EDT

  Maybe you Irish would like to keep him?? I think with our debt, we can afford to give him up. Don't believe everything you see and hear, he'll turn on a dime. Note what he said about Israel. I think any crowds here are Union people or people with government jobs, or on the dole - like food stamps!

• Gearoid4 | May 24, 2011, 04:28 PM EDT

  I may not agree with certain policy positions of the Obama administration but himself and his lovely wife Michelle displayed their natural charm and charisma during their Irish visit. Mr Obama naturally interacted with the locals in his ancestral village of Moneygall with wit and good-hearted banter. Then later on at Dublin's college green, he gave a very inspiring speech which went down very well with the tens of thousands who came to view the first couple of America.

• deburca | May 24, 2011, 04:26 PM EDT

  @badolan - I think you're right! The President was as charmed with them as they were with him! @seagreen Great point! President Obama and the Dems in Congress saved the American Auto Industry - the best kept secret on FOX!

• walleyeman | May 24, 2011, 04:18 PM EDT

  Was out of pocket yesterday. Heard he had to leave early soothing about him getting hiscashes hauled. True?

• cillowen | May 24, 2011, 04:06 PM EDT

  making a tidy circle - rounding up the sheep for full incorporation within the UKER fold. Knighting is due.

• LoyalCitizen | May 24, 2011, 03:09 PM EDT

  Mr O'Dowd: You can really write an awful lot of rubbish some times.

• bunkerhill | May 24, 2011, 02:58 PM EDT

  I think the tiny Republic of Ireland did itself proud in welcoming the queen of England who was clearly apologetic (I don't know how that will go over with the rest of the UK) and welcoming the first black president of the US, President Barack Obama. (Again I don't know how Obama will go on to the palace after the brilliant speech he delivered in Dublin.) I remember Garth Brooks along with many other country stars telling about, and in Garth Brooks case, showing the enthusiasm of their Irish audience often singing along with country stars. The Irish welcome is legendary and they showed it in the past momentous week. I believe it was a great week for the tiny country of Ireland and their people. Doesn't Cead me la failte (I'm sure that is not right) mean one hundred thousand welcomes. What other country has extends a greeting like that. However I cannot forget the beautiful inscription on the Statue of Liberty. Maybe that is the unique tie in between the two countries.

• badolan | May 24, 2011, 02:41 PM EDT

  I believe the article should have been entitled, "Ireland Charms Obama." He looked as happy as could be. Good job Ireland! America loves you. I love you.

• seagreen | May 24, 2011, 02:27 PM EDT

  Today it has been announced that Chrysler and GM are ready to pay back the billions in full that were loaned to them by the government, and hire 4000 workers. Another Obama blunder ??????? All of you Fox News guys are no different than the morons that shot all the Buffalo from the trains. Just admit it, you are so afraid to see a non white person speak well, make intelligent decisions, interact with Americans and foreigners, and make prudent decisions. If Obama was a citizen of Antarctica, I would rather have him represent me than the patriotic flag waving, draft dodging mental thugs, and war profiteers in their shiny suits. I'm an old white guy, but I'm not going tailor my thoughts , opinions, and ignore fact, just because the world I knew growing up is changing

• deburca | May 24, 2011, 02:14 PM EDT

  I wish I could have been there kateomprint! It sounds great!

• kateomprint | May 24, 2011, 02:01 PM EDT

  I was in Moneygall we had a great time despite the rain. They arrived and met the people. A lot of people are saying it was a vote catching excerise. Why did JFK come to Ireland or Reagan or any of the American Presidents. I found them friendly and warm and we had a good Sunday night and a great Monday. The craic was mighty

• deburca | May 24, 2011, 02:00 PM EDT

  I see a few of the tbaggers are in here again with their aluminum foil hats on trying to turn this into garbage dump for their favorite conspiracy theories, hate speech and talking points. Glad to see the majority of the comments are sane and rational tough. Otherwise this site is going to go down the tubes. These baggers are just a small minority of Americans but they're ignorant bullies with loud mouths so it's hard to get away from them. I'd hate to see them ruin this site as they have systematically ruined so many others.

• McNamara31 | May 24, 2011, 01:43 PM EDT

  Yesterday, Ireland embraced Obama as one of their own. Especially in Moneygall the emotion in those streets could not be staged or be untrue. Yet when I read the opening paragraph "By four o'clock on Monday Dublin’s College Green looked like a pilgrimage at Mecca" I guess Niall, you couldn't resist reframing the conversation back to "Mecca", and the subtle inference he's not one of us. So very sad for an Irish newspaper.

• Ajreaper | May 24, 2011, 01:31 PM EDT

  John absolutely everything you stated was pure, 100% BS. Anyone born on U.S. soil is an American citizen period regardless of what nationality his birth parents are. The requirement that both parents be a U.S. citizen only applies if the individual was born outside the U.S. As far as grade school enrollment forms Obama did not fill those out nit wit- he's the religion he has practiced for decades and that is not Muslim- he attended the same Christian church for over 20 years. As to the photo shopped birth certificate- actual real life forensic document examiners came out very quickly after people posted what they said proved his birth certificate was a fake to say what they were showing were in fact very poor attempts to make them appear to be fakes not actual fakes. The simple truth any journalist who broke the story about anyone of the things you mentioned wins a Pulitzer prize and is set for life- no one has done so because there is no truth to any of it. Unless we are to believe a half wit like yourself knows what the best journalist in the country cannot learn- sorry but I doubt it.

• McNamara31 | May 24, 2011, 01:28 PM EDT

  You have to feel sorry for John5319 who lives on to bash and smear Obama, a man Enda Kenny yesterday said " He doesn't talk the American Dream; He is the American Dream" John would rather live in the “fake” world of Fox News a network with no journalistic integrity headed by Roger Ailes the past media strategist for the Nixon and Bush and go on believing that their misrepresentations are “fair and balanced” Fox News has successfully created an environment of distrust in America with the use of repeated false distortions until its viewers like John believe them as true. They follow the infamous Fox “Some people Say” or “A very reliable DC Insider source tells” brand of journalism that never states a “factual” source for their misinformation. Fox will only cover stories that fit their “Obama is not one of us” narrative. If Snow White was a democrat, Fox News would have convinced their viewers she was she was a marxist welfare mom, running around with her illegitimate children.

• McNello616 | May 24, 2011, 01:08 PM EDT

  John5319 - First, I'm American, but I wouldn't go around "educating" the Irish people about "the facts." Irish citizens are very intelligent when it comes to these topics. Second, the rest of your post is irrelevant to the point you are trying to make (which I make out to be that you feel Pres. Obama is not legally qualified to serve as POTUS). The simple fact is that there are only three qualifications to be POTUS: be a natural-born citizen (not naturalized), be over 35 years of age, and have resided in the U.S. for the past 14 years (if you don't believe me, read the U.S. Constitution). No where does it say that you need a passport, social security card, that you need to disclose who paid for your college education, that you need to disclose your law school grades, or that your parents need to be 21 and that both need to be American citizens. Those "non-disclosures" by Pres. Obama may irritate you, but they do not disqualify him from being POTUS. Just so you know, I did look it up to "educate" myself. I checked the U.S. Constitution, and U.S. caselaw (all federal courts, including the Supreme Court). No where did it reveal any more requirements than those I pointed out above.

• cupertino | May 24, 2011, 12:57 PM EDT

  I think it was awesome. The Irish people love him and he was obviously very comfortable in their midst. Well done!

• joreilly | May 24, 2011, 12:38 PM EDT

  OMG..Why so much animosity and negativity towards our President ? I wish you clowns would take off "The Horse Blinkers",STOP listening to FOX BIGOTS and learn to think for yourselves!!!!AND you have the gall to call yourselves AMERICAN???

• cailinrua | May 24, 2011, 12:35 PM EDT

  So, was President O'Bama's visit all you hoped it would be? Did you all smoke a collective cigarette when it was over? Seriously - President Obama is my President, and as an American, I respect him. But I hold no one in such high esteem. No one deserves this much adoration, except maybe Mother Teresa.

• jdi2269 | May 24, 2011, 12:33 PM EDT

  HE ARRIVED WITH HIS TELEPROMPTER TO REMIND HIM HE WAS "IRISH" , SPEWED THE B.S." AND LEFT/ GLAD I WASN'T THERE!

• Sparklet | May 24, 2011, 11:37 AM EDT

  Powsmias, the Irish on this side don't. And as a very astute nation, we can generally spot the fakes. At least you have a President now who isn't a laughing stock.

• ochshane | May 24, 2011, 11:35 AM EDT

  Well put John5319. Truly a Fake Phony Fraud!

• MickRegan | May 24, 2011, 11:29 AM EDT

  PhlutiePhan - Obama has many Irish / Irish descent advisers in his team and the Caroline Kennedy nomination (if thats what you're referring to?) was opposed by the vatican, backed up by vociferous support from the US catholic community. Mr Kennedy - Having watched most of the proceedings from here (in Ireland) he seemed to be generally welcomed by young and old alike. Yep, there's questions about whether it's the start of the election campaign and people are aware of that, but in terms of goodwill there was plenty of it in evidence. Not in the Obama fan club as such, but it would be useful if negative comments were backed up by facts.

• John5319 | May 24, 2011, 11:23 AM EDT

  Those of you in Ireland KNOW NOTHING about the facts of his religion, birthplace, or his FAKE Social Security number. Why is that a Fake? He needed something to prove he could work in the state of Hawaii. Yet the SS card is from Connecticut, a state where he had never been to, and has proved to be a fake for his number could not have been issued for 2 more years, plus he lived in Hawaii not Connecticut, from where it would have been issued the state of residence. Furthermore his Indonesian grade school enrollment papers show his religion as "Muslim", and in the police state that was Indonesia at that time, he needed to be "Indonesian" to be enrolled at all. Look it up. It's all on the Internet photo, and other links. Unfortunately the Irish press also doesn't explain that to be the President BOTH PARENTS must be legal citizens AND OVER 21 yrs old. It is very clear from the most recent "long form" birth certificate WHICH IS photo shopped FAKE (again), that his father was Kenyan and his mother under 21, so young Obama is not LEGALLY a "naturalized citizen", and since Kenya at that time was a British protectorate his father was British, so Obama cannot be legally President of the U.S.!! He has yet to reveal evidence of who paid for his VERY EXPENSIVE "education" at 3 colleges, his law grades, and his Passport information, all is "missing". Just a coincidence folks?? Not likely. His is a FRAUD. Look it all up, educate yourself, be your own investigative journalist and search for the Truth, not accept the Evil that this narcissistic pied piper of a man. You are being deceived by a slick talking south-side Chicago Marxist "organizer". Is there no courage in seeking out the Truth? Wake Up people of the world to this Evil deception.

• mrkennedy | May 24, 2011, 11:07 AM EDT

  A relative of mine in Ireland called me to say he noticed quite a few of the older experienced persons present laughing at many of the remarks OBama said and the younger ones starry-eyed and gullible just as those who listened to his pre-election speeches in 2008!!!

• PhlutiePhan | May 24, 2011, 10:43 AM EDT

  The good president never talks about his mother. In fact, she is a "blight" on his psyche. His treatment of Caroline Kennedy tells you his real attitude toward the irish.

• Hannah1879 | May 24, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

  His visit to Ireland has made me proud. Wonderful!

• powsmias | May 24, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

  the irish on this side hate the mofo

• deburca | May 24, 2011, 10:34 AM EDT

  Our friends in Ireland have had nothing but glowing things to say about the President's visit and his speech!

• ochshane | May 24, 2011, 10:19 AM EDT

  He'll be baack to help out with the turf, no doubt.

• mollycoll1 | May 24, 2011, 10:17 AM EDT

  That has got to be the most inappropriate lede that I have seen in years. Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• hyattsville | May 24, 2011, 10:16 AM EDT

  Great speechs from both leaders yesterday. I’m proud and delighted with the great reception President Obama was shown in Ireland, and what a contrast to Dubya’s arrival there seven years ago. But of course the real Irish have always been such excellent judges of character!

• OrenTruitt | May 24, 2011, 10:15 AM EDT

  Yes, Obama is charming but so was Adolf Hitler when he wanted to be. Obama is a fraud! He lies about his religion, his birth place, his intentions for America. Americans and Irishmen need to wake up and realize what sort of scheming, lieing figurehead is inhabiting the White House.

• MickRegan | May 24, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT

  Isn't this 'raised as a muslim' thing just an urban legend. Yep some Muslim influences on his ancestors, but no evidence anywhere of Barrack being brought up as such. However i'd have thought that his background might lead him into learning something about Muslim culture - and if so this could only be to America's advantage, i.e, having a president that is informed rather than one who is blinkered?

• Daytonavejim | May 24, 2011, 10:01 AM EDT

  I loved the first line of this article. By comparing the crowd in Dublin to a group in Mecca you raise a question that bothers many Yanks. "Is Obama more sympathetic to Muslims than to Jews or Christians?" Many feel it is a good question given that he was raised as a Muslim.

• MickRegan | May 24, 2011, 09:59 AM EDT

  According to Ollie Hayes (bar owner) Barrack finished the pint! He also put 50 euros across the bar and Ollie forgot to give him his change - sure that'll raise a few thoughts about austerity and deficits etc, but hey if american tourists are happy to pay that for a guinness who are we to argue :) Great day, and fantastic scenes from Moneygall and Dublin.

• bronxjames | May 24, 2011, 09:57 AM EDT

  If all you Irish are so charmed by obama then keep him

• IAPRINCESS | May 24, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT

  I knew you would like them! He is special in so many ways -- I always KNEW that.

• mccannon | May 24, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT

  Well he is completely destroying America so frankly if the Irish love him they can have him. I sure as heck don't want him here anymore!

• Chiefjustice | May 24, 2011, 09:47 AM EDT

  We never said that the President wasen't charming.

• CitizenWhy | May 24, 2011, 09:46 AM EDT

  I voted for Obama and will most likely do so gain. But please realize that Obama's Geithner, head of the US money apparatus, squelched the IMF plan to give Ireland a better deal than it got. According to the Geithner doctrine, banks and bankers come first, ahead of citizens, and banks should be kept alive, at taxpayer expense, however dead they may be in fact..

• colkelley | May 24, 2011, 09:38 AM EDT

  You guys are really snookered by a man who has stated and written that he rejects his white ancestry. Just how gullible are you?

• Maggie62 | May 24, 2011, 09:38 AM EDT

  I was there yesterday and I think it will be one of those "I was there" moments in my mind for the rest of my life.

• Rebelforce | May 24, 2011, 09:35 AM EDT

  I like the way the President emphasized that the special relationship between the US and Ireland was based upon "blood links" rather than on any economic, political or strategic considerations. Ireland is important because so many of the American people see her as the ancestral homeland.

• irishimport | May 24, 2011, 08:50 AM EDT

  I her thats its possible Falmouth Kearney was not born in Ireland :)

• TheYank | May 24, 2011, 08:22 AM EDT

  Jedward helped generate the excitement of the young audience too. My daughter told me there were only about 25 left in her school by 1pm, the rest had skipped out to see "Jedward for free & Obama."

• antoman | May 24, 2011, 08:19 AM EDT

  President Obama,like this site,is 'redefining the media'.Casting the prejudices of Fox news and their brain washed viewers aside.Most refreshing to see how likeable Obama is as a person and how accomadating he is to those who gathered to see and hear him.Even stopping to talk to a girls mother on her mobile.He flew the flag for America in Ireland yesterday for the whole world to see and in the process represented the best of America.I find him a down to earth guy and very agreeable.