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U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney visits Obama’s lost tomb

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IRISHCENTRAL.COM STAFF WRITER

Published Thursday, November 19, 2009, 2:45 PM
Updated Thursday, November 19, 2009, 3:22 PM

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U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney visits Obama’s lost tomb | Irish News | IrishCentral




Read more: Barack Obama, Sports, Kilkenny GAA, Dan Rooney, Ireland, Culture and Lifestyle, Irish Ancestry
Ambassador Rooney visited Kilkenny on Wednesday, November 18
Ambassador Rooney visited Kilkenny on Wednesday, November 18

Barack Obama once told the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney that he wants to visit Ireland and that he is very interested in his Irish roots.

That was when Obama was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the race for the White House and when Rooney was still in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football team.

Ambassador Rooney was on a visit to Kilkenny city Wednesday, November 18, home to the tomb of Obama's long lost relative, Bishop John Kearney. He said he has asked Obama to visit Ireland and that while White House staff usually look after the itinerary for such a visit, he would impress on Obama that Kilkenny would be a great place to visit while he is in the country.

The Mayor of Kilkenny Malcolm Noonan has sent a formal invitation to President Obama with an offer of the Freedom of the city of Kilkenny.

Rooney visited Kilkenny city in the early 1970s with his family – it was when the All Ireland hurling final was on in Croke Park. He said that the following morning he was brought to the bank in the city where he was served by one of the victorious Kilkenny team from the day before (probably Eddie Keher).

Rooney said this was unique and it was something that he always remembered.

He was shown the tomb of Obama's sixth generation grand-uncle, Bishop Kearney, at St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny by the dean of St. Canice's, Norman Lynas, who made Rooney and his wife Pat, honorary friends of the cathedral.

Irish film director Gabriel Murray who is currently producing a two-part documentary “Obama’s Irish Roots,” found the tomb. Murray’s film covers Obama’s Irish ancestors’ journey from Ireland to Hawaii and explores 1,000 years of the president’s family history.

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U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney visits Obama’s lost tomb | Irish News | IrishCentral


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Posted by irishamerica46 on Nov 25, 2009, 06:26 PM EST
My mother's family is from Kilkenny. I found the descendents with the help of an ad placed in "Kilkenny People". There are many graves of ancestors from the 1800"s that I'd like to find.But alas I'm not famous nor were my ancestors.
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Posted by Barbaracvm on Nov 23, 2009, 12:10 PM EST
Obama hates being half white. Why should he care about his white ancestors. His concerns is only for those from Africa. Which is further reduced to those who are Muslim. He does not care that he is destroying democracy. He is a true student of Marx.
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Posted by kikelly on Nov 21, 2009, 06:57 PM EST
"I thought he was of African decent from Kenya." And I thought he had two parents like most of the rest of us. One from Kenya and one with Irish roots.
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Posted by TexasGal on Nov 20, 2009, 11:13 PM EST
Obama is a weak yellow back jerk and if he has a tomb I would closes it and cover it up and not tell a soul were it is. He dosn't stand for America and our troops but he protect the Mulism that killed 13 and wounded 31 in Fort Hood, Texas. Obama is not good for the USA or and country so if you love me you can have him
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Posted by tomgallagher on Nov 20, 2009, 11:05 AM EST
I wish they would get his roots straight. I thought he was of African decent from Kenya. Make up your minds.
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Posted by killianyacht on Nov 20, 2009, 10:20 AM EST
Interesting ... perhaps more recent history of 20 years in the pews of hate monger Jeremiah Wright and the applauding of Louis Farrakhan and the like has more pertinent value. I am an American of both driect paternal and maternal decent and it seems to me that my Irish cousins take this Obama and his policies with way too much salt. Forget the fluff and let's get to the meat. This guy is dismantling the country that was in no small way built by the sons and daughters of Eire. The same ones that helped fight day and night for the free Irish republic.... Obama and his cronies have nothing to do with that!


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