Barack Obama’s ancestral home of Moneygall set to hold fundraiser for presidential campaign

With less than 100 days to the Presidential Election, Offaly town lends its support

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Barack Obama enjoying a pint of Guinness with his cousin Henry Healy and publication Ollie Hayes.

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With just under 100 days of the presidential campaign left to go, Barack Obama is set to receive a little help from his friends in Moneygall, County Offaly as the Irish branch of Democrats Abroad prepare to throw a fundraising event on the President’s birthday, 4th August.
 
Larry Donnelly, who acts as legal counsel for the Irish branch of Democrats Abroad, said, “We were always looking to go there. President Obama’s visit to Moneygall captured everyone’s attention. Ollie Hayes has been very good to us too.”

It was in Ollie Hayes’ pub that President Obama and his wife Michelle stopped off on their historic visit.
 
The people of Moneygall, the President’s ancestral home, which he visited last year, want to play their part in funding Barack Obama’s campaign budget.
 
Ollie told the Irish Examiner paper that he was happy to help his new friend Barack Obama in any way he can.
 
He said, “We are going to do our bit and hope he gets in. We’re even going to have a birthday cake for him on the day.”
 
Last month President Obama sent a message to his supporters asking for funding as the Republican candidate Mitt Romney was ahead in the money stakes.
 
He wrote, “I will be the first president in modern history to be outspent in his re-election campaign, if things continue as they have. So we can be outspent and still win, but we can’t be outspent 10 to 1 and still win.”
 
Although only US citizens will be eligible to donate at the Moneygall fundraiser next week, Donnelly and the Democrats Abroad are focused on raising awareness about the upcoming election.
 
Donnelly explained that while the Democrats Abroad meet monthly, this meeting will focus on reminding American citizens abroad to vote in the upcoming election.
 
“It is estimated that close to 100,000 people who are eligible for an American passport live in Ireland,” Donnelly explained.
 
“We want to get as many people as we can to get out and vote. That’s what this meeting is all about.
 
"This election is going to be much closer than the last one, but I’m cautiously optimistic that Obama will win.”

He continued, “If we get a few dozen people to come to Moneygall, that would be great. If 100 people come, we will be thrilled. Generally, it is the core that come to these meetings. Afterwards, they go home and encourage all their American friends to support Obama."

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