Muhammad Ali’s 70th birthday will be celebrated by the Clare town that claims The Greatest as one of its own on Tuesday.
Ennis Town Council has agreed to send a birthday card to the former heavyweight world champion whose big day will be marked in the county.
The Irish Examiner reports that the town regards Ali as family as his great-grandfather Abe Grady emigrated from Clare to the US in the 1860s.
The boxing legend drew huge crowds when he visited Clare in September 2009 and became the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis.
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He thrilled locals when he went walkabout in the Turnpike area of the town, near his great-grandfather’s ancestral home.
Independent Councillor Frankie Neylon proposed that the Council send their congratulations to three times world champion Ali ahead of his landmark birthday. Cllr Neylon said: “It is just a little token from the sited council.”
Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said: “I know we can’t make any commercial gain from our links with Muhammad Ali, but his family told us that the welcome he received here was of more importance to him than the medal he received in the Olympics. We should be marketing that welcome.”
Labour Party representative Paul O’Shea said: “Muhammad Ali should be the first person to receive the proposed Clare passport.”
Here's a video remembering Muhammad Ali's visit to Ennis in 2009:
5 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | Jan 16, 2012, 07:33 AM EST
After a Uachtaran O'Bama's 'Irish' roots in Moneygall Co. Offally, now we have Muhammed Mac Ali from Inis, Co. Clare. This Irish roots business is going from the sublime to the ridiculous. Not that he wasn't "The Greatest", he was! Even to those of us with little appreciation for the mutual concussion fraternity (MCF). He was the best Middle East ambassador the U.S never had. Think of all the trouble they would have avoided if U.S Gov. had appointed him.
Searlit | Jan 14, 2012, 04:58 PM EST
Everybody loves 'The Greatest', even if they don't like boxing!
johnshiel | Jan 14, 2012, 12:17 PM EST
ennis town councilman said we ought to market thst welcome.. seem kinda small minded and selfish to me. would prefer to read that the town decided to honor the great Ali just because of their heartfelt connections to the great Ali, eh?
pndirishandprou | Jan 13, 2012, 01:13 PM EST
Glad to hear that Ali has Irish roots. I didn't know of his Irish ancestry until now.
Murph46 | Jan 13, 2012, 09:49 AM EST
I float like a butterfly ,sting like a bee,I'm worlds Champeen,I'm Muhammad Ali.He was beauty and grace and tons of fun in his prime.I'd celebrate him.Current state is so sad.