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Guinness cash in on Obama's Moneygall visit

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 8:04 AM

Updated Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 11:35 AM

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Obama enjoying a pint in Ollie Hayes in Moneygall

Guinness was good for Barack Obama in Moneygall – and great for the Diageo company that owns the world famous Dublin brewery.

Marketing experts estimate that the photograph of President Obama downing a pint of plain in Ollie Hayes’s bar is worth over $210 million to Guinness.

Some marketeers have even suggested Guinness could cancel its advertising spend for the rest of the year on the back of Obama’s decision to drink his pint of the black stuff – unlike Queen Elizabeth and British Prime Minister David Cameron on their visit the previous week.

Just to boost the Guinness image even further, President Obama described it as ‘delicious’ after he sank a pint and his wife enjoyed a glass of Ireland’s favorite beer.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce has estimated the publicity generated by the Queen and Obama's visits could be worth $210 million.

Diageo’s Ireland MD John Kennedy said: “It is a real honor that President Obama chose to savor a pint of Guinness as part of his journey back to Irish roots.

“This truly marks an occasion that will be remembered by people all over the world for generations to come.”

Guinness sent master brewer Fergal Murray down to Offaly from their St James’s Gate plant in Dublin to ensure he enjoyed the perfect pint.

“We have been waiting in hope for this very day, and I can say that it is without doubt one of the proudest days of my life,” said publican Ollie Hayes.

“It’s not every day that the US president drops by our bar for a pint of Guinness. It really is a remarkable day for Moneygall.”

President Obama first tasted Guinness when he stopped off in Shannon airport on his way to Afghanistan shortly after his inauguration.

On Monday, he sampled Irish Guinness again – after waiting for it to settle properly - and declared: “They’re keeping all the best stuff here.”

Photos of the US President enjoying his pint were sent out across the worldwide web within seconds of his lips touching the glass.

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FULL TEXT - President Obama's speech to crowd in Dublin's College Green

PHOTOS: President Obama's trip to Ireland

A day to remember as Barack Obama charms the Irish nation

Guinness cash in on Obama's Moneygall visit

Maureen Dowd (New York Times); Obama happier in Ireland than anywhere else

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GeorgeDillon | May 26, 2011, 03:08 PM EDT

TiocfaidhArmani: Agree with you. Some wit here says they should now be called "Corkshire". I suggest "Queen's County", the term is vacant since one of the midland counties abandoned it years ago.

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GeorgeDillon | May 26, 2011, 03:06 PM EDT

I fear my other comment may be censored by IrishCentral, as occurred on a previous occasion when I attacked this site's irresponsible backing for Irish boozing & Guinness. Shame on Irish Central. For a vision of hell they should go, as I had to one occasion, go & spend a few hours in an Irish hospital Emergency Unit on a Saturday night. You'll see violent drunks patrolling the unit, uttering string after string of threats and blasphemies, turning aside occasionally to vomit or urinate in public, while doctors and nurses fruitlessly ask them to behave like men, not drunk scum, and elderly patients cower with fear and horror. That's the garbage country that booze has produced in the case of Ireland.

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GeorgeDillon | May 26, 2011, 03:00 PM EDT

What contemptible clowns the Irish are. With one of the highest rates of alcoholism in the world, in a country that is violent and riotous with drunks every night, and where you have to pick your way thru vomit on a weekend morning, the stupid Irish turn the visit of the President of the United States into an ad for booze. What disgusting morons the Irish are. If you wanted Brad Pitt to do product placement for Guinness you'd have to pay him a couple of hundred thousand, but the stupid Irish make our President do it for free. One thing I never buy when I go to those cheap gift shops in Ireland is the ugly Guinness garbage they try to flog. What a nadir the Irish have reached, when they seek to identify themselves and their ancient culture by swilling booze and making it their national symbol.

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TiocfaidhArmani | May 25, 2011, 05:17 AM EDT

abhainn, after Cork behaved during the Queen's visit I think all products from Cork should be boycotted. Also, Murphy's is a poor stout, it loses its head very quickly. It's not the same quality at all.

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skyrider | May 25, 2011, 05:13 AM EDT

Wonderful atmosphere & great spirit. Go on Mr President. U can do anything.

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deburca | May 24, 2011, 11:06 PM EDT

@ LinLin you don't seem to understand that this is not an "extended vacation" but a series of very important official visits. Stop listening to the FOX echo chamber, it lowers IQs.

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deburca | May 24, 2011, 11:04 PM EDT

kaydog1 - you speak for yourself. Thank goodness tbaggers, who do not appreciate what a wonderful president we have, are such a small minority in America- loud, but small. Sort of like Chihuahuas and short bullies in bars. However, it's understandable considering you folks voted for W because he seemed like someone you'd like to have a beer with and you like that imbecile Palin because she's one of you. No accounting for taste.

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kaydog1 | May 24, 2011, 06:38 PM EDT

Well, if he's having such a good time it seems a shame for you to send him home....so don't.

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abhainn | May 24, 2011, 06:10 PM EDT

American readers might like to know that other stouts from Ireland are available in the United States of equal quality, but at a lower price. They are Beamish Stout and Murphy's Stout, and they are usually at least a dollar cheaper than Guinness for a six pack, and quite a bit cheaper in bars, too. Guinness is an excellent beer, but it is not superior to the others, so be sure to try them. Beamish and Murphy's come from Cork; Guinness is from Dublin.

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

At least he drank the pint.

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Aloygirl | May 24, 2011, 01:41 PM EDT

You Can't Go Wrong with Irish Stout!!! way to go Mr.Obama!!!

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whale344 | May 24, 2011, 12:29 PM EDT

That youngin is gonna put the whuppass on the diuretic drinkin rednecks in the next election, cause we all know that "Guinness makes us STRONG!"

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ochshane | May 24, 2011, 10:26 AM EDT

Is fearrde thu Guinness!