Guinness plan to send a master brewer, with a specially selected barrel of the stout, to Moneygall, County Offaly, this Sunday, ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit next weekend.
The barrel will be presented to Ollie Hayes, the owner of the pub Obama will visit in his ancestral home of Moneygall.
Hayes said “On Sunday morning we are bringing down the master brewer from St James’s Gate. We met him in Diageo headquarters, he’ll be here on Sunday morning at 11am and he will present me with the barrel of brew.”
President Obama is expected to sample Ireland’s most famous brew on May 23rd when he visits Moneygall
It had been rumored that the US secret service would make a surprise visit to Ollie Hayes pub on Friday but Hayes told the Irish Times that they had not arrived. He said “They are expected in the town shortly.”
“Things are coming to a head now and most of the planning is done, all pending the approval of the advance security. We will co-operate fully with them because it will be in the interest of the safety and security of everyone.”
Moneygall has become the nation’s HQ for Obama-mania ahead of his visit. Hayes says the pub has become a kind of Mecca for curious visitors.
“Nothing is set in stone until we get the approval of the secret service – it’s not even set in stone that he is coming here,” he said.
Julie Hayes, an 80-year-old publican across the road form her namesake has been taking preparations of Obama’s visit in her stride. She said “I’ve never seen anything like this, I am 63 years behind the bar. I don’t mind at all, it’s grand I’ll go with the flow…Unless he comes in I’m not going to get a glimpse of him, I’m hoping he’ll come in.”
The secret service visited Hayes’s pub in April. Hayes said “A certain number of them came in here to me. They were very quiet, they didn’t say much they just had a look around.”
The local bread deliveryman, Joseph Kearney, who has, of late, been delivering “Barack’s Bracks”, has never looked into his ancestral roots despite the fact that he shares his last name with Obama’s Moneygall ancestor Falmouth Kearney. He says that as far as he knew he was the only Kearney in the area.
“I’m coming into Moneygall with bread for 32 years” said Kearney. “I never bothered looking into it but there in the last few weeks people are saying why don’t you look into it….At the same time if I did dig back there could be something there.”
As well as the novelty cakes other preparations have begun in earnest. Reports in the Financial Times says that the excitement among the 300 residents of Moneygall is palpable. Sidewalks have been resurfaced, flowers are being planted and all the houses are being painted. In one of the newsagents there is a sign which reads “Obama Abu” (which roughly translated from Irish means “Hurrah for Obama”).
Most importantly Obama’s ancestral home, a two-story house on the Main Street of the town have had its roof replaced with the original thatch. Also on the sidewalk outside is a plaque explaining Obama’s connection to the Kearney family tree. Across the street is the school which is the one ancestor Falmouth Kearney attended.
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17 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Reaganella | May 17, 2011, 09:14 PM EDT
What a faker. He hates whited America, send him and the truck he married to the watermelon patch. The guy is filled with Rev. Wright' poison.
McNamara31 | May 16, 2011, 08:48 PM EDT
kateomprint Good for you. Have one for me!
kateomprint | May 16, 2011, 12:49 PM EDT
Give the guy a break hope he has bloody great time in Moneygall. i expect to go and see him. it is an historic occasion when the President of one of the largest Country's in the world comes to visit Ireland. When Kennedy, Reagan and Clintom came they were made welcome why wouldn't we do the same for this one. I hope to get to Moneygall as I only live about 10 miles away and have relations living there so it is an excuse for a real party. Can you picture the hangovers on the Monday morning of his visit.Doesn't bear thinking about
TomFitz | May 16, 2011, 10:34 AM EDT
Goo One "OrenTruitt" I hope so too.. Perhaps he will bring Rev. Wright with him to preach a sermon to the town folk.
ochshane | May 16, 2011, 08:55 AM EDT
One of the 3 "I"s, only 2 to go after this.
jnewnam | May 16, 2011, 12:09 AM EDT
By the way no decent Irish American Roman Catholic would have voted for Kennedy if they had known his true character.
jnewnam | May 16, 2011, 12:08 AM EDT
Most of us are not proud of the little communist in the White House as can be witnessed by the recent 2010 elections and the Republicans taking the House.
mnallick | May 15, 2011, 09:25 PM EDT
Thanks for making our President feel welcome. Most of us are very proud of him. Ignore the haters. They should have a pint and chill out. Hope I get to visit Ireland one day. Love and peace!
McNamara31 | May 15, 2011, 05:56 PM EDT
@Reaganella... Maybe it's time to get "some help" for your condition.
antoman | May 15, 2011, 04:02 PM EDT
There's over a hundred pints in those kegs I believe.Love to see the publicans face when Obama might say "lovely pint,now unhook the barrel and put it in the boot of my limo".HA!
Liamkeyes | May 15, 2011, 02:54 PM EDT
I was there when Jack Kennedy came in 1963. The only other visit to come close was when Bill Clinton came.
naraic123 | May 15, 2011, 02:10 PM EDT
These racist comments about our Head of State are disgusting and show a gross level of bias and ignorance on the part of the posters.
Hannah1879 | May 15, 2011, 01:52 PM EDT
Chill...mean spirited people. I plan on enjoying it. I've never seen a President of U.S. in my lifetime travel to Ireland....makes me proud.
DANNYD1 | May 15, 2011, 01:50 PM EDT
I THINK YOU ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH ENERGY ON THIS GUY--ALL HE IS LOOKING FOR IS CAMPAIGN VISIBILITY---BUT IT IS GRERAT FOR THE TOURISIM --SO I SAY GO!
haikued2 | May 15, 2011, 01:30 PM EDT
Fawning over a fellow who disavowed that white family in his life story and chose not to honor his Irish heritage. HE JUST WANTS VOTES, FOLKS, DON"T YOU GET IT?
borefield | May 15, 2011, 10:10 AM EDT
A classic case of stupidity over common sense. a country that is broke, people unable to make ends meet or feed their children to have to watch this charade is pityful. I guess all of you are brainwashed
OrenTruitt | May 15, 2011, 10:07 AM EDT
I hope the brewers at Guinness took a piss in the barrel.