76 Comments

• iliveinireland | Jul 07, 2011, 01:23 PM EDT

  If Obama is that bad why did ye vote for him....or did ye vote? probably not.

• billyjustin | May 28, 2011, 11:29 AM EDT

  Hi gobdawpaddy, will be in Pier 1 hotel for match, shout your name and i'll buy you a pint, thanks for your comment on Limerick..

• sadieozola | May 27, 2011, 03:25 PM EDT

  "President Obama, happy at last" ??? well, as long as he is happy...that's all that matters to his zombie followers like Maureen Dowd...excuse me, I have to vomit.

• gobdawpaddy | May 27, 2011, 10:19 AM EDT

  In Limerick at the moment (Friday May 27 @ 3pm) and the atmosphere is electric in anticipation of tomorrows Munster v Leinster clash in rugby. The stores have Munster flags in their windows and flags fly from buildings and bridges. Everyone seems to be wearing Munster colors ahead of the arrival of the Leinster supporters later this evening and tomorrow. I have been here for a week and have read nor heard anything about a crime here during my stay. I am aware of this wonderful city's poor reputation but it certainly is not evident to me this week.

• seanomelbourne | May 27, 2011, 01:50 AM EDT

  Show the stats that prove limerick is worse than any other city in Ireland.

• billyjustin | May 26, 2011, 08:10 PM EDT

  To (Borefield), Like your name, boring and in a field, I suppose where you live is all yellow brick road, and smelling of roses, wake up man, Obama gave us a good lift and we are happy for small favors, yes i call people like you fools for thinking Limerick is full of thugs and suicide, put the bottle of drink aside, and think before you express you opinion about other people.O, and yes i do know Bush in not in power anymore..Thank God . Look what he landed America in..

• seanomelbourne | May 26, 2011, 07:16 PM EDT

  It's nice to see a foreign leader with the pulling power to have thousands out on the streets to greet him .That's more than I can say for the last head of state who visited Ireland.

• McNamara31 | May 26, 2011, 06:48 PM EDT

  Springfield9.. I would agree with your comment to a point however in the past two weeks leading up to the Obama visit, many comments crossed the line from "vitriol" to racism. Don't take my word for it; look back over the posts and see for yourself.

• Springfield9 | May 26, 2011, 06:08 PM EDT

  Frankly, I don't see "bigotry". In fact, a dislke for BHO seems to provoke a charge of "Bigotry/Racism" as a reaction. BHO is a winner to approximately 27% of the American population. 12% still see him as a Messiah. Let's disallow "bigotry/racism" in favor of "vitriol" a much more accurate word.

• eiriamach | May 26, 2011, 05:14 PM EDT

  @deburca, I agree with Searlit, and I ask you to reconsider. If there are enough comboxes with the kind of intelligent, relevant comments that you and Searlit make, then the hate-spewers must begin to see their words by comparison as ridiculous and rancorous. Eventually THEY will go elsewhere to get the attention they crave from "like-minded people." There are plenty of hate-speech sites on the Internet to welcome them. They do not make the kinds of comments that can elicit any rational response except to point out the shoddy (non)thinking and venom behind their words. There's no basis for discussion with the ideological claptrap they spin because they do not understand even their own ideology (Did antoman get any answer from them? No). On the social network Irish sites, they censor/ "block" the people who disagree with them, so they end up talking almost to themselves while the censored go elsewhere in search of civil discourse. If they drive you away, then, by effect, they exercise censorship here as well! NO! Don't give them that power here.

• simplesandy | May 26, 2011, 02:48 PM EDT

  I'll tell you what. the only way he will prove to me he is any good is he will open the American doors to the Irish and give them free passes to get in without going through the green card route.

• bunkerhill | May 26, 2011, 01:24 PM EDT

  To Peterson. What was the incident you mentioned with Obama in England? I don't always get to see the news. To everyone else remember Cead me la failte or however it is spelled. Ireland is supposed to be the land of one hundred thousand welcomes and they really showed it with the queen and Obama. Is it possible to applies to some visitors and not all? I predict Ireland will recover magnificently due to their creativity, industriousness and a reawakening of their ancient history which they have never really explored. We love Ireland and the Irish and only one of us is Irish descent.

• Searlit | May 26, 2011, 10:50 AM EDT

  I went to Limerick 3 times, on three different trips. I saw no violence. I went to St. John's Parish Cathedral - the area did seem poverty-stricken. So, it's not surprising that there is a criminal element taking advantage of this. Makes me sad.

• borefield | May 26, 2011, 09:27 AM EDT

  Searlit, Limerick was a wonderful city at one time. It has a rich and brave history. Sorry to disagree with you but the same type of people do not live there today. I get daily reports from Limerick and it's not doing better. when it does I will let you know.

• deburca | May 26, 2011, 02:03 AM EDT

  @peterson Obama: "We will get Bin Laden and we will kill him" Done. Bush: "Mission Accomplished!" Idiot.

• Ratslayer | May 26, 2011, 12:08 AM EDT

  Obama certainly is not perfect. But Republicans, tea baggers and the rest of the right-wing crazy train now poisoning and destroying America can't even hold a candle to Obama. The man WILL win re-election because the current GOP lineup is packed with bloody clowns, lightweights whose fringe views don't sit well with mainstream Americans. Medicare, hello. Look what happened in NY-26 - a hardcore GOP district. Now NY is totally Dem! Sucks being an Obama hater, huh?

• peterson | May 25, 2011, 09:17 PM EDT

  At least he did not screw up in Ireland like he did in England!!

• peterson | May 25, 2011, 09:15 PM EDT

  Obama is all talk and no action. He must be an embarassment to the United States after his behavior in England. Even his own party is discusted.

• eddies1st | May 25, 2011, 08:30 PM EDT

  I wonder if I went back to Sligo where my grandmother was born if I would get the same welcome as President Obama.

• Searlit | May 25, 2011, 08:01 PM EDT

  I will miss deburca. His comments made sense.

• Searlit | May 25, 2011, 07:56 PM EDT

  @ borefield, Limerick has been doing better, lately. No thanks to your insults. Limerick is a beautiful place, city and all. They fought to the last, during the year after the Battle of the Boyne. Don't insult them!

• borefield | May 25, 2011, 07:27 PM EDT

  billyjustin, that you live in Limerick speaks volumes why you think he is the real thing. I am very familiar with Limerick, a city full of thugs, murder, stabbings, drugs and sucides by the dozen in the Shannon. Peace is far away from Limerick. Sober up before you state that he makes sense, then ask him to get you a job. George Bush is not the President any more in case you hadn't noticed. You dare to call us fools?

• willieboy | May 25, 2011, 07:22 PM EDT

  Of courswe he's happy in Ireland. Anywhere but home. We are a leaderless country. The heartland is suffering it's gfreatest year of disaster and, where is the great one hobnobbing around Europe, who, by the way poke fun at him and look on him as a clown. All of which is true. I also think Obama has been hanging with Bieden a little too much given the sudden proneness to the gaff. But the great Dowd professes him as a God. Well there goes religion. Nuff said..

• billyjustin | May 25, 2011, 06:02 PM EDT

  the reason your broke is because of the last fool you had as president, he started the present war , where all your hard earned money flows, Im in limerick and i found obama is the real thing, at least he talks sense, not like some of you fools ,peace is all we want.. Limerick

• antoman | May 25, 2011, 05:49 PM EDT

  @deburca-I unsubscribed shortly after subscribing once I realised that the email was pointless as I had Irishcentral.com saved to favourites anyway.

• deburca | May 25, 2011, 05:23 PM EDT

  I am not sure how I got on your emailing list for 'The Best of Irish Central', but suspect it has something to do with my last name. At first I was happy to receive the daily link and found the articles to be brief but interesting. However, after a few days I've realized that your site has become a clearing house for right-wing 'tea party' trolls leaving obnoxious and often offensive comments, so I am unsubscribing. Good luck.

• irishbob | May 25, 2011, 05:03 PM EDT

  If you people think Obama is so great, then keep him. I would be willing to bet that you would have him on the thing heading west. Obama talked his way into the WH and now he's taxing his way out in 2012. Mamaginnty said it was hatred and bigotry. We do hate him, but it's not because he's black. It's because he's stupid as hell.

• deburca | May 25, 2011, 04:58 PM EDT

  Actually, based upon the tbagger comments on this site, it has become a gathering ground for the CHILDREN of the lunatic fringe. None of these people can be adults, at least not full functioning adults.

• deburca | May 25, 2011, 04:49 PM EDT

  This site has become a gathering ground for the lunatic fringe.

• mamaginnty | May 25, 2011, 04:35 PM EDT

  Such hatred and bigotry.

• AngelPrecious | May 25, 2011, 04:22 PM EDT

  Him?? Is he like a god to you??? I wish you would keep him!

• FastEddy | May 25, 2011, 03:54 PM EDT

  Perhaps we could get Him to stay a bit longer ... like beyond 2012 ...

• irishmathair | May 25, 2011, 03:07 PM EDT

  Are we Finally FINISHED with all the "obama hero worship"? PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE! Enough already.

• porkheaven | May 25, 2011, 02:44 PM EDT

  If he is so happy in Ireland why don't you keep him because we won't miss him and maybe get our own spending under control. I think that we are more broke than Ireland.

• antoman | May 25, 2011, 02:42 PM EDT

  What I get from the comments are that people are hurting.The economy has tanked and Obama because he's the President is the recipient of people's venom.If the comments left here are anything to go by.This is natural.Hell I was advocating for civil war and to hell with Enda Kenny and the disgraced corrupt Irish democracy.Folks why not pitch in with Obama instead of bitching about him because you are feeling the pinch HARD.As JFK said "ask not what your country can do for you,but what you can do for your country".

• seanaci | May 25, 2011, 01:58 PM EDT

  Criticism of Obama for not "doing more" for Ireland is misplaced. He does not have the influence domestically to make any real difference. He spent his first two years following instead of leading; following Congress who, in turn, are following the money - corporations, special interests and select foreign governments - the latter not including the Irish government for sure. Overseas his power is mainly used for military and covert violence on behalf of the people who own the members of Congress. The MIC (Military-Industrial Complex) is the body Ireland should be petitioning for help - but good luck with that. With the welcoming treatment for Queen Elizabeth II and Obama the Irish also seem to have an MIC problem(Massive Inferiority Complex)!

• JeanneTherese | May 25, 2011, 01:40 PM EDT

  PLEASE DON'T EULOGIZE OBAMA... HE SPEAKS WITH FORKED TONGUE...HE IS OUT RIGHT NOW CAMPAIGNING IS ALL...WANTS THE IRISH VOTE. HE IS DESTROYING AMERICA SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE ANY OF HIS ADVICE OR YOU WILL FIND IRELAND IN THE SAME BOAT. WE DO NOT WANT HIM AS OUR PRESIDENT NOR DO WE WANT TO RE ELECT HIM. HE AND HIS CZARS ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY....PUT IRELAND IN THE HANDS OF GOD NOT OBAMA. OBAMA REALLY SPELLS TROUBLE WITH A CAPITAL T. HE IS NOT IRISH...5 GENERATIONS REMOVED DOES NOT MAKE HIM IRISH. WAKE UP IRELAND. THE IRISH ARE SMARTER THAN THIS.

• CitizenWhy | May 25, 2011, 01:38 PM EDT

  Please do not forget that Tim Geither of the USA bullied the IMF out of giving a fairer deal to Ireland.

• CitizenWhy | May 25, 2011, 01:35 PM EDT

  More important by far was how happy the queen was in Ireland, showing a far more relaxed mien than she shows elsewhere. Ireland's economic future is with Britain, not the USA.

• CitizenWhy | May 25, 2011, 01:33 PM EDT

  Origin of Ireland's problems: a "Irish love is all-encompassing, a mother’s milk for needy politicians.” The political clasess in Ireland, and their fans among the elite, are leading it to further ruin.

• haikued2 | May 25, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT

  In old Valley Girl talk: gag me with a spoon. Irish American votes is all his love affair with Ireland is about. He then goes to England and makes nice with "colonialists" whom he hates. Give us all a break and at least stop the fawning.

• Jeannie0121 | May 25, 2011, 12:45 PM EDT

  Attention Ireland: There will be no handout here! We're broke! Seriously, your adoration toward Obama is embarrassing... he's not the Second Coming. Was Obama's visit a National Holiday? Why weren't you people at work?

• MotherIrish | May 25, 2011, 12:40 PM EDT

  Obama's visit was a topic of conversation where ever we went in Ulster & Ireland, having left there 2 days before he arrived. The working folks didn't want him there. The young folks view him as a rock star. Moneygall needed him as they are a very depressed town and area and hope to boost tourism there. If I lived in Ireland, I would be insulted by his visit. He showed no class, slapping down money to pay for his pint and stating that The Presidents pays... He is a grandstander. DId he offer more trade with Ireland? Nope now that would have helped them out. How about importing more lamb from Ireland instead of Australia. Now thats a boost. We were asked more than once, why is he coming for just a day? Why is he even coming? To grandstand on the Queen of England? We did not find ONE person who thought his visit was worth the amount of security charges at a time they area asking the EU for bail out money.

• jdi2269 | May 25, 2011, 12:23 PM EDT

  stay there "howdy doody" !!!!!!

• pokeymon | May 25, 2011, 12:11 PM EDT

  Since Obama is happier in Ireland than anywhere else do America a favor and stay there. We are much better off when he is out of the country. This was just another political move by Obama to win the American Irish vote in 2012. His chance of winning a second term is hurting Big Time over here so he reaches out to his friendly socialist family in Europe. I think Ireland would be a great place for the Obama's to retire too!!!!

• MikeRock | May 25, 2011, 12:00 PM EDT

  Good, Then he should stay there.

• jamthecat | May 25, 2011, 11:59 AM EDT

  Maureen's cattiness knows no bounds, obviously. Even when she's trying to be nice she comes across as a two-faced, condescending, Democrat-hating bitch. As for the commenters on this thread, it's just the usual "blame Obama for everything the Republicans did" crowd popping up with their long-discredited, hypocritical claims and complaints. It's become more and more obvious that some people just plain cannot learn from their mistakes and will happily continue to support the GOP as it dismantles Social Security, destroys Medicare, continues to give tax breaks to billion-dollar corporations that send American jobs overseas, and takes credit for everything that worked under Obama even though they opposed the implementation of it.

• Ajreaper | May 25, 2011, 11:56 AM EDT

  The man got elected and will very likely be reelected given that in spite of the rhetoric the GOP cannot come up with a single canidate thats not a much bigger nutt job then many claim Obama is. If he was so ripe for the picking getting a realistic canidate able to win should be fairly easy and its been far from that. Simple truth is only a very, very small percentage of people rant about how terrible he is and even at that they generally avoid specific examples of what he's done and focus almost completely on name calling.

• badolan | May 25, 2011, 11:48 AM EDT

  It was obvious that the Obamas had a great time in Ireland and that is what this story was about. I'd glad that he and his wife were relaxed and themselves there. This can only be good for Ireland and so I am pleased.

• slainte39 | May 25, 2011, 11:39 AM EDT

  Another vote for prevailer, deburca AND OBAMA. Can't let the 20 or so Fox News junkies think they represent me. Their overconfidence about Obama's demise and putting the last nails in his coffin is really quite heartening as it signals the end is near...FOR THEM...BUB(BA).

• hyattsville | May 25, 2011, 11:35 AM EDT

  Ok maybe Ms Dowd went a little over-the-top on the figurative language, nothing to deserve the venomous and moronic reaction featured in the comments here! You lot make me ashamed to be Irish, if in fact that’s what you are. Small minded bigotry is worryingly prevailant amongst the readers of Irish Central. How do you live with such bitterness and loathing you horrible lot?

• whiteycat | May 25, 2011, 11:20 AM EDT

  deburca--Third world country we would be happy in?? Well sir /madam, what do you think your president is trying to put us all in? What do you think he means by a larger middle class? means that the poor will be getting the middle classes money by redistributing wealth, then the middle class will not get larger it will cease to exist.He lies when he can, or backtracks when needed like with Israel, (you can bet behind the scenes he will help Palestine.Wherever he is people fall all over him. Gonna change soon bub

• whiteycat | May 25, 2011, 11:13 AM EDT

  I think if he is happy there America would be glad to pay his transport if he promises to stay there.Of course hes happy people there like him. Why? Who knows. But I will say we don't.He is whatever he needs to be with whomever he is with.Hes as transparent as a billiard ball.Sneakier than Nixon and by far worse for our country.Where does Doud get her info? I mean she works for the NY times right?How come the great great great relative is white named obama.

• deburca | May 25, 2011, 11:12 AM EDT

  @katieherk, that's it use stupid names like "Nobama" makes you look real smart. Cha-ching! One more for the site!

• katieherk | May 25, 2011, 11:01 AM EDT

  I think the majority of these remarks show how much he is "loved".... loser!! Maureen is a heavy koolaid drinker along with deburca and maybe one or two more. Holy smoke, why don't you libs form your own island and stay there along with Nobama!

• PhlutiePhan | May 25, 2011, 11:00 AM EDT

  Blarney is the word that comes to mind.

• wilhoef | May 25, 2011, 10:58 AM EDT

  Oh please Mrs. Dowd! I'm going to puke.

• joanxis | May 25, 2011, 10:55 AM EDT

  Prevailer and Deburca - I couldn't agree more. You guys said it all.

• mrkennedy | May 25, 2011, 10:51 AM EDT

  Do you expect any negative analysis of what Obama does from Maureen Dowd? The information I have been receiving is not the same. With a $14 Trillion budget deficit and probably higher next summer the Presidential voting results will reflect a different appeal for Obama!!!!!!!!

• deburca | May 25, 2011, 10:48 AM EDT

  @lyoness555, give your parents back their laptop and go to school. @colkelley if you don't like our duly elected president who happens btw to have a 60% approval rating - why don't YOU leave? I'm sure there is some 3rd world country you'd enjoy not paying taxes in.

• colkelley | May 25, 2011, 10:37 AM EDT

  We would be a lot happier here in the States if Obama stays where he is happiest and where the population is the most gullible.

• lyoness555 | May 25, 2011, 10:30 AM EDT

  WOW ! THATS SO GREAT! I HAVE A GREAT IDEA, WHY DONT THEY STAY THERE!! HEY SINCE YOU IRISH LOVE OBUMA SO MUCH WHY DONT YOU MARRY HIM?

• deburca | May 25, 2011, 10:30 AM EDT

  The president went to Ireland, had a lovely time, gave a tremendous speech, sipped a pint in his ancestral villiage with the locals and the people loved him and Mrs. Obama. Case close - no "one night stand" about it. This website has found the cash cow - TBAGGERS! All you have to do is put up an article about President Obama and they come like flies with their talking points, hatred, childish put-downs and wackadoodle conspiracy theories - which means the site gets a ton of hits and the advertisers fork out the $$! Cha-ching!

• pounder | May 25, 2011, 10:23 AM EDT

  I fear for Irelands future if they cannot see past this charlatan.

• Prevailer | May 25, 2011, 10:20 AM EDT

  tom/peggy Bejesus be easy on the Lad. He just got a bugger like bin Laden. He quit smokin' and I meself had a bit of his High Hopes but the other party disappoints me more. They want to take away from the seniors their medicare. So he is still better than the rest. Leadership is when you do some good over bad and he has done a lot of that over the bad. Ask the people that work for GM and Chyrsler. Prosit!

• TraveLynn | May 25, 2011, 10:19 AM EDT

  It really is annoying to see all this drivel over a fraud. Why does Ireland get so giddy over people with Irish ancestry? You never hear about any other countries getting all worked up when someone with their nation's ancestry visits. Calm down, he's American (we hope). He only is "Irish" when it's to his advantage.

• eiriamach | May 25, 2011, 10:18 AM EDT

  If I needed a break from reality, I'd get one from reading through the comments below-- most comments have so little connection with political events since January 2009! Then I recall that frightened people said similar things when Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated some unheard-of changes to the economy to bring the USA back from a Great Depression. But there's also a disconnect: except for pushing health care reform legislation, what has Obama done that could frighten a capitalist?

• tom/peggy | May 25, 2011, 10:01 AM EDT

  The yes we can, hope and change he brought to America turned out to be gloom and despair. He is very glib but has zero leadership ability.

• antoman | May 25, 2011, 09:58 AM EDT

  Misery loves company.I'll just leave that remark here for the sad cases who have commented below.

• John5319 | May 25, 2011, 09:40 AM EDT

  Obama was "transformed" after his Irish visit? From what ... to what? A capitalist leader of the "free" world to a Marxist statist who believes that the sovereignty of the individual is a valueless trait of the citizens of America? All hail the "anointed one". The only thing that was missing from this article was the mention of the Obama-Hitler type flags on every building. He's campaigning to be the "leader of the World", and Satan is his name!!

• buffalobill73 | May 25, 2011, 09:38 AM EDT

  How in God's good name could Obama help with Ireland's 100 billion dollar debt when he continues to allow the 14 trillion dollar cap in his own country to overflow?

• Yeeeech | May 25, 2011, 09:36 AM EDT

  Happy in Ireland? Obama leaving a trail of destruction in his wake jetted off on his $10,000,000 trip to Europe: No, not the tornadoes that killed hundreds and destroyed an entire town (and since then two more towns)- the Obama's Administration destruction -the USA on the verge of bankruptcy, 9.5% unemployment, high taxes which range up to 55% of income, $4.00 a gallon gasoline, bankrupt medical and pension system. A Democratic led Senate that refuses to hear Bills or address the budget issues. Who wouldn't be happy to be in Ireland - their debt is only $100 billion.

• OldSarge | May 25, 2011, 09:35 AM EDT

  The only thing Dowd got right is Obama is indeed a "needy politician". And yes it was a one night stand. Obama is a whore who offer great delight, but leaves the customer with buyers remorse. Feel lucky that it was only a one night stand, and don't forget to check your wallet!

• DLW12183 | May 25, 2011, 09:24 AM EDT

  He was happy-he thought it was 2008 and not the mess he has generated by 2011

• Barbaracvm | May 25, 2011, 09:16 AM EDT

  Of course he has never been happier. The dumbies are falling down in adoration just because he happens to an Irish ancestor.

• torbreezy | May 25, 2011, 09:15 AM EDT

  . . . am puzzled at your impulsion to use "top" to characterize the NY Times writer: Does the use of such a word make more credible the paean that follows?