New research has revealed that First Lady Michelle Obama, like her husband President Barack Obama, has Irish roots.
Megan Smolenyak, the same genealogist who discovered that President Obama’s Irish roots go back to Moneygall in County Offaly, has discovered that Michelle Obama's family tree has a large Irish branch.
Smolenyak traced Michelle's heritage back to a young slave girl Melvinia Shields who was once traded for $475.
Melvinia would go on to have children with an Irish-American slave-owner named Shields.
The Times says Michelle Obama is linked to Melvinia's son Dolphus Shields. Melvinia became the property of Henry Shields in 1852.
Smolenyak said the young girl still haunted her. "It's still jarring to see dollar signs associated with human beings," she said.
Michelle's Irish roots was one of the major findings in Smolenyak's research. Smolenyak spent nine months researching the first lady's family tree in conjunction with The New York Times.
Smolenyak began the project just before Obama was named president and she says she hopes that her discovery will please the First Lady.
"The vast majority of people are happy when their heritage is just kind of handed to them," she said. "She's got a really rich ancestry. This would be my fantasy: that she's clicking [on the Web site] through all the branches of her family tree, sitting there with Sasha and Malia and Marian Robinson, and I hope they're pleased."
Smolenyak has done an enormous amount of genealogical research of the First Couple.
In 2007, she found out where in Ireland Obama’s family came from after tracing Obama’s third great-grandfather on his mother’s side, Fulmoth Kearney, journey from Moneygall in County Offaly to the U.S.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.kaydog1 | Apr 12, 2011, 12:26 AM EDT
So they'll all be sitting there in front of the fire, Michelle, Sasha, Malia, and Marian Robinson, and Michelle will proudly show the girls how one of their Great-Great-Great Grandfathers was an Irish-American named Henry Shields who raped their African-born Great-Great-Great Grandmother after buying her for $475. Oh, how their hearts will swell with pride to learn they are the direct descendants of a white Irish rapist. Of course they will be "pleased" Ms. Smolenyak (after the girls stop crying, that is). Regrettably, if they ever decide to pursue the idea of reparations they'll have to get them from THEMSELVES, because it was their own filthy ancestor who did the raping - not any of ours!
haikued2 | Apr 11, 2011, 01:45 PM EDT
Folks...slavery was a common thing throughout the world and still exists in some places, although ignored by the media. Michelle Obama and her husband are pretty much no different than many folks who call themselves "black" or "native American" or just about anything else. We are pretty much a hodge podge of "racial" genetics it just depends on how far you look back. The real question is "what the hell difference does it make if Michelle Obama's Irish heritage was from a slave owner and why would anyone be surprised to see a dollar amount associated with a human being? What did the researcher think: slaves were sold for a number of sheep or goats....as is done in Africa?
jdi2269 | Apr 11, 2011, 12:49 PM EDT
I TRACED HER ROOTS TO LINDAY LOHAN!
raynandsnow | Apr 11, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT
Blacks and Irish, one and the same ! I always thought that, its nice to know the connections are coming out now, and who better than Michelle Obama and Barak to make it real !
Collette2 | Apr 11, 2011, 05:12 AM EDT
I think it's interesting how everybody seeks their roots to be connected when official visits are on the schedule. Irish to be sure, to be sure. No hope Whatsoever for children who have fathers who are fathers to be connected, and not only Irish, to be sure to be sure.
Hannah1879 | Apr 10, 2011, 09:43 PM EDT
Yes, the Irish were slaves... I have read that too. The British government has made so many peoples lives miserable for so many years it is nauseating. I'm happy for Michelle that she has found her roots.
akellyny | Apr 10, 2011, 09:02 PM EDT
Mikey123 - Erin go Bro! I love it. All the seriousness on here and you gave me a smile. Slainte!
borefield | Apr 10, 2011, 08:37 PM EDT
mamaginnty, are you for real?, this has nothing to do with white versus black! it's just plain common sense and reality. You people that are slobbering over them because they are black and, no matter what they do or say is and must be put forth in the best light are insulting to the black race. Get Real.
mamaginnty | Apr 10, 2011, 05:24 PM EDT
Same thing again, whites ripping the black people to pieces, I really pity the black people in America. They have gone through what irish People have. They are human, just like everyone else, evolved with darker skin to protect them from sun. What makes white people think they are the superior race.
pilib04 | Apr 10, 2011, 04:41 PM EDT
I am very happy for the First Lady. Sometimes it is very difficult to get information what with lost records and such.
Madeliene | Apr 10, 2011, 04:25 PM EDT
Read your Irish history! The Irish people were slaves of the English way before the Black people. The Irish were found not to be able to stand the heat in some of the places they were sent. The English then decided to get Afican slaves as they would be able to withstand the hot temps. The Irish woman were mated with the Black dlaves to produce lighter skinned slaves therefore more "sellabe" The Irish woman would not leave thir children and many African Americans took their mothers last names when they were finally free of the British Look it up ---and we are still not free of them yet!
borefield | Apr 10, 2011, 03:49 PM EDT
It's amazing the level of moral integrity both their parents had. I rest my case.
Greenfire | Apr 10, 2011, 03:18 PM EDT
Michelle Irish . . . who's next?
peterson | Apr 10, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT
I shall be so very happy when this whole affair has ended. God help us !!
mollycolleen | Apr 10, 2011, 01:13 PM EDT
Somewhat pleased...but why would anyone be pleased to know that their ancestry includes slavery and most likely forced child bearing with the slave owner? I wonder how this was all documented...
John5319 | Apr 10, 2011, 12:10 PM EDT
It's amazing what can be found out ... IF ... the information is available through the public domain. So why can't we see President Obama's LONG FORM birth certificate with doctor signatures, Columbia University records, how he paid for a Harvard Law School education, and just how he got a Federal Social Security number from the State of Connecticut when he lived in Hawaii at the time he "applied" ? He's hiding the evidence that would prove him a FRAUD !!
John5319 | Apr 10, 2011, 12:04 PM EDT
Who the hell cares...
redhand32 | Apr 10, 2011, 12:01 PM EDT
I would also want to learn more about the "Irish-American" slave owner's pedigree. I suspect that our "Irish-American" here is not of the same vintage of those who came reluctantly by steerage during An Gorta Mor. He/she likely left the Big House back home, for another here. Also, those who criticize the President and First Lady about their Irish roots are pretty much the same bizarre Americans, the "birthers" who despite the evidence, continue to claim that Obama hailed from Kenya, Indonesia, perhaps Uranus, because they desperately want to believe he is not legitametely elected.
commonsense | Apr 10, 2011, 11:38 AM EDT
This was reported in the New York Times over a year ago, as was the finding of President Obama's Irish heritage. I think it's amazing when people of any background are able to learn more about their roots and where they come from. I hope we can all celebrate the President's visit to Ireland next month!
seamusmoore | Apr 10, 2011, 10:52 AM EDT
I suppose she is related to Niall of the Nine Hostages just like Henry Louis Gates. BTW, the origin of the population was in Africa, so if you go back far enough, we are all African-American! @Trelach How about the 33rd county you partitioning "p"(rhymes with wussy)
Trealach | Apr 10, 2011, 10:46 AM EDT
Never in the history of the English language has an apostrophe meant so much, to so many!.... So that's 15 Irish signatories to the Declaration of Independence, 12 Irish Presidents out of 44, and one First Lady. No wonder America was once great! Heck!! we might as well make the US the 27th County of the Republic of Ireland.
EireinAmerica | Apr 10, 2011, 10:42 AM EDT
I hereby revoke both of their Celtic cards! Real Irish people do not collude with Queen Lizzie to come to Ireland,...GOD BLESS JOHN STOKES!!!
mikey123 | Apr 10, 2011, 10:38 AM EDT
Erin go Bro?
bronxjames | Apr 10, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT
I knew obama was irish...just look at his name O'Bama...Saints be praised
dcdeirdre | Apr 10, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT
'Smolenyak hopes her discovery will please the first lady' Yes I'm sure she'll be delighted to have a name to the Irish slave owner who abused her young ancestor. How would such a revelation please anyone?