Moneygall booming after President Obama’s visit there

Big rise also reported in women drinking Guinness

SEAN O'HARE,

IrishCentral Contributing Writer

Published Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 7:12 AM

Updated Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 6:33 PM

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Michelle and Barack Obama greeting the public in Moneygall

Photo by Google Images

The little town of Moneygall in Offaly is flooded with tourists since President Obama’s visit there last week.

The center of the activity is Ollie Hayes’s pub on Main Street where Obama downed his now famous pint of Guinness and his wife had a half pint.

Hayes told the Irish independent that business was booming and that more women were drinking Guinness after Michelle Obama tried a half pint.

"Lots of Americans are coming in and it's much busier than this time last year. I can't put a figure on it but it is much, much busier."

"Mr Obama has been here now, so many people are coming to the village and visiting different shops around and then coming into the pubs and having a cup of tea or a drink.

"There are a lot of people around now as I speak; a lot of Americans and a lot of Irish, too. It's great for business in the community."

Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said Ireland had to grasp the opportunity presented by the Queen and President Obama visiting.

"The historic visits have provided us with an unparalleled opportunity to drive home the message around the world that there has never been a better time to visit the island of Ireland," he said.

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PHOTOS - President Obama's trip to Ireland - photo gallery

An amazing encounter with President Obama in Ireland

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Nster.com

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6 Comments

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STEVENSTAR | Mar 18, 2013, 11:41 AM EDT

SO PRINT THE NEW PICTURES OF THE VILLAGE AND THE 'BOOM.. ALL THE NEW SHOPPING CENTERS , HOTELS , CINEMAS ETC ETC THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT SINCE HIS VISIT .. PRINT THE EVIDENCE!! CAUSE I HAVE PHOTOS OF IT BEEN EXACTLY AS HOW IT ALWAYS WAS .. A SMALL OULD VILLAGE IN MIDDLE OF NOWHERE NOW WITH A BYPASS AROUND IT !!! OH THE RUBBISH LIES PRINTED IN HERE ARE JUST UNREAL !!

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STEVENSTAR | Mar 18, 2013, 11:38 AM EDT

HAHA REALLY .. MONEYGAL IS STILL THE SAME AS IT WAS 10YEARS AGO .. AND AMERICAN TOURISM IS ALSO WAY DOWN.. WE ACTUALLY GET 6 TIMES MORE BRITISH TOURISTS COMING TO IRELAND AND ID DOUBT THEY ARE VISITING MONEYGAL.. PLEASE STOP WITH THESE SILLY STORIES !!!

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katetipp33 | May 31, 2011, 01:05 PM EDT

Yes it definitely a shot in the arm for the village of Moneygall. The visit of the President of America has had a ripple effect. Small businesses like my own are making money in the middle of the recession out of his visit. deburca hope you enjoy the visit. Try Bunratty Folk Park outside Limrick while you are here. I think you might enjoy it.

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jamieLM | May 31, 2011, 11:49 AM EDT

Agree with you, deburca. After Carter and Clinton were elected, people went out of their way to go to Plains, Ga and Hope, AR. Many tourists just like to say they were in the hometown of the POTUS. Good to hear that it put Moneygall and the surrounding area "on the map" for tourists so Moneygall can reap the benefits of the visit by the POTUS. Wish I, too, could be going to Moneygall this summer. Enjoy your trip.

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deburca | May 31, 2011, 10:40 AM EDT

Not only will this help Moneygall, but it will bring tourists off the beaten track and will probably help that entire area of the country. I know I'll be stopping by Moneygall this summer and that isn't a place I would have even thought about before. And getting there will bring me through towns I would have probably not driven through otherwise. The visit by President Obama and the First Lady will hopefully be like a B12 shot for that part of the country!

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Chiefjustice | May 31, 2011, 10:12 AM EDT

Thats good. A small out of the way place got a shot in the arm, as it were.

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