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President Obama invite for Croke Park rally is confirmed

80,000 expected at Dublin venue to hear US president

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, April 11, 2011, 7:04 AM

Updated Monday, April 11, 2011, 9:01 AM

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Obama's appearance at Croke Park has been confirmed

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Read more: Michelle Obama's Irish roots traced to Irish slave owner

Irish Central is first with the news – President Barack Obama has been invited to speak at Croke Park during his visit to Ireland next month.

GAA sources have confirmed that Croke Park is the likely venue for a major public address by the US President on May 23rd.

Washington sources had told Irish Central that the venue was favored because of security considerations over a street venue in central Dublin.

The story was first revealed by Irish Central last week and has been confirmed by the Irish Times in their Monday edition and in the Sunday Business Post.

The paper of record reports that Croke Park is: “Being considered as a venue for a rally when President Barack Obama visits Ireland next month.”

A top Croke Park source confirmed to the Irish Times that the GAA headquarters is being looked at as a venue ahead of a decision on Obama’s full itinerary for his first visit to Ireland.

The Dublin venue is available that weekend as the National League will have concluded and the championship schedule doesn’t begin until June at the stadium.

American Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney is to hold a number of meetings to finalise the Presidential itinerary this week.

Rooney will visit Obama’s ancestral homeland at Moneygall in County Offaly when he will hold talks with Offaly County Manager Pat Gallagher.

The Ambassador, a Croke Park patron in the past, will also discuss the likely rally at the GAA ground with officials.

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11 Comments

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gwen1980 | Apr 15, 2011, 09:46 PM EDT

heard he will be wearing an offaly jersey and will try a few 65s

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peterson | Apr 14, 2011, 09:36 PM EDT

Maybe you can pay people to attend !!

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TomFitz | Apr 14, 2011, 08:22 AM EDT

Good Lord! I sincerely hope they are not going to charge people to hear him spout off about his accomplishments.. He stands for Change.. but he didn't say it was change for the worse.. He wabts change alright, he wants YOUR change. They will probably turn people upside down for the "Change" to fall out of there pockets.. He will ramble on as usual as he reads from his teleprompter... "Let Me Be Clear" "You people don't get it" "I am all about Change".. I'll keep my guns.. I'll keep my freedom (instead of his socialism), I'll keep my religion (instead of your Sharia Law) and I'll keep my Change in my pockets! He is already on the campaign trail to get reelected.. (Fat chance).. Perhaps you can keep him there (since he claims to be Irish) but won't show you a birth certificate!

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Irishjule | Apr 11, 2011, 04:45 PM EDT

I LOVE IRELAND, THE IRISH PEOPLE, AND AM OF IMMEDIATE IRISH HERITAGE. HOWEVER, AS MUCH AS I DISLIKE THE ENGLISH BECAUSE OF THE HORRIBLE TREATMENT THEY GAVE THE IRISH, THEY ARE SMARTER THAN THE IRISH. THEY ARE NOT INVITING BARACK AND MICHELLE TO THE WEDDING OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE. HE IS A DISGRACE TO AMERICA AND SO IS SHE. GOD WILLING, THEY WILL BE OUT OF THE WHITEHOUSE AFTER THE 2012 ELECTION.

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cathy/marty | Apr 11, 2011, 03:20 PM EDT

Who really cares" You are making a big thing out of this. It's all B.S. Please don't tell me about his blood line . His Mother married a black man and iam suppose to get excited. Give me a f---en break.

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jdi2269 | Apr 11, 2011, 12:30 PM EDT

I'VE JUST DISCOVERED OBAMA HAS ROOTS TO CHARLES MANSON AND MICHELLE HAS ROOTS TO CHARLIE SHEEN!

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OldSarge | Apr 11, 2011, 11:02 AM EDT

Obama isn't going to do anything to help the Irish. Your not Islamic enough, and you don't control nukes. On the plus side, he's a failed president and he's going to be a single term one. America will be able to heal.

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pilib04 | Apr 11, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT

antoman, how about a voluntary donation to the GAA.

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LinLinisme | Apr 11, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT

People here are afraid to speak out about this so-called president. You can have him

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LinLinisme | Apr 11, 2011, 10:43 AM EDT

Just keep the person in Ireland. America doesn't want or need him. Maybe he can ruin the Irish economy as he has the American one. Please keep him, but, don't send hom back

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antoman | Apr 11, 2011, 09:22 AM EDT

Will the people have to pay to enter Croke Park to hear Obama speak?

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