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President Obama to address massive outdoor rally in College Green Dublin

Remarks expected to mention the immigration reform issue

NIALL O'DOWD,

IrishCentral.com Founder

Published Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 10:53 AM

Updated Friday, May 20, 2011, 12:37 PM

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U.S President Barack Obama is expected to discuss the issue of immigration reform during his visit

President Obama will hold an outdoor rally in College Green in Dublin near Trinity College on Monday night in Dublin. He is expected to address the immigration reform issue in his remarks.

The rally will be preceded by a free concert which will start at 5.p.m. Tens of thousands are expected to attend.

Other venues had been mentioned including O’Connell Street and Croke Park but College Green, where President Clinton spoke in 1995, will now be the site.

He will be accompanied by his wife Michelle who is not expected to have a separate schedule because of the shortness of the visit . She had been originally slated to visit a school.

Obama’s speech is expected to last 15 -20 minutes and it is expected he will address the issue of immigration reform in America which affects tens of thousands of Irish undocumented.

He will arrive in to Dublin Airport aboard Air Force One at 9.30 on Monday morning and will meet with President McAleese at Aras an Uachtarain and the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and his cabinet at Farmleigh, also as well as visit US Ambassador Dan Rooney’s residence, all located in the Phoenix Park.

He will fly to Moneygall by helicopter in the early afternoon and is expected there at around 3-0 .

He will return from Moneygall and then attend the outdoor rally in College Green.

He flies on to London on the morning of May 24th.

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The United States security team behind Obama’s visit to Ireland

Tourists forced out of Obama’s ancestral village of Moneygall due to lack of toilets or food

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Nster.com

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19 Comments

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McNamara31 | May 20, 2011, 10:46 PM EDT

@Irishjule… "Irish people for being duped"… Pretty condescending don't you think? Facts are,the Irish are far too sharp and well informed to be "duped". And as for criticizing the wrong president: Bush inherited a very sizable budget surplus and a thriving economy. He pushed through huge tax cuts for the rich and increased federal spending at such a rapid rate he transformed the surplus into a "massive" deficit. The tax cuts and other policies accelerated the transfer of wealth and income to the "very richest" Americans and away from the middle class. His policies combined with constant opposition to necessary financial regulations produced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. And BTW, don't take my word for it; historians rank Bush as one of the worst presidents in history.

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Irishjule | May 20, 2011, 05:27 PM EDT

Oh, McNamara. You are criticizing the wrong president...must be listening to the corrupt, biased news media. President Bush did get us into debt, but Obama increased it ten-fold. Besides, Bush had a majority of DEMOCRATS in Congress. The Irish are such wonderful people, it's sad that they are being duped by the likes of Obama and wife. READ DREAMS FROM MY FATHER to learn what BO is really like!

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marciaashley | May 20, 2011, 02:13 PM EDT

what is obamas purpose over there to ireland. (THE YOUTH). looks like after he leaves anywhere there is nothing but trouble. i have quite abit of relation over there myself., and england. down below the article about birthcertificate. i will never believe it. i am entitled to my opinoin the same as anyone else.

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McNamara31 | May 19, 2011, 04:32 PM EDT

John5319...There you go again with the "Birther" smears: "for an ILLEGAL President born of a father who was NOT a U.S. citizen"... You know quite well Obama has shown his legal birth certificate and furthermore his mother was US born. And you talk about propaganda?

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John5319 | May 19, 2011, 03:07 PM EDT

Today Obama's "immigration reform" is to tell Israel to give back the land that now serves as it's buffer zone against the EVIL, that it WON, by a War it didn't start. Now these Muslim countries, that will not acknowledge their right to exist, are given a free pass on behalf of "peace" ?? Peace is a 2 way street, and for an ILLEGAL President born of a father who was NOT a U.S. citizen, and therefore is NOT a "naturalized citizen" required to be President, for him to preach on the "immigration" issue is just preposterous global socialist propaganda.

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Towngate | May 19, 2011, 02:42 PM EDT

The Irish natives will probably only be allowed to see the Potus Circus Zoo from behind wire cages. Still, it will help remind Barry O'Balmy of the Monument to Justice he still runs at Guantanamo.

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McNamara31 | May 19, 2011, 02:11 PM EDT

LeahTxUSA....He's had just two years to dig the country out of 8 years of total inept mismanagement left by your fellow Texan "George W" who put two wars on credit cards, brought the country to the brink of financial collapse and was bleeding 700,000 jobs a week prior to Obama stepping into the Whitehouse and BTW.. I guess Obama dealt with Bin Laden between his rounds of golf. Give me a break!

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LeahTxUSA | May 19, 2011, 01:30 PM EDT

McNamara31...Micky74007 is absolutely correct in his assessment of Obama. Obama had full control of the government for two years & never mentioned immigration reform. He's only doing it now to get the hispanic vote - just another broken promise from this weak, feckless man. Obama is a narcissist who has done nothing but travel & play golf since becoming president. 2012 won't come soon enough for this one term president.

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McNamara31 | May 19, 2011, 01:19 PM EDT

micky74007... Do you really think you have to "explain" Obama to the Irish? The Irish and their news broadcasts have a better understanding of Obama and his policies than the Americans who turn on their Fox News to hear an echo chamber of bias and biogotry. And, when you say "Nothing that comes out of this man's mouth will be truthful" could you give us a few examples or is that just another "Fox style" smear without substance?

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Chiefjustice | May 19, 2011, 11:45 AM EDT

the Irish love him so much, Thay should keep him

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micky74007 | May 19, 2011, 11:39 AM EDT

I think the Irish need to be very careful here. Nothing that comes out of this man's mouth will be truthful. He changes his speech to whatever he thinks his audience wants to hear. It is not governance or diplomacy he is after. It is adoration. He craves the spotlight, and nothing is more important to him. He switches positions so quickly he can play on a teeter-totter all by himself.

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OrenTruitt | May 19, 2011, 10:52 AM EDT

Obama gives new definition to the term 'black Irish'. I wish he would extend his stay for the next 5 years. He'd do less damage to America if he stayed away. Don't forget, when the Irish diaspora caused by The Hunger (caused by British policy), Irish immigrants to America were met with hatred and resent. The Irish were NOT welcomed with open arms in America, they had to FIGHT to EARN their place in AMERICA. Not like the illegals coming from south of the border today who DEMAND, DEMAND, DEMAND and expect government hand-outs while refusing to Americanize.

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McNamara31 | May 19, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

deburca I love when you hit 'em with facts. "clapping"

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pilib04 | May 19, 2011, 10:37 AM EDT

The President should get a rousing Cead Mile Failte. Afterall, the Irish people have been kept in home-confinement for the past three days so no one would ruin the visit of Elizabeth Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

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francisquinn | May 19, 2011, 10:32 AM EDT

It sounds like deburca reads the NYT on a regualr basis.. Also hope they Irish will suggest that BO stay longer...(How about 5 years !!!!)..Look how much money we will save if he does not come back till 2016...

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