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President Obama to host White House Irish hooley

By
APRIL DREW,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 7:12 AM
Updated Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 6:05 PM

 

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At least 15 U.S. Presidents (including Barack Obama, pictured here with Irish PM Brian Cowen on St. Patrick's Day) have confirmed Irish ancestry
President Barack Obama with Irish PM Brian Cowen on St. Patrick's Day in 2009
Photo by The White House

President Obama will host 600 Irish and Irish American leaders at the White House on St. Patrick's night in the biggest Irish celebration of St. Patrick's Day in the White House since the end of Clinton era, with twice the attendance from last year.

Among the attendees will be over 100 political and business leaders from Northern Ireland, including the party leaders there, as Obama once again emphasizes the importance of the Irish peace process. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, will be missing, as she is on a trip to Russia, but she will be stopping over in Shannon on St. Patrick's Day itself.

The president will host Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen during the four hour Irish party and will also deliver an address to the Irish American leader present.

Also attending the party will be major Irish figures, including pro golf star Padraig Harrington and actor Gabriel Byrne.

The Irish government announced on Tuesday that Byrne will be the first ever cultural ambassador for Ireland tasked with creating new opportunities for Irish culture abroad and spearheading an ambitious 2011 “invasion” of Irish culture to America.

The program in 2011 will include clusters of events in a range of key cities including New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, among others. The program will run through 2011, with major festivals, venues and cultural organizations as presenting partners.

Cowen stated, “Gabriel Byrne is an internationally renowned, award-winning actor and is already well established as one of Ireland’s great ambassadors through his work in film and theatre, as well as his endeavors behind the scenes in supporting and promoting Irish artists.

“The appointment recognizes the worldwide importance of Ireland's culture and its profound connection to our economy, one of the major conclusions of the Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh. The cultural ambassador will work closely with the Irish government, Culture Ireland and artistic bodies to develop an artistic vision that is inclusive of the Irish Diaspora throughout the world.”

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14 Comments

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Posted by killowen on Mar 18, 2010, 07:26 PM EDT
Hooley time while the cancer's power is ever growing, unstopable - having their way with/over uber alles. Hillary's trip to Rusky land is something else. http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2010/marzo/mier17/ginebra.html
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Posted by hyattsville on Mar 18, 2010, 02:25 PM EDT
Spiritranger and Advocate sound like multiple personalities of some old white supremacist. Completely cuckoo.
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Posted by hyattsville on Mar 18, 2010, 07:29 AM EDT
To Advocate, are all Irish, ignorant racist pricks or just you? Here are some facts that you won't hear from Rush limpballs, or Billo. 87% of the national debt was spent by Ronnie Raygun, aka Saint dumbfuck, GHWB, aka George the little bit smarter, and GWB, aka the village idiot.This is more than all the other presidents of the united states combined, but don't let the facts get in the way of your racism. To Felicia, where was your big mouth when New Orleans was drowning, and GWB was parting? And as for your family of six, I am supposed to feel sorry for you because you can't practice birth control. Your parish priest says "god will provide" if you family is hungry don't blame Obama, blame god.
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Posted by Felicia on Mar 18, 2010, 01:05 AM EDT
Gee isn't that wonderful, and I get to wonder how I am going to feed my family of six tonight. Wonder what the party will be for next week, oh I forgot the President will be on spring break.
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Posted by Madeleine on Mar 18, 2010, 12:31 AM EDT
I am listening to dropkick murphy to celebrate and having a brewsky with my husband , his family is from Ireland so he is feeling very festive, very very festive.
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Posted by Madeleine on Mar 17, 2010, 10:21 PM EDT
Having said that, I would like to wish you all a Happy St. Patricks Day!!!
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Posted by Madeleine on Mar 17, 2010, 10:20 PM EDT
Americans are very angry and upset, we are being dragged into a form of communism that will change our lives forever, Ireland looks at this man as one of their own, a Savior, remember, you're next, we've been hearing too much about Ireland in our newspapers, we are fearing for you. Irish in high positions have no sympathy for us, all they are thinking about is immigration, Bootlicking and ignorance of the facts. Of course we are angry but I don't think wishing anyone harm is the way to go Advocate.
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Posted by Watereskhill on Mar 17, 2010, 09:18 PM EDT
I'm disappointed at the mean-spirited remarks. It is Patrick's Day. Not a political caucus. I'm native Irish born. Today at work; the boss, his wife, he a black guy from Missouri she Italian from Chicago, co-workers , even the Fed-Ex delivery guy came up to me wishing the best. With a handshake and smile. Me wearing my sprigs of shamrock in honor of the Saint, my homeland, and family there. The American Spirit is alive and well. It is warm hearted. It is good. Regardless of sarcasms here. The nuns in Ireland (God rest them) didn't want us to work or study on St.Patrick's Day either. We had the day off school. Next morning there was the remark with a polite cough " We didn't see any of you at Our Lady's Grotto" How could they? We were playing football with the Curate in the next field. Were lads, some of us Altar Boys expected to be always saying The Rosary? I love my Irish heritage. It is has a richness all it's own. Slainte.
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Posted by killowen on Mar 17, 2010, 09:15 PM EDT
Obama, be mindful of how the world turns as you sup with your shamrock delivering visitor. A friend to facilitate the reditioning of souls through old Erin. Never once thought about the true natives of Amercia while blubbering about SinnFein. Just amazing the effects that a once slave, named Patrick, has had on the world. Without such a personage the Irish race would be happily/completely incorporated within the neighbouring occupiers framework - and with Queenie as their Pope. Stuck on Patrick's teachings they were stubborn to foreign rule. An America without the Irish would be poorer beyond measure - we are America - not like those who whine and exert undue influence over a seemingly unaware but (always) boastful people. Awake and smell the coffee. Happy Saint Patrick's Day and Thank you, Niall of the Nine Hostages for your enslavement of a young Patrick (his rename designation) from Celto-Roman Britian. Has shadings of how a slave or a descendent rises up to become President like Mr. Obama. Mother Nature plays wonderful tricks on those who think within their own box.
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Posted by KathyCallahan on Mar 17, 2010, 07:25 PM EDT
http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/4990980 Barack Obama had to do a whole lot better than he did last year on St Patrick's Day
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Posted by ciarrai on Mar 17, 2010, 06:52 PM EDT
Ronald Reagan was a douchebag.
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Posted by ciarrai on Mar 17, 2010, 06:51 PM EDT
I hope someone will bring the remarks made by "Advocate" about hanging President Obama to the attention of the FBI and the Secret Service. These threats are taken very seriously. In the meantime, shame on Advocate who is an advocate for hate and violence. A pox on you.
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Posted by Advocate on Mar 17, 2010, 01:41 PM EDT
IF this Zionist, Socialist, One-World agenda creature loved Ireland or America, he'd show his love via suicide! Read Deut. 17:15 & 28:43. He's needs to be hanged beside Pelosi! These Anti-American creatures are simply 'Despicable Oxygen Theifs! Happy Holiday to all... Yeah!
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Posted by Spiritranger on Mar 17, 2010, 11:42 AM EDT
They will be serving the special Obama Kool-Aid. Drink up, you liberal Irish Democratic photo-op props, you... Drink up to Islam, socialism, Obama-ism, abortion, multi-culturalism and reminisce about famous dead Kennedys-- drink! "Ronald Reagan? never heard of 'im."
 


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