Locals in the Co Offaly village of Moneygall are already gearing up for President Obama’s visit to Ireland in May, according to a story in the Irish Times.
The closest they have come to a visit so far is a cardboard cut-out (pictured) of Obama left in the village by an American visitor. Now they can prepare for the real thing.
The village is where President Obama’s great, great, great grandfather on his mother’s side, Falmouth Kearney, emigrated from in 1850, at the age of 19. He was a shoemaker.
The president might run into a few distant relatives during his visit.
“I’d never claim to be anything other than a distant relative,” said Henry Healy, a bookkeeper and Obama’s eighth cousin. “But it is surreal to say you share the same lineage with the president of the United States.”
The village post office, run by Pat and Mary Bergin, sells stamps, but no postcards yet.
“I’ll have to go out with my camera and take a few shots,” said Pat Bergin. “We’ve been bypassed since December, and maybe this visit will bring us a few more tourists. We did have people coming in during the American elections asking for us to stamp the Moneygall post office mark on envelopes for them. I would say we’ll have a few more now after this.”
“Up to now, when you say where you’re from, people say ‘Oh, Don-e-gal’?” says Mary Bergin. “They won’t be asking that any more, because they’ll know Moneygall from now on.”
Locals, impatient for the real Obama, have been lining up at Ollie Hayes’ bar to have their picture taken with the cardboard cutout of the president an American tourist gave Hayes 18 months ago.
As soon as Hayes heard the news of Obama’s visit, he told everyone. “The thing is, not alone is it a State visit, but it’s also a personal visit to the home of his ancestors.”
Referring to Ronald Reagan’s 1984 visit to his ancestral Irish home, Ballyporeen, Hayes added: “I think it’ll be fantastic for us, but there won’t be much in it for us afterwards. Ballyporeen kept it going for a while, but we’re in a different world now.”
The site that once housed the Kearney family is now occupied by a property owned by John Donovan, a local hardware shop owner, who rents the property.
Donovan is already preparing for the visit of Obama with gusto but won’t be asking his tenant to vacate the premises for the day.
“I was out this morning already, clearing it off the roof,” he told the Examiner.
“The next thing I have to do is power-hose the front and do a bit of painting. There was supposed to be a plaque on the wall, but it hasn’t gone up yet.”
The tenant at the home of Obama’s maternal great, great, great grandfather will be staying put for the visit.
“Obama might only be here for 10 minutes, but my tenant will be here far longer. And she’s the one who’ll be paying the rent, not Obama,” added Donovan.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.skydiver15000 | Mar 22, 2011, 10:04 AM EDT
Dont go gcreideann tú leathcheann seo ag teacht go dtí ár hÉireann .... Obama chuir na Stáit Aontaithe i bhfiacha den sórt sin agus scriosadh an ecconomy domhain sa chruth nach chuala riamh sa stair. Is fuath Mo chairde Mheiriceá air mar an ráta fíor gan obair i anois le 20%, thart ar 60 milliún duine sna Stáit Aontaithe an chuid is mó riamh agus go gcoinníonn sé ag fás. Ciallaíonn sé seo go bhfuil níos lú postanna le linn na hÉireann chun dul go dtí agus díreach a dhéanamh níos deacra dúinn. Tá sé ina leathcheann agus puppet é. Tá sé díreach anois Thosaigh cogadh eile gan aon bhagairt ar na Stáit Aontaithe ná na hEorpa. Tá sé ag glacadh leis an seasamh céanna mar a rinne Bush agus a deir go bhfuil sé ceart go leor???? sucks sé féin agus nach bhfuil ach sé ag Meiriceá tarraingt anuas ach tá sé ag tarraingt na hEorpa agus na hÉireann leo .... Ní féidir teacht go tapa go leor 2012 .... Impeach air ANOIS! Roinnt áit sa Chéinia, tá sráidbhaile ar iarraidh é leathcheann!
gerardthomas | Mar 21, 2011, 12:47 PM EDT
Well,it,s pretty nice for him to be acknowledging somewhat his Irish heritage from his poor,late white mother,because the majority of the timde,Obama just refers to himself as being an "Afro American".When he does that,he seems to completely forget about his dear white mother,that it,s only his black Kenyan father who really counts!So.it,s really nice to hear him acknowledging his mother,s white side for a change.
John G. Hogan | Mar 21, 2011, 10:29 AM EDT
Don't let him near or tell him about the Blarney Stone, or two more will be out of a job, his teleprompters...............he speaks like he is watching a tennis match.
Towngate | Mar 21, 2011, 10:28 AM EDT
ROSEMARYKELLY: They were invited, so don't worry about Ireland - after all, it could be worse: you could be coming too!
hollabackgurl | Mar 21, 2011, 08:04 AM EDT
I see this page got spammed by Teahadists and Freepers. You can always tell when that happens: they're always rude, racist and angry.
Ajreaper | Mar 20, 2011, 10:55 PM EDT
So this where idiots gather.
kurtjohnson | Mar 20, 2011, 09:07 PM EDT
At least Obama isn't all that warm towards the british terror state.
VernonC | Mar 20, 2011, 08:43 PM EDT
Dearlyinaz, Clinton left no surplus, there was a projected surplus, there's been no surplus or even a balance in over 100 years. As long as we are making comparisons, the Obama led deficit in just January of this year was more than any year in our history. Come down to earth, his presidency is a train wreck.
VernonC | Mar 20, 2011, 08:38 PM EDT
I think it's cheap political spin, he's not exactly Irish on a par with Ronald Reagan or JFK, as both had the map of Ireland on their handsome faces. Nothing about him speaks of Ireland, and speaking of speaking, he evidences little pride in his white mother or grandparents. As for pride in his Moneygall roots, can you imagine him dropping in if he were not the president, he's pandering and he will have more security agents and news people around him than you have residents. Best to avoid him, his profligacy might be catching.
Jeannie0121 | Mar 20, 2011, 03:54 PM EDT
"Michelle, don't I have a distant relative from (fill in the blank)? The girls would love to go there. It would be so cool to fly over on Air Force 1. I could make a speech and put down the US. They would love us there." Obama can return to the US and go on The View or Leno and show his vacation pics.
Jeannie0121 | Mar 20, 2011, 02:25 PM EDT
Enjoy your vacation, Obama! Better you're in Ireland then in the White House... From Brazil to Ireland... Is there any other place your family wants to vacation on the American taxpayer? Obama is so out of touch with American values. Careful what you wish for Ireland... he may move there. (and to think I voted for him...)
katieherk | Mar 20, 2011, 12:04 PM EDT
Two things.... dearlyinaz is drinking too much koolaid!! And I'd suggest that Ireland keep nobama but I love the country too much to stick that to them. Maybe he should try a visit to Japan and try to get them out of this horrible state they're in.... and it might take him several years to do it!!! Yay!!!
dearlyinaz | Mar 20, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT
To all the Obama haters: Bush took us from a balanced budget to nearly 1 trillion in yearly deficit spending. Two wars, Part D drug plan added to Medicare (and a cost of 60 billion per year)- and he cut taxes. Brilliant! Now Republicans have their excuse to privatize Medicare and Social Security, so they can give those billions to Wall Street. Obama inhertied a mess that won't be cleaned up for years to come. Meanwhile, stupid Americans vote for Repubs like the governor in Wisconsin who screw the middle class and give more tax cuts to billionaires. Wake up, America!
karenag1 | Mar 20, 2011, 11:50 AM EDT
Cheers & a pint to ye, Irishmathair! I agree! Keep him, cause he has more Gall with our (taxpayer Money) than any other President ever!!So this town's name fits him to a tee!
RosemaryKelly | Mar 20, 2011, 11:45 AM EDT
Poor Ireland - having the Queen and Obama in the same month.....
irishmathair | Mar 20, 2011, 11:43 AM EDT
Hey ciarrai, You really have a problem with that ex-governor from Alaska. She really is a threat. Why don't you read some of Ed Farnan's articles for a change. You might find them interesting as well as educational.
irishmathair | Mar 20, 2011, 11:38 AM EDT
Hey ciarrai, A tax cut? Do you mean the extension of the Bush tax cuts? How about the 14 trillon debt - most of it since Obama took office 2 years ago. How about Obamacare? Yikes, that scares the hell out of the senior citizens. Be real! You might find him likable but he's not a leader!
ciarrai | Mar 20, 2011, 11:26 AM EDT
Hey irishmathair, Obama gave every American a tax cut. That's not good enough? Better yet let's have some incompetent ex-Alaska governor in charge with all the problems we face. That would work out well.
irishmathair | Mar 20, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT
It will be the pleasure of Americans to allow Moneygall to keep him!!! As for some us being small minded, maybe it's because Obama has made our pockets even SMALLER. So, by all means, Ireland, KEEP HIM.
colkelley | Mar 20, 2011, 10:46 AM EDT
Carrickcourt - a stable Iraq will be money well spent and much less international trouble in the future. You show you do not have much knowledge about history or international relations. Typical liberal. The way to save money is twofold: Repeal "Obamacare;" and block any effort at cap-and-trade or any similar legislation.
LinLinisme | Mar 20, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT
Keep the idiot there. Don't ever let him return. YOu can have him. All he wants to vacations at the expense of the American people. We are in debt, peope can't afford to eat, and he travels and has a good time. KEEP HIM
carrickcourt | Mar 20, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT
Note the negative comment concerning President Obama already, typical of people with small minds. How about spending less money by getting out of Iraq?
loveapint | Mar 20, 2011, 10:02 AM EDT
Town name fits Obama perfect, his gall at spending all that money
SusanByron | Mar 20, 2011, 08:25 AM EDT
It will certainly put Moneygall and Ireland on the map! fair play to them, lets hope they enjoy the limelight.