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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

First impressions: President Barack Obama's first hours in Ireland

Posted on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 10:21 AM

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It was a fine soft day when Barack Obama arrived, in fact it was pouring rain with 80 mile an hour winds. However, 20 minutes after he stepped off air force one, miraculously, the sun appeared and the rain stopped. So now it's a nice fresh day in Ireland which means that the wind is blowing at about 80 miles an hour destroying the first lady's hair-do and President Mary McAleese's as well.

Dublin City is under traffic lock-down and getting around is harder than in Fort Knox.

One of the funniest moments of the day was provided by Moneygall parish priest, Father Patrick Kennedy, when he was asked on "The Pat Kenny Show" to give his opinion on what the atmosphere was like in Moneygall he told Kenny "I'm sorry Pat but I've been locked up in my own house since 10 o'clock this morning because of the Secret Service and I can't get out and neither can anyone else."

The excitement over the visit is spilling over into Dublin where thousands of what look like very young people is lining up for the concert and President's speech. A lot of them have American flags but just as many appear to have Jedward t-shirts which makes me wonder are they coming to see Jedward or the President.

The trip so far has been pretty uneventful Obama's remarks after meeting Prime Minister Kenny were bland and the highlight in fact was when Prime Minister Kenny handed Obama a hurling stick which the President grasped very expertly and threatened to use it on his political opponents.

As I write this the President's helicopter is departing to Moneygall, what promises to be the most exciting part of the trip. Fears that he would have to go by road have been replaced with a sense of anticipation in Moneygall which is the real news story from this day with the American media making it clear it is the highlight of the whole visit not just the Irish leg. As one reporter said "A black man looking for his Irish roots is a Hollywood story much more interesting than a G 20 summit of talking heads."

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13 comments

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Monsoonman | May 26, 2011, 11:17 AM EDT

Kateomprint: I love Irish roads, just have a probelem with em' when clinton is on them at the same time....Jacersagain: Ah, I note your disagreement with me and see the time is not right for us to agree according to the broken clock, lol!

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jacersagain | May 24, 2011, 05:07 PM EDT

I disagree w/ Monsoonman - sorry but Niall’s comments, splurged live on Irish TV, were totally irrelevant to the occasion for Irish people watching on TV, like me. It was not a state visit; it was a “drop in and meet” social occasion, with no political connotations for those he met, especially “Henry the VIII” – a lovely jocular term Obama used for his cousin 8 times removed, Henry Healy. What Obama’s visit means for American voters has nothing, nothing at all to do with what it meant to us Irish people to have yet another President of America find family roots here. For the record, it was the local Rector of Moneygall, who, out of some accidental curiosity, found Falmouth Kearney’s name in the parish records. I heard that the Rector gave Mr. Obama a copy of the parish record; that will be something his children will cherish for their future children. It was crass, inane, silly, stupid of Niall to throw out those comments into Irish TV viewers homes. Disgraceful, like I said.

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kateomprint | May 24, 2011, 02:48 PM EDT

I'll have you know Monsoonman that we have lovely roads here in Ireland a bit quirky maybe and you could end up down the occasional boreen and not be found for days. But what the heck somebody would come along in a tractor and dig you out after a few days or maybe not.

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Monsoonman | May 23, 2011, 08:03 PM EDT

Niall called it correctly, problem is some of you don't like to hear the truth. Obama is there for one purpose only to get the 32 million Irish voters in America.

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jacersagain | May 23, 2011, 03:51 PM EDT

About 30 mins after the President of the USA left the scene in College Green, the President of Irish Central, Niall O’Dowd and the lovely Maureen O’Dowd appeared on our Irish TV screens... (nice to see you both on Irish TV!)... but jaysus, Niall, did you really have to take the wind out of us Irish viewers’ sails with your rubbish comments referring to the visit as political vote catching? It wasn’t Niall... The people of Moneygall, of Dublin, visiting Americans and pretty much all Irish people together with President & Mrs Obama really, really, really enjoyed the occasion and the craic... ‘Twas nothing to do with votes here in Ireland... Ah ya eejit ya, Niall! – Ya made a right disgrace of yourself on Irish TV, saying those things..

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jacersagain | May 23, 2011, 03:39 PM EDT

I got home fm work in time to see Mr. Obama’s speech live on Irish TV. He surprised me: he was superb! ‘Twas a great speech at first i front of an exuberant crowd, going slightly dead for while and ending by rousing the with “Yes we can” and saying it in Irish as well “Is féidir linn!”. How the crowd loved that! Afterwards he delighted the crowd with an impromptu walkabout, shaking hands, posing for photos, kissing babies, signing autographs and even – a moment never seen anywhere in the world - an impromptu chat on an onlooker’s cell phone with her mother! A wonderful ‘first’ moment - an Irish one at that - that will be beamed all around the world and one, I’m sure that will be re-enacted by everyone from the Pope down from now on!!

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jacersagain | May 23, 2011, 03:38 PM EDT

Topping up anto's post - while Obama paid for his drink, the barman didn't give the President his change... He said afterwards, live on Irish TV that he thought he was getting a tip... What a great craic comment by the barman!! Hilarious.

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sirpeter | May 23, 2011, 02:44 PM EDT

Well Done!! President Obama.Excellent uplifting speech.He was much better then I thought he would be.He was much more relaxed then what he usually is. Nice move taking the phone call from the person in the crowd too.He must have nearly had a heart attack when the limo slammed down on the ramp lol

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antoman | May 23, 2011, 10:59 AM EDT

President Obama not only drank the beer he paid for it.Second term in office is a certainty.

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laff1948 | May 23, 2011, 10:33 AM EDT

I fear the day is coming that Ireland will be horribly embarrassed by their excitement and almost child-like giddiness over the visit from Obama. I know that the Irish are very accepting and loving, but I fear this time the emotions are misplaced. I may be wrong but I truly believe this man is not what he appears to be. And congrats on your handling of the Queen's visit. I know it had to be bittersweet but you handled it with grace. God bless the Irish.

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Monsoonman | May 23, 2011, 10:08 AM EDT

Niall 2 things: Icelands volcanic cloud has just appeared over Scotland, grounding air traffic fyi. 2nd We implore you to please prevent obama from kissing the Blarney Stone. TIA

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antoman | May 23, 2011, 09:48 AM EDT

It would have been spectacular if Obama had struck a sliothar with the hurley sending it soaring over the heads of all that were gathered into the grounds of Farmleigh house.Kilkenny or Cork might offer him a spot on their hurling teams.

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Monsoonman | May 23, 2011, 09:44 AM EDT

Thanks Niall I feel like I was right there. I happened to be there one time when clinton arrived in air force 1 and driving was a challenge anyhow for me but compounded by all of the road closures and diversions. But your point: "very young people is lining up for the concert and President's speech. A lot of them have American flags but just as many appear to have Jedward t-shirts which makes me wonder are they coming to see Jedward or the President." That's a typical ploy for obama and why he likes to do his speeches at universities, etc. gets a big turnout for the concerts, makes it look like there all tee for him.

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