71 Comments

• mamaginnty | May 31, 2011, 11:20 PM EDT

  RichardP and TomSwinford you are so right. Most of the other comments, pure foaming at the mouth dribble.

• McNamara31 | May 29, 2011, 11:10 PM EDT

  Scotchtommy.. Well said. Out of many, we are one.

• Scotchtommy | May 29, 2011, 04:12 PM EDT

  There is no need to get upset.All Americans are an incredible racial and ethnic mix which accounts for their superb creativity and ingenuity.Irish,Italians,Germans,Jews,Africans,

• Scotchtommy | May 29, 2011, 12:09 PM EDT

  DanO, thank you. I was born and raised near Swinford and still have family and a little property there. I have spent most of my life in California, LA and San Francisco. I now live in a beach town in Florida but return to Mayo annually.

• DanOLoingsigh | May 29, 2011, 05:18 AM EDT

  TomSwinford – Well said, Tom…you’re dead right…btw are you actually in Swinford?

• oaklongan | May 29, 2011, 01:41 AM EDT

  Jesus, Mary and Joseph or Lugh, Danu and Gwidion Will it NEVER end?

• kaykay43 | May 28, 2011, 07:11 PM EDT

  Ah well, we all know that Obama is all about "change" now don't we?

• NYCsheridan | May 28, 2011, 01:31 PM EDT

  @jnewnam...ah, another one off foaming at the mouth. Try looking up Karl Rove's connection with Minority Mortgage Loans and the resulting Bubble before you continue your baseless rantings about Barney Frank. Clueless dogmatic noob.

• NYCsheridan | May 28, 2011, 01:28 PM EDT

  @susandpej let me take this opportunity to tell you to bugger off, show some respect to the Office of the Presidency. And please, PLEASE stop taking things wildly off-topic so that you can constantly b*tch about nonsense and parade your ignorance.

• NYCsheridan | May 28, 2011, 01:21 PM EDT

  Godalmighty, O'Dowd. Find yourself a hobby, will ya? Do you have any idea how many in the US can claim both British and Irish ancestry?

• McNamara31 | May 28, 2011, 01:20 PM EDT

  Suzandpej.. In 2004 the SEC under Bush basically allowed the banks to self regulate by allowing them to take on massive amounts of debt all backed up and insured by "AIG". This is what caused the financial collapse, not some deregulation supported FOX rhetoric. The truth of the matter is the rich who don’t utilize Fannie and Freddie for loans are walking away from their homes much more frequently (bad investment) than the middle and lower class. More than one in seven homeowners with loans in “excess of a million dollars” are seriously delinquent; by contrast, homeowners with less lavish housing are much more likely to” keep writing checks” to their lender. About one in 12 mortgages below the million-dollar mark is delinquent. The Fox mentality on this situation is the rich who walk away from their debts are viewed as “savvy” while those of lesser means are viewed as “deadbeats.” The excesses that caused these failures would have been "eliminated” if Bush had maintained the SEC debt ratio that had been in effect since 1929.These are facts not opinion.

• suzandpej | May 28, 2011, 11:01 AM EDT

  I'd love to know what the Queen of England actually thinks about this bumbling fool.

• suzandpej | May 28, 2011, 10:56 AM EDT

  jnewman is absolutely correct.Franks forced the banks to take action. Because the SEC relaxed the rules in 2004 didn't mean the banks intended to take action. Enter Barney Franksand his co-horts who forced the banks to take on more debt. Franks, Pelosi and Clinton...that's it!

• powerpoint | May 28, 2011, 07:11 AM EDT

  Ancavker, the same families have been running Ireland into the ground for the past 90 years.Todd Andrews, Sean Lemass, were nmembers of the IRA, their descendants, the Andrews and Haughey clans have done more damage than the Brits did.RSF detest Irish politicans for turning Ireland into a German puppet state screwed by Timothy Geithner who forced/BULLIED the Irish government to bail out the INSOLVENT banks.

• AliceBernadette | May 28, 2011, 06:43 AM EDT

  Obama's ancestry on his mother's side is quite varied. There is English, Scottish, Irish & German among others. I think PM Cowan extended Obama an invitation to visit Ireland last year and Obama accepted. Moneygall was delighted that President Obama visited. I wish people weren't so cynical and accept that Ireland was very happy to have Barack Obama visit and they are hoping he will do so again. I agree with Niall this article is meant to be taken lightheartedly.

• Niall O'Dowd | May 28, 2011, 05:27 AM EDT

  hey guys lighten up -- this is also tongue in cheek

• peterson | May 27, 2011, 09:43 PM EDT

  Maybe he will meet up with aliens from outer space and claim a connection to them. Now THAT I would believe !!!

• peterson | May 27, 2011, 09:34 PM EDT

  RichardP, you are of course right that one's ethnicity can be derived from multiple countries. Our president said nothing that should offend reasonable people. Unfortunately, IC attracts more than its fair share of loonies, plus the sad and sorry lot that cannot and will not accept the fact that a black man occupies the White House as president rather than servant. Their world has been turned upside down. I feel so sorry for them. Not.

• cathy/marty | May 27, 2011, 09:21 PM EDT

  PLEASE GIVE BARRY A BREAK!! THE POOR MAN IS CONFUSED

• RichardP | May 27, 2011, 06:30 PM EDT

  Idiotic, narrow-minded, bigoted garbage. If a person has a Dutch mother and an Argentinian father can they only choose one of those ethnicities of which to be proud? This is fast becoming the Fox News of Irish-American publications.

• mayoman | May 27, 2011, 05:03 PM EDT

  Who cares?

• McNamara31 | May 27, 2011, 04:53 PM EDT

  jnewnam I would check your facts a bit further.The SEC under the direction of the Bush administration relaxed rules in 2004 that enabled investment banks to substantially increase the level of debt they were taking on, thereby “fueling” the growth in (CDO’s) mortgage-backed securities supporting subprime mortgages. This deregulation allowed the massive debt to be increased by financial institutions from the existing 12 to 1 before Bush, up to 40 dollars of debt to 1 in the bank, after Bush. If this key regulation had not been changed the massive debt could not have been accumulated.

• AngelPrecious | May 27, 2011, 04:31 PM EDT

  I agree, Fran. Obama is out only for himself and he will do ANYTHING to get votes. Even counting many dead people votes! Exactly, jnewnam, and if you are looking at what brought about the housing crisis, look no further than FreddieMac and FannieMae, the brain-child of Franks, Pelosi and Clinton!

• Fran Connor | May 27, 2011, 04:25 PM EDT

  Can you imagine the uproar in the media if a conservative president had spoken right through the British national anthem? The smartest president in the history of the world gets a pass! And I thought he only had distain for OUR national anthem...

• cathy/marty | May 27, 2011, 04:21 PM EDT

  BOTTOM LINE BARRY IS A MUSLIM!!!

• jnewnam | May 27, 2011, 03:02 PM EDT

  Excuse me, Susanna, you do not know American history. Mr. Bush did not bring down the American economy. In 2004, the Democrats took congress and thereby took control the Banking Committee. It was headed by Barney Frank who pushed sub prime mortgage loans through two quasi government agencies, Freddie and Fannie. Franks authorization and some would say push of sub prime loans and the suspension of the tried and true mortgage rules by the government was also pushed on the banks. Frank advocated for them. The banks got on board. President Bush along with several private investment persons warned that the spiraling values of homes along with no qualification loans would collapse the system. Bush actually warned the Banking Committee 3 times. Barney Frank in his arrogance and ignorance verbally attacked and rejected President Bush's warning. So you see it was the DEMOCRATS THAT COLLAPSED THE SYSTEM.

• RedBranch | May 27, 2011, 01:13 PM EDT

  E. Pluribus Unum

• pflynn70 | May 27, 2011, 12:30 PM EDT

  Well, let's see now, he's claimed Irish roots, then next it's British roots, I wonder why he didn't claim Muslim roots? Guess there are not a lot of Muslim voters in the U.S. that he can pander too. He's a Socialist and he's hell bent to destroy our country with his crazy liberal agenda. I only hope & pray that we can survive until 2012 to get his "Irish, British, and what ever else arse out.

• StRoibard | May 27, 2011, 12:23 PM EDT

  At last, I can agree with Barry (Obama's real name in public records) - his attitude of snobbish superiority to a people he rules over, who are not his own, is veddy, veddy british! Maybe now, he'll stop trying to convince people he's American! (Whoever runs against Obama)2012!

• clonmel21 | May 27, 2011, 12:22 PM EDT

  EXCUSE ME SUSANNA, but Bush was re-elected for a second term. Perhaps you think Bush is hated in the world because he did not BOW DOWN and belittle himself and his country to KISS the rings (or other parts of the anatomy) of other world leaders.

• susanna | May 27, 2011, 12:06 PM EDT

  Obama a joke? Me thinks not. We're still laughing at the guffaws of "W" Bush, the idiot who brought down America. If we didn't laugh, we would be crying and plenty are in Iraq, thousands who lost family members over a lie, a war for oil. Can you say "weapons of mass destruction?" Bush was/is hated in the world, especially America. Obama is loved and embraced. This is why Bush crawled back under his rock and stays there.

• Searlit | May 27, 2011, 12:01 PM EDT

  It's a mixed message. Isn't it?

• clonmel21 | May 27, 2011, 11:57 AM EDT

  Good Grief, will he say anything or be anyone at all to get votes. Too bad his last choice of nationalities is American.

• phoenixnurse | May 27, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT

  I must say I was reluctant to speak out, but the Irish got "DUPED" big time and you all deserve it! Making such a big deal out of Obama, I'd be ashamed to say he was Irish...He's laughing at all of you and he will do the same to the Brits... Most of us see right through him...unfortunately those who embraced and voted for him still hero worship Obama and are just too stupid to realize they are making him whistle all the way to the bank while he flips you the bird and tells you what you want to hear. Just what has he done for YOU?

• Fran Connor | May 27, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT

  Why not knight him - they gave him the Nobel peace prize for nothing. What's next, cannonization?

• jnewnam | May 27, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT

  I find all this Obama Irish stuff a laugh out loud. Do any of you know that the "God Save the Queen" anthem of the British is the same tune of "America" or "My Country tis of Thee" lyrics written in 1831 by Samuel Smith? Now no where in the brief research did I read that Sam Smith wrote it as a British protest hymn but.....So I was wondering maybe he thought they were playing it for him. Conceit and ignorance on his part? Yep, he probably didn't know it was the British anthem, even though he was at a state occasion with the Queen.

• cillowen | May 27, 2011, 10:43 AM EDT

  No a surprize here - O'Down should be on the list I'm surprized that Clinton's being delayed - he who served to bring Adams in from the cold - one who took the shilling so sweetly. His Queen comes and brings Obama along to cement UK's claims on Ireland.

• francisquinn | May 27, 2011, 10:40 AM EDT

  BO is a joke....we in America have seen this since 2007...Now he is part British ? Does he think we are stupid...to quote himself????

• cillowen | May 27, 2011, 10:39 AM EDT

  knighting is assured i'm still wonder why it is being delayed for Billy C - he who brought Adams in from the cold to serve the motherland. The Irish still can't get it. Nothing was won - the status quo and now cemented with Obama and Ireland's queenie's visit. O'Dowd has to be another who served the crown with his propaganda. Geldorf, bono, Tony O"reilly, Dn

• ancavker | May 27, 2011, 10:18 AM EDT

  powerpoint: Well once could most reasonably argue that either way, the million would have been over there any how, independence or not. Because as I am sure you know, Ireland was hemorrhaging its population to Britain and the U.S. long before independence. The men and women who fought and died for Ireland's freedom, were heroes and patriots. It is not their fault that the generations (including this one) made a mess of it after them.

• thomasbyrne | May 27, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT

  A Marilyn Monroe moment? Oh please!

• colkelley | May 27, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT

  Simple proof of what many Americans have known all along..."Obamamessiah" is a disingenuous liar who will do or say anything to build and keep power. In other words, he is a really good politician while being the worst, most divisive President the USA has ever had.

• thomasbyrne | May 27, 2011, 09:49 AM EDT

  He had claimed British ancestry a loooooooooong time ago!

• powerpoint | May 27, 2011, 06:54 AM EDT

  Don't forget the 1 million unemployed Micks that Britain has accepted over the past 90 years.Expect another quarter million to emigrate to the UK over the next decade .LOL.90 years of failure.Obama only cares about the Mexicans, Canadians and Chinese.They are the nations that count most to Americans.Dave Drumm and Mick Fingleton did a great job in destroying their home nation.Nice to see the former has been granted refuge for life in Boston.

• jdi2269 | May 27, 2011, 02:18 AM EDT

  THE JERK WILL CLAIM ANY COUNTRY OR STATE IF HE THINKS THE PEOPLE ARE STUPID ENOUGH AND WILL GIVE HIM A VOTE! WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR HE ALSO CLAIMS TO BE JEWISH, SWEDISH, AND RUSSIAN!

• Searlit | May 26, 2011, 11:26 PM EDT

  I can't believe it, but I get Niall's humor on this one.

• jamieLM | May 26, 2011, 10:54 PM EDT

  "Sir O'Bama" has a nice ring to it. LOL

• Towngate | May 26, 2011, 09:35 PM EDT

  ...on the other hand it might have been a prank by the impish Queen to cue the orchestra while the egotist was still yapping just to see if he would mistake the guests rising for the National Anthem as a Standing Ovation for him!

• Towngate | May 26, 2011, 09:13 PM EDT

  Having viewed the video, it is plain to see from the Queen's demeanor how much she thinks of Obama. As for Michelle's 'Marilyn Monroe' moment ~ big difference ~ with Monroe you wanted the wind to lift her dress ~ but with her you were praying in wouldn't!

• badolan | May 26, 2011, 07:42 PM EDT

  Obama is most likely a mixture of many countries and cultures just like virtually all Americans. However, the best part of him is the Irish part.

• averagejoewa | May 26, 2011, 07:40 PM EDT

  Quote: "folks, hope you get i'm quite a bit tongue in cheek on this one" In other words, you will keep licking Obama's boots no matter what he does. I wonder if Obama is the first black man to have an Irish slave?

• averagejoewa | May 26, 2011, 07:37 PM EDT

  Niall, are you only just realizing now that Obama can't be trusted? Where have you been these last few years?

• pdm1114 | May 26, 2011, 06:55 PM EDT

  I'm not surprised. Next week he'll probably be Scandinavian.

• MotherIrish | May 26, 2011, 06:43 PM EDT

  The Brits are smart enough to not knight him. He is brash and unmannerly enough to ask to be knighted. If so, then he can say "God Save the Queen', America can then ship him to the UK or Ireland (I have dual citizenship by the way) and American can be shed of the egotistical socialist.

• Springfield9 | May 26, 2011, 06:31 PM EDT

  Christ! Let the man have his fun. He already gave Bess an Ipod! Hopefully, she gave him a tour of all of her stolen goods. The illusion that any of this effects the working man or woman is what causes us to suffer for no good reason. Any good DNA analyst would advise against marrying into the royals. Anyone versed in American ward politics would smile at BHO ...... have some tea and a biscuit ...find your sense of humor!

• micheals | May 26, 2011, 05:59 PM EDT

  Odowd give me a break and try and put something in the voice that we have not already read on the main media n week before

• Gearoid4 | May 26, 2011, 03:43 PM EDT

  Obama is the product of the intermingling of different peoples from a variety of continents and ethnicities. In that regard he is representative of the general population of good ole US of A. His comments alluding to both his Irish and british roots were relevant within the host nations which greeted him. Being an O'Bama we Oirish can still claim him.

• eiriamach | May 26, 2011, 02:04 PM EDT

  Surely his Nobel Peace Prize trumps a knighthood! As the Norwegian Nobel Committee declared in 2009, "For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that 'Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.'" His Ireland stopover and time with the Brits reflect the work of spreading that message, so, sure, he identifies with the people he meets. he connects with them and wins them over to thinking in terms of wide-ranging challenges. Good for him! But I cannot imagine him accepting a knighthood or anything more than a good meal and conversation at the palace of a monarch.

• Towngate | May 26, 2011, 01:42 PM EDT

  Niall, a chara: your @12.57 was posted just in time. Its tea-time in Europe and it has prevented a lot of people choking! Especially the Queen who was about to do her famous mickey-take of the Obama's to the delight of her guests. She is a cute cookie - as Ireland has only recently realised - and she and her Privy Council will have seen through Obama's thinly veiled anti-British and European attitude long ago. Don't worry; he will never receive a British Honour - in fact, Niall, you are more likely to get one! And remembering your unfortunate reference to the future Queen Catherine in a previous Post,you can work out for yourself what the 'odds' are! I know you will be happy to settle for being An Taoiseach of the wonderful IrishCentral website! Welcome back! Slainte!

• haikued2 | May 26, 2011, 01:37 PM EDT

  He is a politician from Chicago...well sort of, but that is where he honed his skills. He wants votes from back home...if you all are taken in by his BS, then he wins. Read the man's books. He disdained his mother's family, even though he lived off their incomes and in their home. He chose, instead, a mythical father he barely knew who was a die hard anti-colonialist (read: hated the Brits)and part of the butcher Jomo Kenyatta government...remember the Mau Mau, who slaughtered other tribes and the whites who lived in Kenya at the time. That is Obama's ancestry, not the Irish and certainly not the Brits.

• Hannah1879 | May 26, 2011, 01:33 PM EDT

  Niall....this article is taken with tongue in cheek! No problem....

• McNamara31 | May 26, 2011, 01:23 PM EDT

  Niall... With all due respect; you didn't start your writing career yesterday. I have to believe you received the desired result as seen in the posts below. And, it is not just this one article. Do you think your commentary about Obama on RTE came across as unbiased?

• Niall O'Dowd | May 26, 2011, 12:57 PM EDT

  folks, hope you get i'm quite a bit tongue in cheek on this one

• kateomprint | May 26, 2011, 12:31 PM EDT

  Of course he is going to claim British Ancestry wasn't his Mum British. i agree with McNamra31 Niall you are you are showing your dislike of Obama very openly. You are I think a bit like the Irish Independent when they cover Fine Gael over here.

• suzandpej | May 26, 2011, 12:03 PM EDT

  He's just plain disgusting.

• Ajreaper | May 26, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT

  LOL, so many do not seem to understand the difference between citzenship, ancestory or ethnicity. DNA testing says I am about 92% western Europeon and 8% middle eastern- that's my ancestory, ethnically I'd be considered Irish (DNA testing again) and I am a citizen of the United States so I am an American. They are all very different things.

• hancock | May 26, 2011, 11:04 AM EDT

  Just kiss his ass like the media is supposed to.

• SeamusMor | May 26, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

  He told us he was a Chicagoan!

• antoman | May 26, 2011, 10:29 AM EDT

  Members of the Order of the Sacred Cabbage here in Ireland must be gutted.I hear they were going to bestow on him the position of First Leaf.

• Monsoonman | May 26, 2011, 10:26 AM EDT

  Yes President 2 timer...LOL!

• McNamara31 | May 26, 2011, 10:20 AM EDT

  Niall, Better watch out, if you keep this up you may receive a phone call from Roger Ailes over on Fox News asking you to join Hannity and O’Reilly. Obama is an American president, representing many countries within him, along with all the American people and their diverse backgrounds that he represents. We all know your close relationship with the Clintons, but loyalty to them does not have to be earned by some of the transparent maneuvers you have exhibited during your coverage of the Obama visit to Ireland.