Ambassador Rooney was on a visit to Kilkenny city Wednesday, November 18, home to the tomb of Obama's long lost relative, Bishop John Kearney. He said he has asked Obama to visit Ireland.

News from the 32: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

NOW that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Irish visit is over, and she most definitely acted as negotiator and envoy herself in Northern Ireland, as well as appointing economic envoy Declan Kelly, it is interesting to note who got this story right and who got it wrong in the preceding few months.

WITH VIDEO: America's new-ish ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney, says he feels like "a prisoner of the Phoenix Park." Rooney, who is the owner and chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, says the security with his new post has taken a lot of getting used to.

Tributes to the late Ted Kennedy have started pouring in from Ireland and America from President Barack Obama, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney and Irish President Mary McAleese.

Shannon Airport in Ireland’s West became the first airport outside Canada, Bermuda and the

The County Clare newlyweds who welcomed 300 stranded U.S. troops to their Irish wedding celebration had U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia over for tea at their new abode.

News bits from around the 32 counties in Ireland.

U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney has revealed that President Barack Obama “definitely” plans on traveling to Ireland in the near future.

The 27th U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney has arrived in the Emerald Isle today to take up his post and move into his residence at Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Dan Rooney was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland by Senator Hillary Clinton in a ceremony that took place in the Treaty Room at the State Department today.

Dan Rooney, President Obama's nominee to be ambassador to Ireland, spoke warmly about his ancestors' flight from Newry in County Down and swore to forge deeper relations with Dublin, "especially in the quest for peace," in his statement Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at Capitol Hill.

Source close to congressman says his desire to be close to grandchildren and his divergence on policy issues swayed him stay in Congress.

Senator Bob Casey [D-P.A.] today told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that former Pittsburgh Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney will bring “a lifetime of work on behalf of strengthening the U.S.-Ireland partnership,” as he was proud to announce his “whole-hearted endorsement” for Rooney as the next U.S. ambassador to Ireland.

President Obama apparently had someone else in mind before he made Pittsburgh Steelers boss Dan Rooney the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

President Obama has sent the nomination of Dan Rooney, former Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, to be Ambassador to Ireland to the Senate for confirmation. His hearings will take place in the next few weeks, and if confirmed as expected, he will be in Ireland by July 4th.

There may not be much of a resemblance, but today President Obama told the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen that the two may be related. 

As the Irish Voice and IrishCentral.com first reported, Daniel Rooney is to be the new Ambassador to Ireland. President Obama made his announcement this morning at the White House.

President Barack Obama today nominated Steelers boss and American Ireland co-founder Dan Rooney as his Ambassador to Ireland

Who will be President Obama’s peace envoy to Ireland? The question has taken on a new urgency following the outbreak of killings last week when two soldiers and policeman were killed.

Ireland is to the fore in U.S. politics this week as befits the feast of St. Patrick! Word on the ground says Hillary Clinton is preparing to name the new peace envoy to the North. Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney is still in the running for U.S. Ambassador to Ireland while union supremo John Sweeney is being considered as U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican.

The American Ireland Fund, an organization that raises money for various charities operating in Ireland, has deferred the acceptance of €10 million from the Irish government, citing the need for the money to be kept in Ireland during these harsh economic times. American Ireland Fund President Kieran McLoughlin told the Irish Voice that the organization, which was set up in 1976 by Pittsburgh Steelers football chairman Dan Rooney and Irish businessman Tony O'Reilly to support peace and reconciliation projects across Ireland, has for over 30 years supported Ireland when it needed to be supported, so to accept the money at "a time when Ireland is in great need," would, said McLoughlin, "be a betrayal of that purpose." In 2006 the Irish government announced a €10 million monetary gift to be bestowed upon the American Ireland Fund in recognition of the $300 million they have raised for projects in Ireland since its establishment in 1976.

If, as seems very likely, Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, ends up as ambassador to Ireland, he will depart these shores with a remarkable record. His franchise has now won six Super Bowl titles, a record, and one that other teams will be hard put to match. The secret to the Pittsburgh success is the shrewd family management.

Sure sounds like Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, 76, has the inside track to be ambassador to Ireland ...

The new U.S. ambassador to Ireland is expected to be Dan Rooney, the head of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team and a founder of the American Ireland Fund.

The Maras and the Rooneys

By Tom Deignan

The long and enduring relationship of two Irish-American sporting families.

When the New York football Giants capped a spectacular drive in the final two minutes of Super Bowl XLII, to become underdog winners against Tom Brady and the heavily favored New England Patriots, you have to believe Dan Rooney was among those cheering loudly.

True, Rooney is not affiliated with the Giants organization.

Rooney for Ambassador?

IN the wake of Barack Obama's presidential victory the new frontrunner for ambassador to Ireland is Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney.

Rooney, co-founder of the American Ireland Fund, is 76 and a lifelong Republican. However, he was so impressed by Obama's oratory back in January that he called his son Jim and told him he was going to work for Obama.

A large range of Irish names begin with the prefix "Mul". Examples include Mulcahy, Mulvihill, Mullaly, and Mullan. These names have no familiar connections, but like the names beginning with "Gil", all have their origin in a common name form.

A shake-up in the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House will see far more non-Irish invited to take part in the event, which will occur in the evening of March 17 rather than in the morning, as happened under President George W. Bush.