President Obama's Irish roots: Click Here

Full text of President Obama's recent speech at Notre Dame: Click here

President Barack Obama is intent on visiting Ireland, he revealed today at a stop in a burger store in Washington D.C. 

The commander-in-chief was visiting a Five Guys burger restaurant in southeast Washington near Nationals Stadium in one of his periodic trips outside the White House bubble.

"I've got to visit Ireland," he told an unidentified Irish woman after he noticed her accent as he chatted to customers. He asked what part of Ireland she was from and she said "Dublin" and he replied "Dublin? Outstanding. I've got to visit Ireland."

The news will be very welcome in Ireland, where efforts have been made to invite him over on several occasions. Obama has Irish roots - his great-great-great grandfather, Fulmuth Kearney, hails from Moneygall in County Offaly and emigrated to America, eventually settling in Ohio right after the Irish famine of the 1840s.

On the campaign trail Obama made reference to his Irish roots on numerous occasions, most notably when he spoke at a St. Patrick's Day dinner in Pennsylvania on March 17, 2008.

He also spoke with this reporter at a joint event in Washington D.C. with Hillary Clinton in June of last year after he had won the nomination. On that occasion he stated he knew all about the Kearney connection and was looking forward to visiting his ancestral homeplace.

This St. Patrick's Day Obama hosted a major party at the White House for Irish Americans that was attended by the Irish Taoiseach (Prime MInster) Brian Cowen as well as Vice President Joe Biden.