Too many blissful moments to choose from today, but go on then …. I’ll pick these three minutes … just listen to the crowd from 0:18 and watch the President and First Lady’s reaction:
And these five photos….
1 Because the President visiting Ireland meant so, so much to Dan Rooney – just look at his face at Dublin airport this morning, and the way he’s holding the President’s hands:
2 Because the sight of President Obama with a hurley in his hands just cracked me up …. especially when he threatened to use it against Congress:
3 Because the Obamas’ visit to Moneygall gave the village’s people a day they will never, ever forget:
4 Because this photo just showed how fun and utterly lovely the first couple are:
5 Because, for me, this photo is iconic. The sight of President Obama pointing towards the skies, in the general direction of the Irish flag, will hardly make Ireland’s economic disaster go away …. but his speech today made more than a few Irish folk believe that Ireland can come back again: Is Féidir Linn … Yes We Can.
Can I have a sixth? Please? Thanks!
Because they said President Obama couldn’t possibly attract as big a crowd in Dublin as Bill Clinton did 15 years ago.
He did 😉
Thank you for your company on a beautiful day – I won’t be able to post as frequently tomorrow, but I’ll do my best 😉
The Obama Diary 
Awwww Chips your the sweetest!! Nitey nite Chipsticks and the rest of the TODers Family :)!
Good night dear Chipsticks, you chose very well. Thank you again for last night and today – you throw GREAT PARTIES!
Nite Sweetie Pie. You have done a fabulous job today and we so much appreciate it. Get some good rest and we will see you tomorrow.
Good night Chipsticks,
Thank you for being such an excellent tour guide. I was out of the loop for most of the day (end of the term madness at the high school where I teach), but it was such a wonderful treat to come home and enjoy all that you presented for us.
You have done yeoman’s service indeed! Have a rest and take care of yourself and the other detals of your life tomorrow.
Great heartfelt wrap-up Chips. It was our pleasure to be able to spend such a day with you! I found myself wishing it was you in some of those images of enthusiastic Irish citizens shaking hands with the President and First Lady, but I know you stayed closed to your computer so you could keep us all informed on today’s events. Thank you Chips. Your work is so very important. Please keep on keeping on and know that we are all so grateful.
I could hardly wait to get home and see what had happened today. (Can’t watch video at work.) So happy they made it to Moneygall. Thank you so much, Chipsticks, for everything. This site is a joy.
BTW, who is Dan Rooney? I see the wonderful handshake and look in his eyes, but I do not know his story.
Hi M, Dan Rooney is the American Ambassador to Ireland. He’s the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers who endorsed and supported President Obama in 2008 – in other words, he’s a legend!
Ah yes Chipsticks. Thank you for that reminder. Now I recall seeing something about him on TOD before. So happy Dan was there to greet the President in such a meaningful way.
He also served as the head of the NFL’s diversity committee and proposed the Rooney Rule, requiring that teams interview minority candidates when selecting a head coach. He hired Mike Tomlin as the first African American coach for the Steelers. Tomlin became the youngest head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory.
Fabulous Claire. Thank you for sharing that information! We may have to start another blog….. The Dan Rooney Diary! 🙂
Claire, thanks for that info. As I recall, Dan Rooney is not really a Democratic Party supporter or fundraiser. In fact, he may be a Republican. He saw Senator Obama speak somewhere and became enamored. Rooney then became a big supporter and campaigned with the Pres in Western PA – which was a big help. I have much respect for Rooney as a man who “walks the walk.”
He also hired Tony Dungy prior to Tomlin…virtually all of the black coaches are from the Dungy tree…which Rooney started.
Tomlin’s rise was meteoric due to Dungy being his mentor and Rooney being Dungy’s mentor….not to overlook Tomlin’s exceptional coaching skills
Oh, with much gratitude to you Chipsticks, I give you thanks. You made this such a memorable day for us to enjoy so much. Thanks for making this haven such a joyful, fun, informative, and loving place to be. Good Night to you. Bless you in all that you do.
Ms. Chips, thank you, thank you, thank you so much. What you do for us everyday, is greatly appreciated.
I echo your comments: thank you, thank you, thank you! What a memorable two days, starting with the AIPAC speech (was that only yesterday morning?) and ending with the wonderful images of the First Couple landing in England for another two days of historic activity: first president to address Parliament at Westminister, and the sleepover at Buckingham Palace.
Thanks so much Chipsticks – you keep us sane. Really.
Sometimes I find it hard to believe how close together these amazing days/moments/speeches are! POB seems to have a best moment in his Presidency nearly everyday!
Good night Chipsticks. Thank you for making today possible. I appreciate every bit of hard work you did. And… now to be a little greedy… I hope we can have another great day of coverage tomorrow. Although, I have got to get some work done tomorrow. 😉
Rest well!
You may have to put your work aside tomorrow. The Queen will receive the First Couple with a formal state ceremony, and then we’ve got the state banquet. Work will have to wait! 🙂
It was wonderful to see a people that didn’t have an issue with the color of his skin. In that regard Erin is way ahead of the US.
Chipsticks – beautiful summary of images, and it must have been hard to choose from all the wonderful images from today. Every single image spoke a thousand volumes of goodness and delight. Thanks!
Is Féidir Linn – indeed, Chipsticks, and thank you for all you do, everyday, to make that more and more of a reality!
Chipsticks, thank you, thank you, thank you!
TOD Family, thank you, too!
It’s been a splendid day. Another splendid day ahead.
IS FEIDER LINN!
G’nite Chipsticks & a heartfelt thanks to you for all you to provide this wonderful space for the TOD family. Life is not the same without my “TOD” daily fix!! I look forward to being here for the next several days as our First Couple continues their European trip.
A beautiful uplifting day, every square inch of it. Thanks Chips for bringing us all the timely updates, vids and amazing photos. It was so fun!
Thank you so much for everything, Chips. Your wonderful hospitality and up-to-the-minute postings make this the place to be. I love the photos and video and can see why you would choose them. But, truth be told, this was a day absolutely full of many, many wonderful and magical moments. God bless Ireland and the bonds of friendship with the United States. And may Moneygall continue to cherish the long and incredible road that led to the White House.
I love this intro!!
Does anyone have a link for it?
PLEASE!!!.
It is just sooo awesome.
I hate how we have to rely on the world to hear how GREAT, POTUS is!!
But that is how it is.
Please someone give me a link.
I want this to go viral!
Thank you Chips. wonderful day and a sweet close. Yes. We. Can.
Bless you Chipsticks for all the ways you brighten our days.
Thank you so much Chips for making this day magical. I am so in love with the Irish people. That welcome they gave my beloved President was really touching. But without you and BWD I probably would never have witnessed it. So thank you, not only for to day, but for everyday that I open my e mail to read your uplifting Obama diary!
Have a wonderful night! Sleep well and sweet dreams.
Thanks Chips for your hard work…I don’t know what I would do without you and BWD. Tell me, who in the world had the nerve to say, “President Obama couldn’t possibly attract as big a crowd in Dublin as Bill Clinton did 15 years ago”? My word, “they” could not have been more wrong! What a beautiful time had by all, including me. What a day!
How cool is it that we have a President and First Lady who are received abroad with such delirious excitement and a genuine outpouring of love? Especially when you contrast that with the focus that the media places on the the ugliness and downright hatefulness that they often have to endure here at home. President and Mrs. Obama have the strength of character and grace to rise above it, which makes days like today (er, yesterday) so powerful and so profoundly sweet.
We can all take enormous pride in the knowledge that there is so much goodwill for our country around the world, because of the man we chose to lead us and his extraordinary wife. To quote Gabby Giffords, this was all “good stuff!”
Thanks again to you Chipsticks for all you do to keep positive energy flowing in the atmosphere. I can feel it and I know the rest of the Diary family does too!
Dear Chipsticks, I thank you so much for the sacrifice you made today to bring us the glory of Ireland and their lost son who has been found and given the love he so deserves.
You could have been in that crowd but chose to share these moments with us. I am so grateful. My dear mother and father would have loved this day spent with you. God has given us a sweet blessing with your goodness and Irish heart. Regardless of our inividual heritages, we were all Irish today. Is féidir linn.
Last night AFTER party Moneygall taken via Henry VIII mobile phone , again. 🙂
See his tweets here:
http://twitter.com/#!/henryhealy
FYI: According to him this was the outback , behind Ollie’s bar. I suppose overflow.
I wish I could copy this video and upload it…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13512905
Good night Ms Chips, and thanks for the wonderful coverage!