The Herald (Ireland): The eighth cousin of Barack Obama has received a personalised present from the US President – as a thank you for the reception on his visit to Moneygall.
Henry Healy, affectionately known as ‘Henry the Eighth’, was given a leather-bound notebook – with the Presidential seal and signatures of Obama and his wife Michelle – by US embassy staff last week.
The accountant met Obama when he visited Moneygall, his ancestral Irish home, on his trip here in May.
A delighted Henry said: “The embassy staff brought it down to me last week. I’ll be keeping it and I won’t be writing in it. I still even have the wrapping paper it came in and it’s something I’ll treasure for many years to come.”
Moneygall publican Ollie Hayes received two silver goblets from the President, as well as gold cufflinks from the US advance team.
Henry also celebrated Independence Day in style yesterday, when he was invited to the US Ambassador’s residence to join in the celebrations there.
Thank you ctgirl7
The Obama Diary 
I wonder how many wedding proposals Henry the VIII has received. 🙂
Awww. I’m so glad to hear about Henry, Ollie and Moneygall again. A trip to Ireland and a visit to that lovely village are on my bucket list for sure! I wish them all the best.
😀 😀
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 It couldn’t happen to a better man. My Henry the Eighth. More to come.
M4O – I don’t think it’s fair if you have PBO AND Henry… 😯
(She’s just ridiculously greedy Theo, but that’s just between you and me).
Couldn’t have happened to a better group of folks.
How cool! It is so nice for Henry and Ollie.
According to Joan Walsh the president cannot cave and cannot default. Basically, those 2 choices are the only two choices he has! Moreover, she just told Chris Matthews he can do neither, or else!
This is a setup!
Joan Walsh is an idiot who likes to think she and her idiot compatriots on the right and the left, know EVERYTHING and much MORE than the POTUS. She too can stick it up her pipe and choke on it.
But when Chris asks how exactly can he get around it, she has no idea…typical of these pundits. They know what should and shouldn’t be done, but cannot give a single idea of how to do it.
I tell you. They know no more than you or I. By virtue of the fact that they have a platform on a blog or a TV program, they elevate themselves. Me, personally, I think they pull a lot of that stuff out of their arses and so I gave it zero credence.
They talk and hope no one will push back at them.
So glad he hasn’t been forgotten.
🙂
So happy for Ollie and Henry VIII! Good for them 🙂
Absolutely great news! I hope the President continues to keep in touch with Henry the 8th and the people of Moneygall.
I’m sure Cousin Henry will be in the US come Nov 2012 (election), or Jan 2013 (inauguration) or both!!!
How wonderful. I am so happy for Henry and the whole Irish crew who brought President Obama to the lovely town of Moneygall.
I think POTUS and FLOTUS bonded quite well while they were In moneygall, I think they have a genuine relationship. Henry went all out to welcome his cousin Barack Obama, I could feel the love just watching on the Internet, thanks to Chips 😀
Etiquette from POTUS and FLOTUS – what a couple!
Village residents raise a glass to Independence Day
By Breda Heffernan
Tuesday July 05 2011
IT was a tight squeeze, but 500 Moneygall residents crammed into Ollie Hayes’ pub last night to toast their favourite son and wish him a ‘Happy Independence Day’.
Still riding high on the visit of US President Barack Obama in May, many locals decided to take a day off work in recognition of their newly adopted national holiday.
A steady stream of American tourists visited the most famous village in Ireland eager to retrace the steps of Mr Obama and his wife Michelle while a number of musicians spontaneously took up residence in Ollie’s pub.
Last night crowds gathered for the launch of ‘Is Feidir Linn: A Golden Ticket to Moneygall’, a new book written by the Irish Independent’s Eimear Ni Bhraonain, with photographs by Jeff Harvey.
It charts the unlikely story of how the world’s most powerful leader traced his roots to Moneygall — “the dot on the map along the main road to Limerick” — and how one rural community found itself gripped by Obama-mania.
In May 2007, when an American genealogist traced the lineage of Fulmouth Kearney, both Mr Obama and Moneygall were relative unknowns.
“Moneygall was an underdog and so too was Barack Obama. But every step of the way Moneygall has backed Obama,” explained Eimear. “We never thought it would come to the stage where Barack Obama was President of the United States of America and (he would) acknowledge this tiny village.
“But this book isn’t just about Obama, it’s about an amazing community spirit, about the ‘feidir linn’ attitude,” she explained.
Some 3,000 copies of the book, which costs €25, have been printed for its first edition and Eimear said they expected to be sold out by the middle of the week.
Many of the parish’s 1,700 inhabitants are purchasing it to send to family and friends living abroad.
Plans are also afoot to publish it in America in time for St Patrick’s Day next year.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/village-residents-raise-a-glass-to-independence-day-2812803.html?service=Print
I can only imagine what they are going to do on his birthday.
Just lovely – the Moneygall experience really is about “an amazing community spirit”. We were already besotted by President Obama, and the fact that this tiny little village embraced him with such optimism and positivity and love – that made this story all the more delicious. Thanks Moneygall – and well deserved recognition for Henry Healy, Ollie’s Pub,Moneygall and Ireland as a whole.I’m glad the party is continuing!
These moneygall residents are a fun crowd indeed. And thanks Moneygall for the wonderful welcome you gave our First Family.
Guys heads up. Rev. Al Sharpton is covering for Cenk Uygur on MSNBC this week. Let’s all watch and give him some love because he is on fire defending POTUS and calling out the GOP. Woot woot!!!!
Tuned in but for a short while coz I had to go to work, but man, was he telling it like only Rev. Al could. I had him say to that idiot michael steele that its had to move an elephant, but easy to slap a donkey. lol. Let keep tuning in guys for the days he is filling in for that loser Cenk.
Oops, “heard” not had.
Rev Al’s show is on MSNBC now 😀
Moneygall to host inaugural festival
MONEYGALL RESIDENTS are getting set to host their first annual festival, which will run from next Friday, July 1st to July 4th. The festival will have African, American and Irish influences in honour of Barack Obama.
Along with family days, rodeo-style entertainment, Irish and American music, Moneygall footballers will play an all-African football team in the village next Saturday.
A month after Mr Obama’s State visit to Ireland, the village of Moneygall, Co Offaly, is adorned still with American and Irish flags.
Mr Obama visited his ancestral home on May 23rd, where he and first lady Michelle Obama were warmly received by thousands.
Serving tourists in Ollie Hayes’s Bar yesterday, Majella Hayes said business was going well. “It’s been great, busy, there’s a bit of a buzz around all the time.”
Ollie Hayes’s Bar has become a focal point for tourists wishing to see where Mr Obama met his relatives and sampled a pint.
Taking pride of place in the pub, the drinking glasses used by the Obamas have been framed, along with the €50 note he used to pay for his drink. Other mementos, including photos, books, T-shirts and an Obama bust are displayed around the bar.
As she edged away from a Guinness tap to allow a tourist to take a picture, Ms Hayes said: “We have an awful lot of Irish visitors, we have a lot of American visitors, we have people from all over the world. There are more people around all the time but Moneygall is still the same.”
Mr Obama’s eighth cousin, Henry Healy, said the visit had been hugely beneficial for Moneygall. “Both economically and socially there has been a transformation in the village. Footfall each day is as strong as the days after the visit.”
Mr Healy, who hasn’t managed to work a full week since the visit due to official obligations, said he was thrilled by the level of goodwill he had experienced since the visit.
A new book chronicling the Obamas’ visit will be launched during the festival. The book, Is Feidir Linn – A Golden Ticket to Moneygall , was compiled by journalist Eimear Ní Bhraonáin and press photographer Jeff Harvey.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0625/1224299587014.html
I love how Rev. Al told Michael Steele, “Hey Hey! Michael! Keep Quiet, Ed(Rendell) let you speak. Hey! Hey! Michael keep quiet. I’m in charge here!.” Hahaha. Loving him right now. Michael Steele is trying to say the GOP governors are popular in their states and Rev. Al just showed polls that don’t hold up to that misguided narrative. Woohooo!!!! Rev Al is on fiiiiiiire!!!
I appreciate Al’s efforts, but he can’t be the only defender of Obama on the teevee. That’s not going to work.
Better than none at all and at least he will not back down off of his support of PBO – just wish he was there with his own show – so his own personality and opinions could come thru
As long as these shows are owned by corporatists, I would rather Rev Al stay on the outside where he’s free to make real comments, and guest host once in a while. No corrupting of Rev Al!
You are right theo.
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh
OT:
Oh, Lordy, I just RSVP’d for my first strategy campaign meeting. It will be at 8 p.m. tomorrow online. Oh, I am so excited. Can’t wait. Last time around I couldn’t volunteer for the campaign. My job did not allow it. I am truly excited to be a part of this momentous occasion.
Will tell all about it after tomorrow. Only thing is that I have to leave my self a big fact note on my computer and tell everyone in my house to remind me.
IT’S ALOT OF FUN AND YOU CAN TYPE UNTIL YOU GET CARPLE TUNNEL!LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL…I’LL BE THERE!..:)
FRANKLY THEY’RE PROBABLY LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GLUE MY KEYBOARD INTO A MUTE MODE!!!!!…:))))))
BTW…THEY’LL REMIND YOU…:) THANK GOODNESS BECAUSE I FORGET EVERYTHING!
I agree. I am going to send MSNBC a note that finally, we have a voice on TV. Not that I expect Rev. Al to agree with everything the President does, but I know he disagrees with just about everything the Republican do. And I just heard, they haven’t been done much of anything.
WOW…WONDERFUL NEWS ABOUT HENRY! WHAT A SWEET SMILE HE HAS…RUNS IN THE FAMILY…:)
OMG he is so adorable. It definitly runs in the family!
I am so happy for Moneygall. I’m sure Cousin Henry and Ollie will cherish their gifts from the O’Bamas I hope the business continues to flow for that beautiful town and warm people.
I will wait until Rev Al’s show is online to watch. Can’t wait. Sounds like it was great. Will have to tweet and call into his show, to thank him.
I HAVE SUCH GOOD NEWS TONITE…WENT TO PICK UP MY CAT FRIEND AT THE VETS AFTER TWO DAYS OF STAY. SHE WON’T TAKE HER EYES OFF ME. POOR THING…SINCE SHE WAS A STRAY WHEN I GOT HER…PROBABLY THO’T I GAVE HER AWAY. SHE’S MY BUD! WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THERE ARE SO MANY DANGERS OUTSIDE. BUT THANK GOD…SHE MADE IT THRU AND IS BACK HOME W/ HER MOM! THANKX FOR ALL THE SWEET CAT PRAYERS TOO MY FRIENDS. BLESS YOU ALL!
SOOOooooOOOOO happy Sue, give that kitty a hug for me!!!
good for you and kitty Sue! Awesome 🙂
That’s good news, Sue. Sounds like a little renewed bonding is in order.
So happy for Henry the 8th, Ollie and the people of Moneygall.