The week in review…

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“Good morning. My name is Hannah Nelson, I’m sixteen years old, and I’m from Belfast,” was how the student chosen as the warm up speaker for Michelle Obama introduced herself to 2,000 invited guests at the Waterfront Hall.

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Europe ♥ The Obamas!

A recap of a most fantastic three days. First, the Obamas departed America for Europe

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Then they arrived in Belfast

President Obama, the First Lady and their daughters Sasha and Malia are greeted by Joan Christie, the Queen’s official representative in Northern Ireland, upon their arrival at Belfast International Airport

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Then Pres. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama delivered fantastic remarks!

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“It will stay with me forever”

Students from New-Bridge Integrated College in Northern Ireland talk about the impression President Obama’s Belfast speech made on them.

BBC

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Coming up:

12:30 EST: The First Family depart Northern Ireland

1:0 EST: Vice President Biden Speaks on Gun Safety

White House Live

2:25 EST: The First Family arrive Berlin, Germany

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The crowd cheer as the cavalcade carrying the US First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, Malia and Sasha, passes through Dalkey, Co Dublin

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All posts on the Ireland visit here

 

Rise and Shine

G8 and EU leaders line up for a photograph at Lough Erne. Left to right are European Commission president José Manuel Barroso, Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, British prime minister David Cameron, US president Barack Obama, France’s president Francois Hollande, Canada’s prime minister Stephen Harper, Italy’s prime minister Enrico Letta and European Council president Herman Van Rompuy

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G8 Live Stream

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Today:

After the conclusion of the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland, the Obamas leave for Germany at 5:30 Irish time (12:30 EST)

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The headline in The Sun – of course!

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…. with PM Cameron and Taoiseach Kenny – @PeteSouza

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…. with President Putin and PM Cameron

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…. with PM David Cameron and President Francois Hollande

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… with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

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Irish Times: US first lady Michelle Obama and her daughters had a private guided tour of the Wicklow Mountains National Park as their whistlestop tour of Ireland draws to a close.

The sun beamed down on the hills above the twin lakes at Glendalough as Ms Obama and Malia and Sasha walked through the famous monastic site. The girls were given a lesson on the ancient ruins by local tour guide George McClafferty. The valley, in the heart of the Wicklow mountains, offers some of the most popular rural landscapes in Ireland and is a well-worn tourist path for visitors to the east coast.

The president’s youngest daughter, 12-year-old Sasha, batted swarming midges away from her face as the trio learned about the legendary Deer Stone …. Sasha was given the honour of closing the door to the ruins of St Kevin’s Church, which dates back 1500 years. The teenager was handed a key and she locked the door, before turning to her older sister and giving her a high five.

Meanwhile, the usually-quiet village of Dalkey has seen an influx of visitors this morning following reports that Ms Obama and her daughters will have lunch in Finnegans’ pub with Bono.

More here

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George McClafferty, manager at Glendalough: “I just melted….”:

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Bono and his wife Ali Hewson arrive at Finnegan’s pub in Dalkey this afternoon for lunch with Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia and Sasha. ‘I thought this was supposed to be a secret,’ Bono said to the crowd.

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….. with (left to right) Moya Dohery of Riverdance,  the Taoiseach’s wife Fionnuala Kenny and Sabina Higgins, wife of President Michael D Higgins at a special Riverdance performance at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin

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See all posts from the Ireland visit here

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Mooooooooorning everyone, just a few photos and videos to start your day, will try to catch up later with all the newsie stuff and more from Ireland and Germany.

You can never hear these speeches enough…

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Tuesday:

President Obama attends more G-8 meetings at Lough Erne

The First Lady, Malia and Sasha go walking in the Wicklow Hills on the morning and visit the local lakes and Glendalough (see here).

They will then rejoin President Obama for their visit to Germany

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The signatures of British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama on a patchwork quilt made by students working on a school project about the G8 summit

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First Lady Michelle Obama with her daughters Malia and Sasha in the crowd at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin for a special performance of Riverdance

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Cracked. Me. Up:

BBC: A young boy was rendered speechless when he met First Lady Michelle Obama in Dublin on Monday.

The boy, named only as Billy, was dumbstruck with shyness when he met her backstage at the Gaiety Theatre.

…. Rebecca Morgan, aged 11 and a pupil in Moneygall National School in County Offaly – US President Barack Obama’s ancestral homeland – revealed her classmate’s embarrassment.

“She is so beautiful and very tall,” the 11-year-old said. “She looks even prettier in real life than on TV.

“A boy in my class was really embarrassed when she touched Billy’s hand because he thinks she is so beautiful. He was so shy.”

More here

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See all posts from the Ireland visit here

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Scarily vicious anti-G8 protests in Northern Ireland #FrTed pic.twitter.com/EfYt5FEec5

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) June 18, 2013

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More in the morning

Chat Away

President Obama reacts as the sun comes out as he works alongside Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and students on a school project about the G8 summit during a visit to the Enniskillen Integrated Primary School

Body Language

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President Obama meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen

This pic cracks me up – completely.

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See all posts from the Ireland visit here

Michelle Obama at the ‘Gaiety Theatre’, Dublin

The videos are, well, glitchy, but hang in there!

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See here for all posts on the Ireland trip

Chat Away

@PeteSouza

More in a bit

Ireland … Another Image or Two

Niamh Farry (5) sampling some of the G8 ice-cream on sale at Lilley’s garage in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh

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12:0 EST: The First Lady will join Irish youth for a special performance by the Riverdance company at the Gaiety Theatre. Sabina Higgins, wife of President Michael D Higgins, and Fionnuala Kenny, wife of the Taoiseach, will also attend. The First Lady scheduled to deliver brief remarks before the performance

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Heads up:

Irish channel RTE will have a 30 minute special on the First Lady’s Dublin visit starting at 12:0 EST – here

Hi @TheObamaDiary Yes, it will be available worldwide! We’ll make it available as soon as possible after broadcast @RTEDigital @rte

— RTE Player (@RTEplayer) June 17, 2013

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What an inspiring morning in #Belfast & wonderful reception for President Obama #ObamainNI @markknoller @USAinNI pic.twitter.com/s4MuySMzjE

— U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) June 17, 2013

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First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, Sasha and Malia with Dr Patrick Prendergast, President and Provost of Trinity College Dublin, during their visit to view the Book of Kells and archives documenting the Obama’s Irish ancestry

….. viewing the Obama Family Collection, with Fiona Fitzsimons, director of genealogy research service Eneclann

Irish Independent: The US First Lady and her two daughters were given a presentation on their family genealogy and connections to Ireland when they visited Trinity College today.

At Trinity, the Obamas visited the Old Library and were shown the Book of Kells, a ninth-century, elaborately decorated gospel manuscript made by Irish monks.

Mrs Obama, Malia and Sasha were also shown the birth registry of President Obama’s Irish ancestors from around the village of Moneygall and old maps detailing the family’s homestead in Co Offaly.

….. President Obama’s distant Irish cousin Henry Healy – who the US leader jokes is known as Henry VIII because of their family ties – presented Michelle and the girls with gifts during their visit to Trinity.

He said both daughters were delighted to get their certificates of Irish heritage. “Both of them were pretty amazed with the certificates,” Mr Healy said. “Competing with their friends, now they can prove they’re more Irish than them.”

More here

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I presented Malia & Sasha with a Cert of Irish Heritage earlier! Great reaction from Sasha “I can prove I’m more Irish than my friends now”

— Henry Healy (@henryhealy) June 17, 2013

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Pres Obama greets Italy PM Enrico Letta and his entourage at the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/PMBnvX09In

— petesouza (@petesouza) June 17, 2013

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Photo of Pres Obama and British PM David Cameron at the G8 today in Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/aZpzxrcIdX

— petesouza (@petesouza) June 17, 2013

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PM Cameron and President Obama help paint a mural at Enniskillen Integrated Primary School in Northern Ireland