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.

Late Night Tunes, Irish-Style

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How long to sing this song?

afternoon all

A red ribbon is hung from the North Portico of the White House to mark World AIDS Day

Text of full speech here

President Obama greets U2 front man Bono and Muhtar Kent the chairman of the Board and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company after speaking during a World AIDS Day event at George Washington University

Alicia Keys

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Yesterday:

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Will catch up with all the news in the next hour or two, see ya then 😉

a beautiful day

There is always hope.

night everyone

Thank you again to the father of this beautiful girl for visiting us today (here)

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Walk on …. don’t let the haters get you down 😉

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President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet Henry Healy in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23

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See you tomorrow 😉

an extraordinary life

President John F. Kennedy hands a pen to his brother-in-law, Sargent Shriver, after signing a bill giving the Peace Corps permanent status in this September 22, 1961 file photo. Shriver was appointed the Peace Corps’ first director

Maria Shriver, Arnold Schwarzenegger and other loved ones carry the casket of Sargent Shriver into Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church

Caroline Kennedy escorts first lady Michelle Obama into Our Lady of Mercy Catholic church

Former President Bill Clinton, Senator John Kerry, first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden attend the funeral mass for Sargent Shriver at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Potomac, January 22. Shriver died January 18 at the age of 95

Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul

Bono of U2 sings “Psalms 98”

Wyclef Jean sings “Psalms 98”

Anthony Shriver holds up a photograph of his father, R. Sargent Shriver

Bill Clinton comforts Anthony Shriver during the funeral Mass for his father

Andrea Mitchell

Former Democratic presidential nominee Senator George McGovern

Chris Matthews

Lynda Johnson Robb, right, daughter of former President Lyndon Johnson

William Kennedy Smith speaks with Ethel Kennedy, widow of the late Robert F. Kennedy

Cokie Roberts

Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver (L), Bobby Shriver (2L), Timothy Perry Shriver (3R), Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and other mourners carry the casket of Sargent Shriver

Glen Hansard and Stevie Wonder

More on the funeral here – Read Joe Biden’s remarks here

from california to the new york island….

January 18, 2009

heads up!

December 12, 2010 5:30 PM EST

President Obama Speaks at ‘Christmas in Washington’ – here (but it’s only audio)

Hopefully CNN will have live video??

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are introduced at the “Christmas in Washington” taping at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., Dec. 13, 2009

Okay, I have an excuse to post this piece of loveliness:

** Sigh **

guard the change