Obama of the ‘Moneygall’ Obamas wows thousands in College Green
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama take to the stage at College Green in Dublin. Photo: Getty Images
A US flag flies above the crowd waiting to hear US President Barack Obama deliver a speech at College Green. Photo: Getty Images
Children wave US flags as they queue to see President Obama. Photo: Getty Images
US President Barack Obama took to the stage in Dublin’s College Green in front of a crowd of 100,000 claiming he was "home."
"My name is Barack Obama, of the Moneygall Obamas and I've come home to find the apostrophe we lost somewhere along the way," he said.
The Stars and Stripes flew beside the Irish flag where the President was met by huge cheers of "Obama, Obama" – on the same spot where President Bill Clinton wooed onlookers in 1995.
He addressed the crowds from behind a specially-constructed three-sided bullet-proof glass structure.
Earlier Taoiseach Enda Kenny warmed up the crowd and drew on the deep shared historic links and used Leinster’s dazzling win in Cardiff last Saturday as an as an example of what can be achieved in adversity to whoops of cheering.
Mr Kenny introduced the President, saying: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that Ireland is a place where all things are possible ... today is your answer."
He added: "Today the 44th American president comes home.”
Meanwhile, President Obama wowed Moneygall by drinking a pint of Guinness in Ollie Hayes’ pub in Moneygall this afternoon.
The President toasted his cousins and chatted away amiably with them in the bar.
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