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Obama looks forward to rediscovering his Irish roots on European tour
Obama's great-great-great grandfather on his mother's side comes from Moneygall in County Offaly. Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP
Obama's great-great-great grandfather on his mother's side comes from Moneygall in County Offaly. Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Obama looks forward to rediscovering his Irish roots on European tour

This article is more than 12 years old
President making 'homecoming of sorts' says White House, when he visits mother's family town in Ireland

The White House has predicted a lively debate about the president's origins on the opening day of next week's trip to Europe. But it is sure to be a lot friendlier than the recent "birther" row.

Barack Obama's tour of Ireland, the UK, France and Poland kicks off on Monday in Dublin but he then heads quickly for the County Offaly town of Moneygall, from where his mother's family hail. A White House spokesman, Ben Rhodes, said Obama was looking forward to seeing his roots. "It is a homecoming of sorts," he said.

Rhodes added that the person researching Obama's family history was able to trace his mother's side back to Moneygall. "I believe we can confirm it is his great-great-great grandfather," Rhodes said.

That relative, Falmouth Kearney, is in the parish records and is understood to have left for America in 1850. His great-great granddaughter Ann Dunham married Obama's father. Rhodes said there could be people in Moneygall who share those blood ties. "I expect it to be a robust topic of discussion when the president stops off," he said.

The town has been spruced up for the occasion, with fresh paint and flower-boxes. American special security agents have been checking out the inhabitants.

The president is expected to stop for a drink in the pub and a new Obama cafe is also scheduled to open.

On returning to Dublin, he is to make a speech lauding the relationship between the US and Ireland, describing it as unique and talking about Americans' affection for Ireland.

The main policy speech of his European tour will be on Wednesday when he addresses both houses of parliament, and Rhodes said the president would also praise this "special relationship", saying the US had no closer ally than the UK.

The main theme will be the evolving transatlantic relationship, dealing mainly with Nato, and the way the US and Europe confront a series of global challenges together, from Afghanistan to Libya.

Obama's first day in the UK, on Tuesday, is dominated by a visit to Buckingham Palace, with a state dinner in the evening. He will see David Cameron and Ed Miliband on the same day, and hold a fuller meeting with Cameron on Wednesday, with Afghanistan, Libya and counter-terrorism on the agenda.

One of the main aims of the trip is to try to improve relations with Europe after an awkward start when, once the initial euphoria of the arrival of the new president had passed, European governments grumbled that Obama was more interested in Asia than Europe.

Cameron will try to introduce an element of informality to Obama's state visit when he hosts a lunchtime barbecue in the Downing Street garden on Wednesday.

The prime minister wants to avoid a repeat of the formal approach adopted by Gordon Brown when Obama visited No 10 as the Democratic nominee for president in the summer of 2008.

Nick Clegg, who will attend the barbecue, was told that protocol meant the only way he could meet Obama one-on-one would be as leader of the Liberal Democrats. The three main party leaders are always offered a bilateral meeting with a visiting head of state during a formal state visit. Clegg decided that he would like to meet the president as deputy prime minister.

From the UK, Obama heads to a G8 meeting in Deauville, France, and finishes at the end of the week in Poland.

The president's entourage

A staff of 500, including 200 security staff. As well as close protection teams, there are technicians sweeping for electronic listening devices and tasters to ensure the president's food is not poisoned.

A £250,000 car supposedly capable of withstanding almost any attack, including chemical. It has five-inch thick glass windows, a sealed interior, night-vision camera, and is nicknamed The Beast.

35 vehicles, some of them decoys.

An ambulance and six medical staff.

Air Force One, which is supposedly capable of withstanding a nuclear blast. It has a gym and a gourmet kitchen.

Marine One helicopter. The president travels in a fleet of three so attackers would not know which one he is in.

George Bush took 700 people with him to Europe in 2003 and Bill Clinton took 1,000 to Vietnam in 2000.

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