It was just last week on St. Patrick's Day while hosting Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny at the White House that President Obama announced his upcoming visit to Ireland. "I'm expecting to go not only to all the famous sites, but also to go to Moneygall, where my great-great-great-great-great grandfather hails from," said Obama.
He may have tucked in a spare pair of "greats" (his immigrant ancestor, Fulmoth Kearney, was his 3rd great-grandfather), but you won't hear any objections in Moneygall which hasn't wasted any time making preparations for his homecoming. Those visiting the town can already pose with an Obama cutout and Stephen Neill (who helped me confirm Obama's roots in Moneygall) at Ollie Hayes's pub.
If you'd like to get a sneak peek at what's in store for the president, take a few minutes to watch this informative and energetic video by Corey Taratuta of Irish Fireside.
The tour is accompanied by a song already written and recorded for the event by the Corrigan Brothers (what took them so long?), "Welcome Home President Barack Obama." I'll tuck the lyrics after the video for those who'd like to sing along.
Welcome Home President Barack Obama
by the Corrigan Brothers
Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lama
Welcome Home President Barack Obama
O'Leary O'Reilly O'Hare and O'Hara
Welcome Home President Barack Obama
2011 in the month of May
In Moneygall town an historic day
To his great great great
Grandfather's home
The President's back
Among his own
The Obama set dancers
Will put on a show
In Ollie Hayes Bar
The Guinness will flow
And Megan Smolenyak
And Stephen Neill
The President's ancestry
They will reveal
Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lama
Welcome Home President Barack Obama
The President's cousin
Henry Healy
Will be tellin stories
Like a seanachai
About Fulmouth Kearney
He'll tell him it all
The finest shoemaker
To leave Moneygall
From Malin to Mizen
Out in Connemara
They'll be welcoming
President Barack Obama
Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lama
Welcome Home President Barack Obama
They say he's a great man
To sing an auld song
He's holds a great tune
And it won't be long
He'll step up to the stage
Just wait and see
And he'll sing
"there's no one as Irish as ME"
Toor a loo toor a loo toor a loo toor a lama
Welcome Home President Barack Obama
(repeat)