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IRELAND MAD FOR OBAMA
From Dublin, Ireland
A Magical Time to be in Ireland
Failte everyone! I'm in Ireland at this writing, helping friends Susan Banks of Faith & Begorra in New Jersey and Liza Hendley of Failte in Kentucky lead a small group of Americans throughout Ireland, and it is magical.
It makes no difference whether you were a McCain supporter or you voted for Obama it's electrifying to be an American in Ireland right now. Ireland has gone mad for Americans voting in our new president, Barack Obama, and the change it represents. Headlines in the edgy Metro newspaper read "The day America became a little bit cool again." Every major Irish newspaper was awash with positive election news. Many reported that the Irish have embraced our new president and voiced great respect for the American people for voting him into office. Fred Attewill reported in the Metro, a Dublin newspaper, "The election of Barack Obama has already transformed public opinion of the US." A full-color poster was tucked into the Irish Daily Star. It is amazing.
Sitting in just about any pub in Ireland all you had to do is have an Irishman hear your American accent and you will quickly be engaged in conversation about our elections and Obama. On Saturday I came upon a fellow by the name of Peter Davis of Dublin city wearing a green t-shirt that read, "O'Bama #1 for Taoisech." Taoisech is the Irish Gaelic word for leader. When I asked Davis what he thought of our election news he stated, "Its brilliant. What happens in the States directly affects us here in Ireland, and the last eight years have been dismal. Obama is well respected on this side of the pond and America has reclaimed a great deal of credibility here in Ireland by electing him."
And the Irish have claimed Obama as one of their own, too. In a wee village in the southern part of Co. Offaly by the name of Moneygall, the pubs were packed in celebration of Obama's election win. It seems Moneygall is the birthplace of Fulmuth Kearney who immigrated to the US in 1850 and is an Irish ancestor of Obama's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. So begins a new era of hope for many of us on both sides of the pond, in Ireland and the United States. Its truly a historic time.
IRELAND TOUR 2009 ANNOUNCED
While we're in Ireland, Susan, Liza and myself are about planning our 2009 tour to Ireland, with a possible add-on to Scotland. If you might be interested in coming with us next year let me know and I'll put you on the list to get more details to you as soon as we formalize the trip. We're having a blast in Ireland, so will you!
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