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There was huge excitement back in 2007 when Reverend Stephen Neill trawled the church records for mention of one Fulmouth Kearney the great-great-great grandfather of Barack Obama, when the records showed a link, a dream began of a presidential visit to Co Offaly.
From the tenacity and passion of the Moneygall people came Monday, May 23rd, a day the entire Irish populace benefited from, a boost long overdue for a country needing perhaps a gentle reminder of our history and the achievements of our ancestors.
Michelle Obama made the remark whilst in Moneygall, Offaly that we are all connected in this world and many, many people all over the globe feel a real connection with Irish soil and Irish people, how exciting to research your own family tree and then to visit the place your family originated from.
At the Tullamore Court Hotel, just like all our country men and women we were touched by the presidential visit but also by the pride that we had almost forgotten in our own beautiful country. We would like to reach out to those interested in following their own family story and perhaps walking in the footsteps of the Obama family line and of course the ancestral home in Moneygall, Co Offaly.
Tullamore is ideally located at the heart of Offaly and indeed of Ireland, on our doorstep is the mecca of local history our Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre. Visitors can take very pleasant day trips from Tullamore, in one day you could include a visit to Birr Castle, call to the now famous jewellery store of designer Cathal Barber, it was a piece of his handmade jewellery a brooch that Michelle Obama took home as a reminder of her first visit to Ireland and her husband's ancestors.
In the afternoon, take in Leap castle for some quality ghost time and then on to Moneygall to meet the Obama relatives and have a pint of the black stuff with local publican Ollie Hayes. There are bound to be a few local characters to regale the great day of May 23rd 2011.
Some of the local attractions worth checking out on your visit to our area include: Birr Castle & Gardens Leap Castle Lockes Distillery Clonmacnoise Charleville Castle Belvedere House Glendeer Farm Slieve Bloom Mountains Lough Boora Parklands The Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society is based in Ireland at Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co Offaly and would be delighted to help visitors with Genealogy enquiries
For any enquiries, please contact us on info@tullamorecourthotel.ie or call us on 353 57 934 6666.
Photograph of President Obama in Moneygall, Co Offaly courtesy of Mr Paul Barber owner of RJ Barber & Sons jewellery store.
For some video footage around the event see http://www.presidentobamairelandvisit.com/joomla/index.php
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