The Obama Diary

Henry Healy greets his eighth cousin, President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama, after their arrival in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2025 (Photo: Pete Souza)

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Whaddya mean it’s too early for a Rise and Shine?! It’s already St Patrick’s Day in Ireland! Catch up!

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A St Patrick’s Day word from Henry Healy:

Happy St Patrick’s Day from the Ancestral Home of President Obama.

Hi everyone, I wanted to share my St Patrick’s Day greetings with you all.

When I think back to the visit of the president to Moneygall and the amazing journey I have had from visiting last St Patrick’s Day and attending the inauguration this year I am eternally grateful.

As I go to the White House on Tuesday I will be thinking of the great people and experiences I have had and all of you here at TOD have been part of it.

I hope that those of you with Irish Heritage have a fantastic St Patrick’s Day and those of you without Irish Heritage put on the green and join in and celebrate with us.

Henry

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You can follow Henry on Twitter here

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At The Dubliner bar, Washington DC, March 17, 2025

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A St Patrick’s Day word from Canon Stephen Neill, the man who discovered President Obama’s Irish roots:

To all my friends at The Obama Diary, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy St. Patrick’s Day. We in Ireland are constantly amazed and encouraged by the warmth and hospitality extended to us as a nation by the people of the United States. President Obama has embraced this important relationship and the ongoing hospitality he affords to his Moneygall friends and relations is hugely appreciated. I had the privilege of a visit to the White House myself last month and was very grateful to members of the Obama administration who facilitated this for me at very short notice.

We in Moneygall are delighted that Henry Healy will once again be meeting the President at the official reception for St. Patrick’s day and look forward to perhaps another presidential visit to Moneygall during this second term of office. The visit in 2011 was a transformative experience for the people in this area and the fruits of that are still to be seen. It is a community that was energized and inspired by your President and the First Lady.

On this St. Patrick’s Day when people of all creeds and backgrounds in this land are united by a love of their country we pray that President Obama will find his Irish roots a source of blessing and inspiration as he too seeks to unite the people of the United States in that most important quest for the good and prosperity of all people. May God bless you all.

Canon Stephen Neill (Rector of Moneygall)

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You can follow Stephen on Twitter here

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Reverend Canon Stephen Neill shows President Barack Obama his Irish ancestral records at Ollie Hayes’s Pub in Moneygall, County Offaly, Ireland, May 23, 2025 (Photo: Pete Souza)

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Endless thanks to Henry and Stephen for passing on their good wishes to everyone at TOD, they are two completely lovely gentlemen.

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Some day soon, I hope, I’ll find sufficient words to thank LovelyPlains, UTAustinLiberal, Amk and LiberalLibrarian for all they’ve done this week, but for now I’m struggling. Seriously, I don’t even know where to begin. All I can say to them is, thank you so much - you’re just amazingly kind people, and between you, you’ve kept this place going in my absence. And a couple of them had never posted on a blog before, but set about teaching themselves how do it while I disappeared. Needless to say, they are all welcome to post here any time they wish, I’m honored to have them contribute here and it’s a way better place for it.

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Embarrassingly, I still haven’t replied to a whole bunch of people who offered the kindest of words and/or offers to help with the blog - I am truly sorry, but I will try VERY hard to reply in the next day or two. Thank you, sincerely, for your support, it meant everything.

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Will catch up with you all in the next day or two, love ya.