Monday, May 23, 2011

Renegade and Renaissance in Eire

Today, the Commander in Chief and his wife paid a visit to Ireland of all places today. It was a flying visit. Arriving early this morning but already departed.

The Obamas were met with the usual wet and blustery conditions one is normally met with at Dublin Airport which has is own unique weather system to remind those coming home from holiday that they're back in reality now. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Ambassador Dan Rooney were on hand to welcome the visitors and take them to Áras an Uachtaráin for a private meeting with President Mary McAleese.

Obama then held talks with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Farmleigh this morning, where they discussed a range of issues, including Ireland's deficit problems and US planes stopping at Shannon. Mr. Obama said the bond and relationship between the two countries could not be stronger. He said 'we will do everything to help' Ireland in its economic recovery. He said he was inspired by the progress made in the peace process in Northern Ireland and that it was obvious to him that Ireland punches above its weight in a range of issues, including food security and peace keeping.

It is also understood that a brief but important meeting was held between the leaders and Colonel "Whopper" Creedon of U.N.E.T.I.D.A. but there was no official confirmation.

This afternoon, Marine One brought POTUS and FLOTUS to Mr. Obama's ancestral home of Moneygall, Co Offaly where they embraced Henry Healy, Mr. Obama's distant cousin, who greeted them on arrival. They then spent time to meet and greet some of the hundreds of onlookers before visiting the local shop and having a pint of Guiness in Ollie Hayes' pub for which the President insisted on paying for with a €50 note. Publican Hayes told RTE later, he was so surprised and starstruck, he completely forgot to give The President his €46.25 [$65] change!

The Obamas returned to Dublin to take the stage in College Green where the President delivered a resounding address. "This little country, that inspires the biggest things -- your best days are still ahead. Our greatest triumphs -- in America and Ireland alike -- are still to come. And, Ireland, if anyone ever says otherwise, if anybody ever tells you that your problems are too big, or your challenges are too great, that we can’t do something, that we shouldn’t even try -- think about all that we’ve done together. Remember that whatever hardships the winter may bring, springtime is always just around the corner."

Air Force One departed for London just before 21:30 earlier than tomorrow morning's schedule due to the volcanic ash cloud.

10 comments:

Constance said...

And you wanted to vote for McCain....

Civilian Overseer said...

The Colonel will vote for anyone who will put a giant frickin' laser into space to blast the Russians. He's a bit of a tart that way.

PF said...

Apparently Air Force One is parked outside the Ryan Air hanger in London Stansted Airport.... speedy boarding Mr President.

Constance said...

Nooooooooo! Keep him away from Ryan Air! They're the ones claiming that the ash is a hoax!

That does not increase my confidence in them....

vaughan said...

Wasn't Enda stupendous (sarcasm) playing it like a small town Gaa Coach who can't even think of something original to say so he rips off something he saw on" de telly!" and thinks by saying it with a shout people won't spot it.... although I liked the way the crowd started shouting for him to hurry up.

As for the Speech....jeez even arch Obama lover Ryan Tubridy had to admit he actually said nothing ....basically "Errr it's nice to be here!" What worries me are all the twats whic are now running with this idiocy ...like the Irish head of Special Olympics who declared she wants to run for the presidency ..."Using an Obama style campaign" well I won't be voting for her simply for that unoriginal piece of thinking.

As For Michael O Leary you should be scared Constance

Willie Walsh of BA sent up a plane and found the ash is miniscule.....he showed a teaspoon of Ash on bbc and then declared .."What's in the air is a thousandth of that per square cubic metre..." What's scaring me is Michael O Leary is right...that should never happen!

Civilisn Overseer said...

"like the Irish head of Special Olympics who declared she wants to run for the presidency",

Ahh Mr.V you forget that the Irish head of the Special Olympics, Mary Davis is eminently qualified for the job.

Since 1990, the Irish people have been ruled over by the iron fist of a President named Mary, that's 21 years so far, why that's almost as time honoured a tradition as Christmas.

As such, to dispute Mary Davis's divine right to rule is not just an attack on our most sacred traditions, it's an attack on Christmas. Are you against Christmas Mr.V?, are you?

Civilian Overseer said...

Mr.V, Mr.V, you scaredy, scaredy cat.

Constance said...

Well, I hear he's more of a dog person.

verification word: corkoph

Take that!

Civilian Overseer said...

Connie, Things have been so quiet around here lately that I am begining to suspect that all the senior members of the Cork Liberation Army have been rounded up for questioning again, that, or the Colonel has a new flame and/or computer game.

I remember that he dropped off the grid for several weeks when his old flame, Sarah Kerrigan came back on the scene.

Civilian Overseer said...

Gentlemen and Connie, it is my sad duty to report to you that the Colonel has gone MIA

We may never see him again...

How do I know this?, well, when you have my level of security clearance, you get to see alot of dogey dossiers marked "top secret", that, and the amount of dust that has gathered on the content in the bunker gives the game away.

Semper Fi, Colonel, Semper Fi.