The County Offaly village that will host President Barack Obama during his visit to Ireland next month was at the center of a security scare last week after a truck packed with explosives crashed into a shop.
The incident occurred in Obama's Irish ancestral home of Moneygall when the brakes on the truck failed to work. Fortunately, the explosives, which were destined for a nearby quarry, did not detonate.
However, the episode, just weeks before the president's visit, did spark several conspiracy theories in the sleepy village, especially that it came after the recent visit to the village of the presidential Secret Service team.
The truck driver, John Guidera from County Tipperary, was not seriously injured in the accident. John Donovan, who owned the shop into which it crashed, said he was just glad no-one had been hurt.
"The firemen told me if the lorry had gone on fire, the whole village would have been evacuated. I'm just glad everyone is OK and that the driver was not seriously injured."
Local Fire and Rescue Service senior assistant chief officer Eddie Ryan said they got the call at 7.40 a.m.
"The area was cordoned off and there was never any danger," he said.
"All precautions were taken while the material was removed from the truck and out of the area under garda supervision."
Ryan confirmed that the materials being carried by the truck were explosives but added they were being transported correctly and had been held in separate compartments.
The Obama visit to Moneygall is expected to take place on Monday, May 23rd.
