By Ray O'Hanlon
His time in Ireland might be limited, but President Barack Obama would appear intent on leaving a lasting mark by delivering a major address to the Irish people from Croke Park in Dublin next month.
Obama is expected to spend a night in Dublin before traveling on the Britain for a state visit there. The Croke Park speech will be a centerpiece of the visit along with his stopover in Moneygall, County Offaly, home of his main Irish ancestral family, the Kearneys.
The speech is expected to precede the Offaly trip which will probably be made by helicopter.
Whether the speech takes place on Sunday, May 22, or Monday, May 23 is not quite yet clear. Conceivably, the overall visit could extend from Sunday to early Tuesday, the 24th, thus allowing a choice of Sunday or Monday for the main highlights.
Reports have suggested that drawing a large crowd to Croke Park would be an easier task on Sunday. The stadium can hold in excess of 82,000. Either way, Obama will be arriving at the headquarters of the GAA just days after a visit by Queen Elizabeth.
The Irish Indepednent reported Tuesday that Marie MacDonogh, the daughter of the late author Stephen MacDonogh, who wrote "Barack Obama - The Road From Moneygall," has been asked to present Obama with a copy of the book during his visit.
The book contains details of Barack Obama's family tree, which can be traced all the way from the president's mother to the Kearney family in Moneygall.
Obama will be brought to the now empty Kearney homestead on Moneygall's Main Street where he will be asked to unveil a plaque. Former taoiseach Brian Cowen is expected to be a main host to the president in the Offaly village.
According to reports, it is understood that the nearby village of Shinrone, where the Kearneys originally hailed from before later settling in Moneygall, will also be given recognition during the presidential visit.
While Dublin and Offaly will absorb the bulk of Obama's visit, he is also being urged to spend some time in Cork.
New York City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn, has added her voice to that of Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley who wants to see a Cork stop to honor the great 19th century American anti-slavery campaigner, Frederick Douglass who spent time in Cork during his visit to Ireland.
"Recently, my City Council colleagues and I sent a letter to President Obama urging him to participate in the unveiling of the Fredrick Douglass Memorial in Cork during his upcoming trip to Ireland," said Quinn in a statement.
"Having escaped the trauma of slavery in the American South, Douglass spent the remainder of his life fighting for justice and equality for all people. It is his legacy that compels us today to continue working toward a better Ireland and America and a better world," said the speaker.
