President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle receive a warm welcome in College Green, Dublin.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in College Green to catch a glimpse of the US President, with an Irish connection. President Barack Obama had just returned from his ancestral village of Moneygall in County Offaly.
Introduced to the crowd by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the president spoke of the historic friendship and shared values that bind Ireland and the United States. He expresses his belief that Ireland’s best days still lie ahead.
President Obama also paid tribute to the late Garret FitzGerald, who had died just days earlier. He reflected on the links between American civil rights reformer Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell, praised the optimism of President John F Kennedy, and highlighted the resilience of the Irish people. He also commended the success of the Northern Ireland peace process.
He concluded his address with a message of encouragement.
Is féidir linn.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 May 2011. The reporter is Joe O'Brien.
