The Obama Years
With his term as president coming to a close, view images from Barack Obama's eight years in office.
RTÉ
The Inauguration
Barack Obama takes the oath as the 44th US President with his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha by his side at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. He is the first African-American to be elected to the office of president in the history of the US.
A Moment with the President
Obama and his wife, US First Lady Michelle Obama, share a moment in a freight elevator at the Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC.
A New Era
A youthful looking Barack Obama walks into the Oval Office for his first full day in office.
Meeting the Troops
As he greets hundreds of US troops during his visit to Camp Victory in Iraq's Baghdad, Obama receives a fist-bump from a US soldier.
Revision, Recreation, Reflection
The president holds a heavily edited health care reform speech script before an address to a joint session of Congress; he makes time for basketball with cabinet secretaries and members of Congress; and takes a moment before a weekly radio address.
International Relations
Obama visited about 60 countries during his time as president. Here, on an official nine-day, four-nation Asia tour, he tours the Great Wall of China.
Shadows and a Giant
Obama and his family visit Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue during a five-day Latin American trip.
In the biggest national security victory for Obama since taking office, a targeted operation in Pakistan's Abbottabad sees the US kill alleged 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. Here, the president is seen in the Situation Room as the mission is under way.
Irish Roots
On a visit to Ireland, the US president has a Guinness after visiting his ancestral home in Moneygall, Co Offaly. He said: “My name is Barack Obama, of the Moneygall Obamas. I've come home to find the apostrophe we lost somewhere along the way.”
Addressing tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Dublin, Obama has some inspirational words: “This little country that inspired the biggest things – your best days are still ahead of you.”
Home Sweet Home
Obama walks towards the White House from the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn.
Remembering a Civil Rights Heroine
Obama sits on the famed Rosa Parks bus at a museum in Michigan. Obama said of the civil rights activist: “In a single moment, with the simplest of gestures, she helped change America - and change the world.”
Tough Calls
After a dozen movie goers were killed in a Colorado cinema, Obama participates in a conference call with FBI Director Robert Mueller, Chief of Staff Jack Lew, and John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.
Downtime
Obama spends time with Bo the dog, enjoys a lighter moment at a sports game with Vice President Joe Biden, and entertains a White House trick-or-treater at Halloween.
The Commute
Obama waves as he boards Air Force One at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Once asked what he will miss most when he leaves office, he quipped: “Other than Air Force One?”
The Daily Grind
Obama holds a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House.
March for Freedom
Obama leads a walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches in Selma, Alabama. On the issue of the civil rights struggle, he warned that the march for freedom ‘is not yet finished’.
New Chapter with Cuba
Obama becomes the first US president to visit Cuba in 88 years, opening a new chapter in US engagement with the island's Communist government after decades of animosity. He and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro end a joint press conference in Havana with an unusual handshake…
A Moment for the Dead
Obama attends a Transfer of Remains Ceremony for the return of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Libyan embassy employees at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The four were killed when the consulate in Libya was attacked on 11 September 2014.
The Worst Day
With tears running down his cheek, Obama talks about his efforts to increase federal gun control and the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He previously said that the shooting of 20 young children and six adult staff at an elementary school in December 2012 was the worst day of his presidency.
Leaders of the World
G7 leaders get stuck into some physical work. Italy's Matteo Renzi, Germany's Angela Merkel, Obama, Japan's Shinzo Abe, France's Francois Hollande, Britain's David Cameron, Canada's Justin Trudeau and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker take part in a tree planting ceremony in Japan.
The Transition
The transition of power begins after Donald Trump wins the 2016 Presidential election. Putting aside their differences for their first White House meeting, Obama tells his successor: “We now are going to do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed, then the country succeeds.”