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THE MOST FAMOUS publican in the village of Moneygall has been invited to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the first family of the United States of America.
Ollie Hayes received the official invite from the White House in the post last week. His nephew – and Barack Obama’s distant cousin – Henry Healy was also honoured with an invitation.
Both men were surprised to receive a plus one on the invites.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Hayes said that the obvious choice would be to bring his wife but she was too busy looking after the pub and their four-year-old daughter.
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“My wife Majella said nothing would beat the experience of having 15 minutes of private time with the President and the First Lady last year right here in Moneygall,” he said. “So she is happy to hold the fort while I go.”
Hayes’s sister Helen is stepping up and attending the event with her brother instead. Healy has asked his mother Marion – who is Helen and Ollie’s sister – to accompany him.
The event in Washington DC, during which a bowl of shamrock is traditionally handed over to the US President, is actually to take place on 20 March and not on St Patrick’s Day itself on 17 March.
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife will also participate in the ceremony.
Hayes and Healy were nominated by the American ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney to receive the honour. They had both heard “remarks being passed” before and were told to make themselves available for the 20 March.
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What a stupid statement to make….God ignorance is alive and well in Ireland still. I suppose as the saying goes you can’t make a silk purse out of a cows ear.
Delighted for Moneygall and those who are invited to The White House, what a great experience it will be and what a wonderful honor to be asked….well done ye must have made a brilliant impression on President Obama.
“Moneygall publican gets invite to the White House” … or “Moneygall publican gets invitation to the White House” or “Moneygall publican is invited to the White House”? is it a noun now must check – http://isinviteanoun.com/
Whats going on inviting a greedy publican to the White house and all the charity workers are snubbed.I hope the american people vote Obama the clown out.
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