Obama may be on the way to Ireland

CAN we get him? Yes we can.

US President Barack Obama is to be invited to Ireland to deliver an inaugural human rights lecture in honour of his greatest political hero.

Details were announced yesterday of the Frederick Douglass initiative, which it is hoped will entice President Obama to Cork.

Douglass, who died in 1895, is one of the US’s best known anti-slavery campaigners and one of Obama’s political heroes.

Outgoing lord mayor of Cork, Cllr Dara Murphy, and Bloody Sunday author, Don Mullan, are now spearheading a committee driving the initiative, which will see University College Cork host an annual Frederick Douglass lecture.

They hope it will become one of the country’s most respected human rights lecture series, attracting leading international figures.

They also plan to unveil a statue of Douglass, crafted by sculptor Andrew Edwards, on the grounds of UCC.

Mr Murphy said they are now almost ready to issue an official invitation to the White House and are confident Obama will accept the offer to deliver the first lecture, and unveil the statue.

“The idea has already been pitched to the US embassy and heavily endorsed in Washington, and that the reaction State-side has been very positive.”

Mr Mullan said: “Given the fact the Douglass is one of Obama’s primary historical heroes, I and people in Washington believe that this is a project that will interest President Obama.

“We have a lot of work to do but there are people in Washington willing to help us.”