Village braces for Obama visit

DOZENS of primary school students from US President Barack Obama’s ancestral homeland of Moneygall gathered yesterday to raise star-spangled banners across the Co Offally village.

Pupils from Scoil Josióf gathered on the town’s main street yesterday to raise up to 100 American flags and Irish tricolours in anticipation of Mr Obama’s arrival next week. Flag poles now line both sides of the main street.

The atmosphere in the village, home to a mere 350 inhabitants, is being described as “fantastic” as the weeks of cleaning, painting and pruning draw to a close. A specially commissioned souvenir tourist map has been drawn up by Shannon Development and the Regional Development Agency for the Shannon Region, in association with Offaly County Council. Tourist bodies also said a dedicated tourist information service is to be set up in Moneygall for use in the days before, during and after Mr Obama’s visit.