Kenny: Wealth is deep inside us

THE Taoiseach appealed to the 40 million Irish-Americans to “follow their president home” in a rousing introduction to Barack Obama’s speech in Dublin’s College Green.

In front of tends of thousands of people, Enda Kenny said this country has a unique wealth that “cannot be accumulated in banks or measured by the markets or traded on the stock exchange”.

This wealth is “deep inside our people, in the heart-stopping beauty of our country and the transforming beauty of the Irish heart, imagination and soul.”

He promised there’s a “brighter and more prosperous future” for the country and told the jubilant crowd to “let your voices be heard around the globe” as they welcomed President Obama and his wife Michelle.

Referring to his Irish ancestry, Mr Kenny said the President was “part of our proud past and part of our proud future”.

Mr Obama had come “to show that he believes in Ireland, to make that precious connection with his Irish family, his Irish roots, as thousands before him have done.”

To a roaring crowd, Mr Kenny said: “Today the 44th American president comes home.”

The story of Mr Obama’s great, great, great grandfather leaving Irish shores for America was repeated by millions on the continent, Mr Kenny said. “Everyone of them and all their people are our people, ar muintir féin, their past is our past, their story is our story.”

He said: “My call is directly to those 40 million Irish-Americans whether you are listening and watching in New York or New Haven, or in San Diego or St Louis. Whether you are Irish by blood, by marriage or by desire.

“We — your Irish family — are right here, to welcome you to follow your president home.”

The Taoiseach remembered the visits of President John F Kennedy and President Bill Clinton: “In 1963, the 35th president of the United States, in 1995 the 42nd president lifted our country’s spirits.

“But the 44th president is different because he doesn’t just speak about the American dream, he is the American dream.”

In one of his most important speeches since becoming Taoiseach, Mr Kenny tried to instil a message of hope.

“If there is anybody out there that still doubts that Ireland is a place where all things are possible, anyone who wonders if the dream of our ancestors is alive in our time, who still questions our capacity to restore ourselves, to reinvent ourselves and prosper, well today is your answer.”

With his wife, Fionnuala, by his side, Mr Kenny said: “Today, on this day, the President of the United States and his First Lady Michelle Obama have come to visit.”