Michelle tells Irish youth: ‘I want you to dream big’

Michelle Obama told Irish young people that “we are just like you” on the first of her two-day visit to Ireland with her daughters Malia, 14, and Sasha, 12.

Giving a much-needed boost to the youth of Ireland, the US first lady said this country will be all the stronger if they “dream big” about who they want to be and allow their imaginations “soar high”.

She was speaking to more than 150 young people in the Gaiety Theatre, which broke into joyous applause and cheering when she told them: “You guys are pretty awesome... you’re pretty good-looking, too.”

In words of encouragement to the wide-eyed people from selected schools and youth groups, she said: “I want you to look at me and Barack and all those wonderful leaders and understand that we are you. We are just like you, just kids who worked a little hard and dreamt pretty big and got to do some wonderful things.”

She was speaking ahead of a 50-minute performance of Riverdance — where she was accompanied by Irish first lady Sabina Higgins, and Fionnuala Kenny, wife of Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Mrs Obama told the young people to never take for granted that they come from a “beautiful country” where they are “supported by such wonderful families and such strong communities and traditions”. These things “give you the strong foundation that you are going to need”, she said.

“I want you all to think really big about who you want to be, I want your imaginations to soar high because right now that’s the only thing that stops you from being whoever you want to be, it’s the limit of your thinking. So I want you to dream big, I want you to dream of who you might become and where you might go.”

Earlier, the first family visited Trinity College Dublin where they viewed records documenting the Irish ancestry of President Barack Obama.

Malia and Sasha were presented with certificates of Irish heritage from distant cousin Henry Healy, who said they were “amazed” with the certs. He said they also told him the family are planning a return visit to Moneygall after Mr Obama leaves office in 2016.

Mrs Obama and her daughters later dined at the Matt the Thresher Seafood Bar and Grill in Dublin. Mrs Obama ordered Carlingford oysters followed by sautéed prawns while the girls shared a jumbo shrimp cocktail followed by a shepherd’s pie of slow-braised Wicklow lamb, and fish and chips.

It ended a long day which began when they joined Mr Obama for an address at Waterfront Hall in Belfast.