Obama visit - We should seize this opportunity

PRESIDENT Barack Obama’s visit in May will evoke memories of other celebrated visits of American presidents.

The fact that Mr Obama is already highlighting his ancestry from Moneygall, Co Offaly, is another vivid example of America as the great melting pot of diverse humanity.

The visit should provide a welcome opportunity to boost Irish tourism in the current depressed economic circumstances. The infrastructure of tourism has enormous potential for employment, and Irish-based American industries also have great potential. Indeed, the performance of our exports, which are in no small part driven by American companies, has probably been the most positive aspect of our current economic performance.