Obama: US, Ireland Share 'Blood Link'

President begins Europe tour
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted May 23, 2011 8:57 AM CDT
President Obama Arrives in Ireland, Says it Shares 'Blood Link' With US
President Barack Obama, left, holds and swings a hurling stick as Ireland's Taoiseach Enda Kenny, looks on as he outside Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Monday, May 23, 2011.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Obama arrived in Ireland today, and said the nation shares a “blood link” with his country because of the millions of Irish-Americans who live in the US. The president, of course, has his own blood link with Ireland, and is planning a visit to the home of his great-great-great grandfather in Moneygall today, the AP reports. Obama, who has been affectionately nicknamed O’Bama by locals, is in Ireland to hold talks on trade, Reuters adds.

Obama noted that he wants to encourage bilateral trade as well as help Ireland with its economic recovery. “We want to continue to strengthen the bonds of trade and commerce between our two countries, and … we are rooting for Ireland's success and we'll do everything we can to help on the path to recovery," he said. Ireland is the first stop on Obama’s six-day, four-nation tour of Europe. Click to read about the frenzy Obama’s upcoming visit caused in the tiny hamlet of Moneygall. (More Moneygall stories.)

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