February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The site in Moneygall is owned by Offaly County Council and is about an acre in extent.
Kearney, who was President Obama’s great-great-great grandfather on his mother’s side, was born and grew up on the site before emigrating to the U.S. in 1850 and settling in Ohio.
Though Kearneys have not lived at the location of the onetime homestead for generations, the site was known until recently as “Kearney’s Gardens.”
The council’s Birr electoral area committee has approved a proposal by Moneygall councilor Peter Ormond to withdraw the site from sale and use it instead as a possible future location for a center which would mark Obama’s connection with the village.
The proposal has to go before the council’s housing, social and cultural strategic policy committee and then the full council for final approval.
“It is perfectly located within the village. It is fortunate that we did not sell it. If it was in private ownership, it would be hard to resurrect it again,” Councilor Ormond said.
“I would strongly oppose anything else going on that site. I think Offaly County Council should do something pretty soon. I’d hate to think that if Obama did decide to come to Moneygall we would have nothing ready for him,” said Ormond.
Obama has been invited to visit Ireland, and specifically Offaly and Moneygall, by Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
The site of the homestead was at one point owned by Obama’s distant cousin, Henry Healy, who was due to attend Tuesday’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
According to reports, the residents of Moneygall, which was decked out in American flags and red, white and blue bunting to mark the inauguration, have now formed a committee to take advantage of the village’s connection to the new president.
But Moneygall also has a rival in the effort to attract worldwide attention. The nearby village of Shinrone, also in Offaly, is claiming an even closer tie to the 44th president.
The principal of Shinrone National School, Joe Cleary, told the Irish Independent that there was a “stronger connection” between Obama’s ancestors, the Kearneys, and Shinrone.
“As far as we can make out, all generations before Falmouth Kearney can be traced back to Shinrone.,” Cleary said.
He said he believes Falmouth Kearney’s ancestor, Joseph Kearney, was from Shinrone and is buried in the parish.