Obama's on his way back to Offaly

He may be leaving the White House this week, but it looks as if Barack Obama will be returning to his ancestral roots in Offaly in the not-so-distant future.

The US ambassador to Ireland Kevin O'Malley revealed last weekend that President Obama plans to return to Ireland. He also predicted that it would be within the next year.

Unsurprisingly the news has generated a lot of excitement in the Moneygall area, which Obama and his wife Michelle visited in 2011 to trace his family roots.

Henry Healy, Obama's eighth cousin, says that his famous relative had previously told him that he intended to return to Ireland with his daughters Malia and Sasha.

'Our last meeting was on St Patrick's Day and he gave an indication that he would be returning shortly after he left office. Needless to say, we will be pitching hard and heavy to ensure that Offaly is on the itinerary.'

Mr Healy has kept in contact with his illustrious cousin since they first met in Moneygall in 2011. He says that excitement is already building locally at the prospect Obama making a second visit to Offaly.