Barack Obama bodysurfing in Hawaii : photo AP

White House goes Green with bodysurfer of Irish ancestory

That's it folks, President-elect Barack Obama is an Irish Bodysurfer.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 November, 2008 : - - That’s right, Obama is a bodysurfer with Irish ancestory! The shots above and below were taken at Sandy Beach in Hawaii on a recent holiday. His form is not too bad. For a closer analysis, check out the video clip below of the Pres-to-be in action: 

All bodysurfing photos courtesy AP

In the beginning of the clip he’s casting the petals from a Hawaiian “lei” into the ocean on the spot where he scattered his Mother’s ashes, before he heads over to Sandy’s to hit the shorey. 

President-elect Barack Obama is an Irishman.

Obama's campaign strategists made little noise about it, but folks in the Irish village of Moneygall (population 298) in County Offally have been touting their connection to Barack for months. Now, a “row” has erupted, according to the Irish press, over the alleged YouTube hijacking of a ditty by the Corrigan Brothers, “There’s No One as Irish as Barack O’Bama.”

We’ve heard about the “Black Irish.” Is Obama one of them? Even the Irish can’t agree on the origin of the term. Repeatedly the president-elect’s name is being written with an apostrophe — O’Bama. Celebrated by many as America’s “first black president,” Obama is, in fact, only half black. Obama is descended from Fulmuth Kearney, who at age 19 in 1850 — near the end of the Potato Famine — emigrated from Ireland to New York.

A great-great-great Irish grandfather on his mother’s side of the family doesn’t make Obama half-Irish, but when mingled with Indian, English and Scottish genes does soften the coffee-black complexion he inherited from his Kenyan father. Appropriately dubbed a “person of color,” Barack’s color is (what else?) much akin to that of a well-stirred cup of creamy Irish Coffee.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau 34.5 million Americans claim Irish blood. Over in Moneygall folks celebrated Obama’s win down at Ollie Hayes’ Bar. Billboards at the edge of town welcome travelers to “Obama Country.” They’re proud to claim him as their own.

Visiting Hawaiian waters : photo AP 

On the left side of the Big Pond,  however, “people of color” of all shades — black to cafe au lait — have embraced Obama as  one of them. His victory was their victory. In fact, he’s one of all of USA — an amalgamated American — and truely representative of 21st century society and culture. The election of Barack Obama — white or black, Irish or Kenyan — represents a crucial turning point in the USA’s history.

Obama's family tree
Obama's Irish Origins go back to 17th century

More videos about Obama's Irish heritage

And a footnote:  Joe O'Biden ? 

Delaware Senator Joe Biden, who will be number two at the White House in January, also has Irish ancestry. His grandfather, Ambrose Finnegan, emigrated to the US from Londonderry around 1910. He was one of the hundreds of textile workers to work at the DuPont factories.

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Text compiled by Paddy Murphy / SV Ireland
Photos courtesy AP

Politics & Surfing - Surfersvillage