Obama’s Irish Roots E-Book

Gabriel Murray

• Herausgeber: Youcanprint
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

When Irish author and filmamaker, Gabriel Murray, found the lost family tomb of Bishop John Kearney, President Obama’s great-uncle, in an ancient Cathedral in Ireland in March 2009, he set off an international media frenzy. The discovery was likened to the plot of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code in the international press and the hundreds of sites, which appeared on Google covering the find. Anne Dunham, Obama’s mother, was the grand daughter of Mary Ann Kearney who was a direct descendant of the Bishop in the Kilkenny tomb. This widened the search for Obama’s Irish roots, which originated in Shinrone, Moneygall in Ofally and Cashel in Tipparary. They went even further back to the ancient Kingdom of Thomond where Obama’s roots had had links to the High Kings of Ireland, martyrs and biblical scholars.

Leseprobe

GABRIEL MURRAY

OBAMA’S IRISH ROOTS

The Lost History

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Copyright © 2012

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Titolo | Obama’s Irish Roots

Autore | Gabriel Murray

ISBN | 9788867517220

Prima edizione digitale 2012

Questo eBook non potrà formare oggetto di scambio, commercio, prestito e rivendita e non potrà essere in alcun modo diffuso senza il previo consenso scritto dell’autore.

Qualsiasi distribuzione o fruizione non autorizzata costituisce violazione dei diritti dell’editore e dell’autore e sarà sanzionata civilmente e penalmente secondo quanto previsto dalla legge 633/1941

Dedicated to the memory three Irish brothers:

John Kennedy 1917-1963

Robert Kennedy 1925-1968

Edward Kennedy

“People who lose their history lose their soul.”

INTRODUCTION

Outside the Irish community organizers say Obama’s link to the homeland isn’t well known, partly because the family tree was discovered only months after he started his presidential campaign.

Some journalists believe that Obama does not want to dilute his brand by introducing other nationalities. He has told a very powerful story about growing up as a biracial. If he adds the Irish piece, that message gets distorted.

Obama only occasionally noted his Irish roots on the campaign trail, most notably at a Society of Irish Women at a Saint Patrick’s Day dinner in Scranton, Pa. last year.

“It turns out I have Irish heritage, and I’m not talking about my cousin Dick Cheney,” Obama told the cheering crowd. “It never hurts to be a little Irish when running for president of the United States.”

But Obama’s not ignoring the Irish community, which has large voting blocs in Northeastern urban areas as well as Chicago. Earlier this month, Obama issued a traditional proclamation naming March Irish-American Heritage Month.

“There will be that cherished moment when the legacy is acknowledged,” said Rep. Richard E. Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Friends of Ireland.

Neal, who was one of Obama’s primary canvassers in Irish-American communities during the campaign, said he has steadily urged Obama and White House officials to more publicly embrace the connection with a trip to Ireland.

He was one of the few who weren’t caught off guard by Obama’s connection.

“He stopped being surprised after experts discovered that President Bill Clinton, a Baptist from Arkansas, had Irish roots,” he said.

In Obama's case it was the Ted Kennedy endorsement that paved the way to the White House. One cannot underestimate the the influence of the 42,000,000 Irish Catholics which is now defined as the swing vote.

In this book I explore the long lost historical links that Obama has with Ireland as well as the story of the Black Irish which has become intertwined with the President's destiny.

The Kennedy's established this great foundation of Irish American relations. Now it can be redefined by another extraordinary Irish American link through the Kearneys who were Obama’s ancestors.

Even though Obama got voted in on the bi-racial ticket it is acknowledged that the Irish Democrats were the ones who secured the nomination. Also the Irish swing vote played a significant part in voting percentages.

This book is a celibration and a record of the President's lost heritage and an exploration of the many cultural and historical connections between Ireland and the United States.

The Obama presidency will be historically regarded as a ground-breaking presidency, not because he was black but also white. These white roots belong to German, Scottish, English and Irish ancestry. Here I present the biracial story which crosses all boundaries. It is this story which makes Obama's presidency unique. America has been extraordinarily blessed by voting in a President with such roots - roots which will appeal to all races across the globe. Obama’s presidency will be looked upon as the most important presidency of the 21st century.

If Alex Hailey, author of “Roots” were alive today, he would have looked on in wonderment at the progress of black people. This book is written in the spirit of “Roots,” tracing Obama's ancestors across the generations from Ireland to America. Obama has written his own Adrican “Roots” story in “Dream's

From my Father.” It is hoped that this parallel history will fill in the gaps of his bi-racial story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gabriel Murray was born in Ireland. He originally studied Fine Art at the National College of Art and Design. He went on to study film Direction and Screenwriting at Dun Laoghire College of Art. He studied the History of film from Irish film historian; Kevin Rockett at N. C.A. D.

Murray founded the Visual Arts Centre and was awarded the Young Ireland Iniative award by Arts Council/Irish Press and Dublin Corporation. He was also a founding member of the Young Irish Film Makers Workshop (Dublin). He has written fifteen scripts and two novels. He has optioned various scripts: “The Boys are Back in Town” – “Phil Lynott Story.” – “Goddess” – “The Murder of Marlyn Monroe” based on the book by Anthony Summers and “Flag of Freedom,” the story of the American Flag for Oliver Stone. He goes to great lengths on his research and spent two years researching a script about the murder of Tsar Nicholas 11 with research from Geli Ryabov, (the man who found the bones of the Tsar.) He recently began directing his own scripts, winning Waterford Film Festival, Ireland (2008) for his Documentary feature – “The Lost World of the Crystal Skull.” and the Golden Palm at Mexico Film Festival (2009).

He published historical novels before he started writing scripts and directing. His best-selling novel, “The Golden Flame,” the story of Baron De Coubertin and the foundation of the Olympic Games (Athens 1896) was published in America for the Atlanta Games (1996) and in Greece for Athens Games (2004). His novel, The Golden Flame (Athens Olympics 1896) has been developed for a major European Co- Production. He was a member of the Jury at the Monaco International Film Festival (2007).

Editor; Joe Scallan

CONTENTS

PART 1.

1.OBAMA’S LOST KINGDOM

2.IRELAND’S BRAVEHEART

3.THE EMIGRANT TRAIL

4.OBAMA’S LOST HOMELAND

5.FAMILY TIES

6.THE EARL AND THE COUNTESS

7.OBAMA’S LOST TOMB

8.OBAMA’S LIVING IRISH RELATIVES

9.THE DA VINCI CODE CONNECTION

10.ERASMUS SMITH

11.FORGOTTON HERO.

12.BAND OF BROTHERS

13.THE HAND OF FATE

14.OBAMA’S HEALTH CARE ANCESTORS

15.THE OBAMA KENNEDY - CONNECTION

16.A SONG FOR IRELAND

17.ROAD TO FREEDOM

18.DREAMS OF DELIVERANCE.

19.BURY THE CHAINS

20.THE LONG ROAD TO KANSAS.

21.D. DAY

22.THE ROAD TO SEATTLE

23.THE IRISH WOMAN WHO SPONSORED OBAMA'S FATHER

24.ANN DUNHAM

PART 2

1.THE HISTORY OF THE BLACK IRISH

2.THE BLACK IRISH TODAY

3.NO ONE AS IRISH AS BARACK OBAMA

4.THE AMBASSADOR CALLS

5.THE FREEDOM OF KILKENNY.

6.TED KENNEDY-THE TORCH BEARER

APPENDIX A

1.THE VICE PRESIDENT'S IRISH ROOTS

2.MICHELLE OBAMA'S IRISH ROOTS

3.JOHN MC CAIN’S IRISH ROOTS

4.THE CLINTON’S IRISH ROOTS

5.THE IRISH IN CONGRESS

6.FORTY TWO MILLION IRISH AMERICAN VOTES

APPENDIX B

1. OBAMA’S GERMAN ROOTS

2. OBAMA’S FRENCH ROOTS

3. OBAMAS CHEROKEE ROOTS

4. OBAMA’S AFRICAN ROOTS

5. OBAMA’S GETTISBURG SPEECH

6. OBAMA AND THE QUEEN

7. OBAMA AND MARTIN LUTHER KING

8. OBAMA AND LINCOLN

9. OBAMA AND TOM PAINE

10. OBAMA AND BROWN

11. OBAMA AND DICK CHENEY

12. OBAMA AND BIGELOW

OBAMA AND BRAD PITT

13.OBAMA AND WARREN BUFFETT

14.OBAMA AND BILLY GRAHAM

15.OBAMA AND PRESIDENT NIXON.

16.OBAMA AND PRESIDENT REGAN

17.OBAMA AND JEFFERSON DAVIS

18.ROGER KEARNEY RESEARCH.

PART 1

OBAMA'S IRISH ROOTS

It’s coming through a crack in the wall; on a visionary flood of alcohol; from the staggering account of the Sermon on the Mount which I don't pretend to understand at all. It's coming from the silence on the dock of the bay, from the brave, the bold, the battered heart of Chevrolet:

CHAPTER 1

OBAMA'S LOST KINGDOM

For a while we lingered there, A doubt that ever smouldered in the hearts Of those great Lords and Barons of his realm Flashed forth and into war: for most of these, Colleaguing with a score of petty kings, Made head against him, crying, `Who is he That he should rule us? who hath proven him.

Alfred Lord Tennyson-Idylls of the Kings

KINGDOM OF THOMOND.

The Kearnies, (Obama’s ancestors) belonged to The Dal Cais or the Dalcassian clan. They were a dynastic group of related clans located in north Munster in the west of Ireland, who rose to national political prominence in the early medieval era. They are desceded from Cormac Cas. Their stronghold was in Killahoe in County Clare. It is from here that Obama's ancestors came before they moved east to Ofally and Tipparary.

In early historic Ireland the Dal Cais did have not have much power but during the seventh and eighth centuries they moved north to Clare and annexed the kingdom of Thomond, previously part of Connaght and later part of Munster.

Thomond was to remain the heartland of the Kearney clan for hundreds of years. It is especially associated with the family of Ó’Briain, who reigned as its kings from the 930s to 1543 and from 1543 to the present day as Baron Inchiquin. The current incumbent (18th Baron Inchiquin) is Conor O'Brien, a thirty-second generation descendant of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, 963-1014. He is also known simply as The O'Brien, and is Chief of the Name, Prince of Thomond. The Dail Cais was made up of 160 notable families, among them are; (See full list Appendix.)

Ahern, Blair, Boland, Booth, Brady, O’Casey, Clancey, Connolly, Considine, Cosgrave, Crowe, Kennedy, Lucas, Quinn Regan, Thynne, Tubridy, O’Grady These clan names belong to distinguished actors, Presidents, Prime Ministers and writers; Bertie Ahern-Prime Minister of Ireland; Tony Blair-Prime Minister of England. Harry Boland-Republican activist in Ireland’s war of Independence, Cherie Booth-(Barrister and wife of Tony Blair); Paul Brady-(Irish musician), Sean O’ Casey -(Irish

Playwright), Tommy Clancey- (Irish traditional musician), James Connolly- (Irish Republican Leader), Paddy Constandine (actor), Cosgrove - (Prime Minister of Ireland) Russel Crowe-(Irish/Australian actor) John F Kennedy- (President of the United State's), George Lucas- (Irish/American -Film Director), Anthony Quinn-(Actor), Ronald Regan- (President of the United States)Alexander Thynne- Lord Bath-(Novelist and painter), Ryan Tubridy- (TV Presenter), Muhammed Ali – O’Grady (Boxer), Barack Obama Dunham-Kearney-(44th President of the United States.)

The diocese of Killaloe, which was first established at the Synod of Rathbresail in 1111, is often given as the first reference, with the boundaries of the ancient Kingdom of Thomond. At that time Killaloe was an area held by the Dál Cais.

There are frequent references to Thomond in the Irish Annals beginning in the latter 11th century but as a separate entity representing all of northern Munster. An entry for the year 1118 seems to mark a milestone event. In that year, a treaty at Glanmire divided the Kingdom of Munster into northern and southern halves, a division apparently running near the border of modern counties Limerick and Cork.

With this 12th century division of Munster into two parts, Thomond included the area about the diocese of Killaloe.

Rock of Cashel

Cashel, in County Tipperary, is home to one of Ireland's great historical sites, the Rock of Cashel, which was once the seat of the Kings of Munster It was visited by St. Patrick in 450. He preached here at the royal fort and converted Aengus, King of Munster.

The O’Kearneys obtained the crozier or staff that belonged to St Patrick; such was their position of importance. They were located in large farming

Estates of up to a thousand acres in five areas of the kingdom of Thomond:

1. Cashel

2. Ballyduagh

3. Knockanglass

4. Clonbrogan

5. Cloneen.

In Cashel they built a castle known today as the O’Kearney Palace Hotel. Kearney of the cross or O’Kearney Crux lived in Ballyduagh. It was this Kearney clan, which held the cross of St Patrick. This demonstrated the high regard in which the clan were held with the King of Munster and the high clerical office they held in the kingdom.

The Kearneys over many generations became closely associated with the Kings of Cashel in the county of Tipperary, which was part of Thomond. One of the clan member's, Brian Boru, was crowned King of Ireland in the tenth century. On examination of the rare books debt of Trinity College, I went in search of records of the Kearney's of Cashel. What I discovered was a long line of Kearneys who held a series of illustrious positions in Cashel. Nicholas O'Kearney, who died in 1460, held a number of extensive estates, and his tomb is to be found in the Rock of Cashel.

William Michael Kearney, who was born more than a century later, in 1588, is known as the 'Chieftain of Fethard,' in County Tipperary. His eldest son, Philip, who died in 1657, was Clerk of the Supreme Council of Confederated Catholics at Kilkenny, while his seventh son was father of John Kearney, Secretary of State to James 11, whom he accompanied to France. King James, a few months before the Battle of the Boyne, appointed Patrick Kearney to the office of "Controller of the Pipe and Second Engrosser of the Great Roll of the Exchequer of Ireland."

Also to be considered are the actual relationships of the Kearneys of Cashel who seemed over the generations to reach high political and church positions. There are approximately thirteen generations between Brian Boru, High King of Ireland and the Cashel Kearneys; there is a lineage which begs to be examined and explored. In conclusion, the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, has the blood of the high King of Ireland running in his veins.

North of Tipperary, just over the border into County Offally, there also lay part of the Kingdom of Thomond which found itself in the area of Shinrone; it is from here that Obama’s ancestors originated. This indicates that the Kearneys cousin's were located in this area. The break in the historical records between the Tipperary Kearney’s and the Ofally Kearneys was because of a momentous event that occurred in Ireland, which devastated and almost destroyed the entire family.

CHAPTER 2

IRELAND'S BRAVEHEART

Those who endure to the end will be saved.

St. Matthew, 13/24.

On researching in the old manuscript section of Trinity Library, Dublin, I found a William Kearney who had studied at Cambridge and trained as a printer. There is some suggestion and association with the political and academic family from Cashel, possibly a brother or cousin, another of Obama's distant cousins.

William Kearney was involved in the translation and printing of the first Irish version of the New Testament, which was translated in 1602 from Greek into Irish. William (d.1628) became Archbishop of Tuam who was a native of Kilkenny and his name appears in the foundation of Trinity College, Dublin on 3rd March 1592. It was while at that College that William took up the work of translating – “ into Irish.