A SMALL town in Ireland absolutely lost their minds when they realised that the 44th President of the United States had roots in their village.
Barack Obama’s great-great-great grandfather emigrated from Moneygall in County Offaly in the 1800’s like countless Irish people at the time, and like many Irish-Americans, Obama is proud of his ancestry.
When the former President visited the small town in 2011 Irish people were eager to welcome him with open arms, fondly nicknaming him Barack O’Bama, and the now-famous photo of the politician trying his first pint of Guinness on Irish soil quickly went viral, nationally and beyond.
But as we as a people love to take things one step further, Pat McDonagh, the owner of the nation’s favourite fast food restaurant Supermac’s, took the opportunity to open a new restaurant, as well as a shop and petrol station, dedicated to the visit.
Barack Obama Plaza is now an incredibly popular place, both for tourists, locals and anyone from the south travelling up to Dublin for match days.
But for those who don’t know the reason behind the Plaza it can cause some confusion.
On the grounds of the plaza is a bronze statue of Mr & Mrs Obama, which has left tourists bewildered in the past—but who are always eager to take a photo with the bronze pair anyway.
Myself and my brother approve tho pic.twitter.com/HYiMU2mrrG
— local film photographer nerd (@narry__photos) March 31, 2019
The Plaza takes every opportunity to make puns on their name, and any event will be sure to have a little twist.
Such as Brick Obama, for the lego exhibition.
There's a Lego exhibition on at Barack Obama Plaza and they've called it Brick'Obama 😫 pic.twitter.com/LyoYCOnZ8U
— emma burns ❄️ (@betaburns) May 3, 2019
Or putting a favoured team jersey on the former President's image
#UptheKingdom They know who to support at the #BarackObama
Plaza😘 pic.twitter.com/OKIAHIiYqP— Breda Ferris (@BredaFe) August 4, 2019
It gets some ... unusual visitors
Only in Ireland would the hearse stop for a coffee break at Barack Obama Plaza .😂 pic.twitter.com/vuFhaNZgzd
— Declan maxwell (@Declanmaxwell) March 25, 2018
Acclaimed Irish author Marian Keyes seems to practically live there
And the Plaza can seem more like a nightclub at certain times of the year
Barack Obama Plaza is just as mental as I thought it was going to be #Limerick #CORvLIM pic.twitter.com/87rejz1U86
— Cllr Elisa O'Donovan (@elisaodonovan) July 29, 2018
🇳🇬 We are gearing up for a Limerick takeover on Saturday. Nowhere else serves the food or an atmosphere like this! #backforthecraic #throwbackthursday #tbt 🇳🇬
Posted by Barack Obama Plaza on Thursday, July 25, 2019
It might be weird and unnecessary but it's also-- maybe second to Disneyland-- the most magical place on earth.
'Is féidir linn.' - Barack O'Bama
