WIELDING A hurley presented to him by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, President Obama issued a humorous warning to his opponents in Congress.
“If Congress does not behave I’ll give them a little pat, or a little hurl,” said the president. The hurley, made from Co Clare ash and customised by Philip Archibold of Heritage Hurleys, has the Celtic symbol the “circles of eternity” from the Newgrange stone imprinted on the shaft.
An inscription on the hurley reads: “Presented to Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, on the occasion of his first visit to Ireland, May 2011 by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D.”
The massive bulk of the presidential limousine almost blocked the presentation of the hurley from the cameras.
However, Government press secretary Eoghan Ó Neachtáin issued a hurried instruction in Irish to the Taoiseach and Mr Kenny stepped smartly into the open space where the moment could be captured by the television and still cameras.
