The Obama Trail Moneygall, County Offaly To Cloughjordan While much attention has IRELAND been placed on President Barack Obama’s African ancestry, he R490 To Roscrea/Dublin To also claims family ties to Ireland. Templeharry Through the lineage of his mother Church COUNTY Ann Dunham, Obama’s family OFFALY history can be traced back to 18th Century Ireland and the Kearney Cullenwaine family of County Offaly, then Cemetery 1800 School N7 Kings County. R490 One part of the family had relocated to Dublin and prospered Kearney Home Site in the wig industry. Meanwhile, the inheritance helped Joseph and his family members in Offaly had been family escape the ravages of the Moneygall successful enough to purchase Irish Famine. Joseph’s younger property rights in Moneygall and brother Francis had immigrated Nenagh/Limerick To Shinrone around 1800. to the United States and upon N7 COUNTY his death left a tract of land to TIPPERARY By the time wigs fell out of his older brother “if he comes to fashion, the Dublin Kearney’s had this country.” The last will and already taken on other established testament had been filed only a professions. The most notable week before Francis’ death. Census records show that by located on the main street in town Kearney of this time served as 1860 the couple had several and a plaque commemorating provost of Trinity College and The Kearneys were not able to children and lived in Deerfield, Obama appears nearby. A few went on to become Bishop of make the journey together. To pay Ohio. In 1870 they were farming houses away and across the street, Ossory. Meanwhile in Moneygall, for his transport, it is likely Joseph in Tipton County, Indiana. the 1800 School House likely Obama’s 5th great-grandfather sold his property rights in Offaly served as a school for the Kearney (for non-genealogists, that’s great- and sailed from Liverpool to New Charlotte and Falmouth died children and could have been the great-great-great-great-grandfather) York City on April 25, 1849. A in 1877 and 1878. They were family church. William Kearney (1762-1828) year later, he sent for his oldest parents to six daughters and three and his son Joseph (c. 1794-1861) son, Falmouth, who was about 20 sons. Their daughter, Mary Ann, Outside of town, the Church worked as rural shoemakers. years old, his daughter Margaret, went on to become the great- of Ireland at Templeharry was and Margaret’s husband. And great grandmother of the 44th likely the family’s main church. It An Unexpected finally, Phoebe and children president. is believed the Kearney’s would Connection William and Mary (Anne) booked have been buried in Cullenwaine Joseph married Phoebe Donovan passage on August 28, 1851. Sites that Remain Cemetery, but no visible around 1825, and they had Several sites connected to the headstones remain. Archaeological at least four children. During Two years later, Falmouth married Kearney’s remain in Moneygall. research could uncover stones the 1840s, an unexpected Charlotte Holloway, and U.S. The site of the Kearney home is buried beneath the surface. Kearney House Site 1800 School House Templeharry Church Cullenwaine Cemetery Sources: Offaly County Council, Shannon Development, Canon Stephen Neill and www.honoringourancestors.com/barack-obama.html www.HonoringOurAncestors.com & www.IrishFireside.com - Megan Smolenyak2 & Corey Taratuta U.S. Presidents with Irish Roots Over half the presidents in U.S. history claim Irish Benjamin Harrison Richard Nixon 23rd President, 1889-93 37th President, 1969-74 ancestry of some kind. Harrison’s mother, Elizabeth Irwin, had Nixon’s Protestant and Quaker Here is a look at a few... Ulster-Scots roots through her two ancestors left Counties Antrim and great-grandfathers, James Irwin and Kildare. William McDowell. Andrew Jackson William McKinley Jimmy Carter 7th President 1829-37 25th President, 1897-1901 39th President 1977-1981 Jackson’s parents left Boneybefore, McKinley’s family roots go back to Carter’s roots take him back to County near Carrickfergus in County Antrim. County Antrim. He addressed one of Antrim. The village Heritage Centre pays the national Scotch-Irish congresses homage to ‘Old Hickory.’ held in the late 19th century. James Knox Polk Theodore Roosevelt Ronald Reagan 11th President, 1845-49 26th President, 1901-09 40th President 1981-89 Polk’s ancestors emigrated from Roosevelt’s mother, Mittie Bulloch, had Reagan’s ancestors emigrated to Coleraine, County Londonderry, in Ulster Scots ancestors who emigrated the United States from Ballyporeen, the first wave of Ulster-Scots settlers. from Glenoe, County Antrim, in 1729. County Tipperary, via Canada. (Another source says Donegal) James Buchanan William Howard Taft George H. W. Bush 15th President, 1857-61 27th President 1909-13 41st President 1989-93 Buchanan’s ancestors came from Taft is said to have Irish roots, and Bush claims Wexford roots and is County Donegal and County Tyrone. his grandson, William Howard Taft believed to be a descendant of Richard The Buchanan ancestral home still III, became the U.S. ambassador to de Clare, more famously known as stands in Deroran, near Omagh. Ireland from 1953 to 1957. Strongbow. Andrew Johnson Woodrow Wilson Bill Clinton 17th President, 1865-69 28th President, 1913-21 42nd President 1993-2001 Johnson’s grandfather left Mounthill, Wilson had Ulster-Scot ancestors on Although there is no formal near Larne in County Antrim. both sides of his family. documentation, Clinton believes he has ties to County Fermanagh. Ulysses S. Grant Warren G. Harding George W. Bush 18th President, 1869-77 29th President 1921-23 43rd President 2001-09 Grant’s maternal great-grandfather Of Irish descent, Harding’s campaign Bush’s are believed to hail from was from County Tyrone. He visited his was influenced by Ireland’s War of Counties Down and Cork. ancestral homeland in 1878. Independence. Chester A. Arthur Harry S. Truman Barack Obama 21st President, 1881-85 33rd President 1945-53 44th President 2009 Arthur’s family hails from Dreen, near Truman celebrated his Scotch-Irish Obama’s maternal ancestors were Cullybackey, County Antrim. The history and modeled his politics after shoemakers from Moneygall, County Arthur Ancestral Home presents his the first Scot-Irish president, Andrew Offaly. It’s interesting to note that life and times. Jackson. Obama’s Vice President, Joe Biden, has a similar background — both men had a shoemaking, Irish ancestor Grover Cleveland John F. Kennedy who arrived in New York City in 1850 – in fact, they 22nd & 24th President, 35th President 1961-63 landed within five weeks of each other. 1885-89 and 1893-97 Kennedy’s ancestors immigrated from Cleveland’s maternal grandfather Counties Wexford, Limerick and Note: Not all information on this page has been officially documented. Further reading at www.inyourpocket.com/ Abner Neal emigrated from County Cavan. Kennedy was the only Irish- northern-ireland/belfast/Northern-Ireland-Highlights-and- Antrim in the 1790s. Catholic president. Hidden-Gems/On-the-presidential-trail www.HonoringOurAncestors.com & www.IrishFireside.com - Megan Smolenyak2 & Corey Taratuta.