Raise a toast this weekend...it's Obama's birthday!

Obama's birthday to be celebrated in Moneygall

US President Barack Obama's 51st birthday will no doubt be celebrated in Moneygall as in the White House...with a birthday cake. President Obama's birthday falls on Saturday next, August 4, and according to his eighth cousin Henry Healy a birthday cake will be cut by the chairman of the Irish branch of the Democrats Abroad organisation in Ollie Hayes' pub. Speaking to the Offaly Independent Henry confirmed that a number of Irish American Democrats will make the trip from Dublin to Moneygall on Saturday. During the visit they plan to celebrate the President's birthday, but also muster funds and votes for Obama in the upcoming election. Due to fundraising rules however only US citizens can contribute to the Obama campaign. "They believe there's up to 100,000 people in Ireland entitled to vote in the presidential election," Henry said this week. "They want to tap into that 100,000 and get them registered and get them to vote for Obama." A private meeting of the group in Ollie Hayes' pub will follow a tour of Moneygall, before the birthday celebrations take centre stage. For Moneygall's part, Henry said the visit will allow locals to showcase the benefit President Obama's visit to the village has had. This Saturday's meeting in Moneygall will be the group's second fundraiser this year. Both Henry Healy and Ollie Hayes attended the first fundraiser of the year in Dublin last May.