Obama re-elected as President of the United States of America

Barack Obama has been re-elected for another four year term as the President of the United States of America, it was revealed overnight. The White House race result was watched by millions worldwide, including Obama's Irish cousin Henry Healy who tweeted at 4.18am Irish time: "Election called!! POTUS reelected! Congratulations @BarackObama". Congratulations were this morning also passed to President Obama by Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The re-elected American President told supporters at a victory speech in his home city of Chicago that the "best is yet to come". Accompanied by his wife Michelle and daughters Malie and Sasha, President Obama congratulated his opponent Mitt Romney on a hard-fought campaign and said he'd work with him to take the county forward. President Obama's Offaly heritage was revealed by genealogist Megan Smolenyak with help from Cloughjordan's Canon Stephen Neill. It was revealed that President Obama's great-great-great-grandfather Falmouth Kearney left Moneygall for America in 1850. Some 111 years later on August 4, 1961, President Obama was born and in May 2011 he and his wife Michelle visited Moneygall and met locals including President Obama's eighth cousin Henry Healy. Mr Healy followed the election in the company of members of Democrats Abroad Ireland in Dublin. At 3.29am genealogist Megan Smolenyak tweeted him that it was "looking good for Moneygall". Mr Healy replied just a minute later: "Megan it's looking good for the world!!" Taoiseach Enda Kenny has this morning (Wednesday) written to both President Obama and Vice President Biden on behalf of the Irish people to congratulate them on the victory. "Our countries enjoy an especially warm and friendly relationship," Mr Kenny said. "This has been strongly reflected during President Obama's first term of office, never more so than during his wonderful visit to Ireland last year. I am confident that the relationship between our two countries will continue to flourish during his coming term of office, as our administrations continue to work together across a range of policy areas in our respective efforts to boost our economies, increase trade and investment, and create new and sustainable jobs." It's hoped President Obama and his family might also visit Moneygall once more during his next term in office.