Obamas leave with Offaly-themed gifts

President Barack Obama and his wife First Lady Michelle Obama may have left Ireland, but Offaly County Council has made sure a little bit of Offaly left with them. Councillors agreed before the Presidential visit to accord a civic welcome to the US President and his wife, as well as to bestow gifts with distinctly Offaly themes on them. Arguably the most impressive of the gifts was a pendant specially commissioned by Offaly County Council for the First Lady. Christened "Andromeda", the pendant is based on the flower in the Offaly Coat of Arms - Andromeda Polifolia. Designed by Rachel McKenna and crafted by Cathal Barber, the pendant features four flowers - two open flowers and two buds - to represent the Obama family. The flower leaves on the pendant are fashioned from highly polished silver and are set on a partially hammered silver base. The flower representing the First Lady is completed in 18c gold with a secret diamond. A Scroll of Civic Welcome prepared on vellum by calligrapher Tim O'Neill was also given to the President and his wife, with lettering emulating the Book of Durrow and the Book of Kells. Signed by Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Danny Owens and County Manager Pat Gallagher, it was accompanied by the Offaly flag and a guide of the heraldice significance of the Offaly coat of arms. A model of the Durrow High Cross carved into a solid block of glass was also among the gifts, along with a CD that reflects in sound the evolution of the peat boglands commissioned by Sculpture in the Parklands, Lough Boora and a number of books that reflect the history and heritage of Offaly.