Over the years, it has become obligatory for every President of the USA to identify his Irish roots and make a visit to the old homestead – knowing how well it plays with the huge Irish American lobby.
However even I was somewhat sceptical at the headline in the Clare Champion this week which trumpeted the planned visit to Ennis in the next few weeks by Muhammad Ali to visit his old family home.
It turns out that when Abe O’Grady emigrated from Turnpike Road in Ennis in the 1860’s he landed in Kentucky and married an African American girl. Their son also married an African American girl and their daughter married Cassius Clay Senior………
We are now in the grip of Ali fever as the town prepares for the visit on September 1st. There are hoards of O’Grady’s coming out of the woodwork to participate and the Mayor is expecting more that 50,000 people to attend the event.
Ali will be awarded the Freedom of the Town - the first time this honour has been bestowed on anyone - and there are plans to name a street after him as well.
Any bets on renaming O’Connell Street after the Louisville Slugger?
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