IT WAS THE surprise novelty hit of late 2008 – an all-too-Oirish tune paying homage to the newly-appointed United States president and his unexpected family ties to the Irish midlands.
But two years on, the Corrigan Brothers have unveiled a revised set of lyrics for their 2008 tune ‘There’s No One as Irish as Barack Obama’ – reflecting the impending visit of the Commander-in-Chief to his ancestral Offaly home in Moneygall.
The band says it had already floated the possibility of a duet with Obama when they presented the gold disc for their 2008 song to US ambassador Dan Rooney – and singer Ger Corrigan now thinks there’s a significant chance they could still take the stage together.
“It will be fantastic to play our song in Ollie Hayes’s pub in Moneygall for President Obama,” he said. “We do, however, hope that he joins us and sings along. I’m told he has a great ear for a tune.”
Forgivably, the lads haven’t had a chance to put their new lyrics to music yet – but we’ve reproduced the new lyrics below, with the original backing track for reference.
O’Leary! O’Reilly! O’Hare and O’Hara
He’s Moneygall-bound, is Barack Obama2011, in the month of May
In Moneygall town an historic day
To His great great great great grandfather’s home
The President’s back among his ownThe Obama set dancers will put on a show
In Ollie Hayes’ Bar the Guinness will flow
And Megan Smolenyak and Stephen Neill
The President’s Ancestry, they will revealToor a loo! Toor a loo! Toor a loo, toor a lama
Welcome home, President Barack ObamaThe President’s cousin, Henry Healy
Will be tellin stories like a seanachai
About Fulmouth Kearney, he’ll tell him it all
The finest shoemaker to leave MoneygallFrom Malin! To Mizen! Out in Connemara
They’ll be welcoming President Barack Obama!
Toor a loo! Toor a loo! Toor a loo, toor a lama
Welcome home, President Barack ObamaThey say he’s a great man to sing an ould song
He’s holds a great tune and it won’t be long
He’ll step up to the stage, just wait and see
And he’ll sing, “There’s no one as Irish as me!”Toor a loo! Toor a loo! Toor a loo, toor a lama
Welcome home, President Barack ObamaToor a loo! Toor a loo! Toor a loo, toor a lama
Welcome home, President Barack ObamaToor a loo! Toor a loo! Toor a loo, toor a lama
Welcome home, President Barack Obama
