Preparations begin in Ireland for President Obama’s visit

The Advance White House Team are expected to arrive in Ireland within the next two weeks to begin the preparation for President Obama’s visit to Ireland.

Severe pressure is being put on resources of the U.S. security services as it is expected that Obama will touch down in Ireland, Britian and France within the same week.

While Obama’s itinerary has not been finalized it is expected he will arrive in Dublinon the 22 of May.

There has been much speculation over the duration of the president’s Irish visit with IrishCentral founder and publisher Niall O’Dowd exclusively revealing that Obama’s stay may be less than 24 hours.

Due to this fact, it is expected the president will only visit Dublin and his ancestral home of Moneygall in County Offally.

Concern has also been raised about the prospect of the president been filmed and photographed “with a pint in his hand”, given the serious international situation in Libya, according to the Irish Times.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. embassy in Dublin refused to comment on any details regarding the visit and told the newspaper it was “premature to speculate”.

“There is no official confirmation of the president’s itinerary here in Ireland or how long he will spend in the country.”

A senior White House advisor was told that White House staff had scheduled a five-hour stopover to which would include the nation’s capital and a helicopter trip to Offaly. The advisor added that Obama was only travelling to Ireland to please US ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney, whose support he is reliant on for his possible re-election.

One observer told the Irish Times his trip was “basically a payback to Rooney”.

Meanwhile it emerged yesterday that British Prime Minister David Cameron may also accompany Queen Elizabeth during her State visit to Ireland which is expected to take place from May 17 to 20.