The entrepreneurs in President Barack Obama’s ancestral home of Moneygall, County Offaly, found their Obama branded hurleys to be hugely popular following the president’s visit last month. So much so that they’ve decided to release hurleys with the face of Queen Elizabeth’s, 90-year-old husband Prince Phillip on the end.
As the Corrigan Brother’s song says “there’s no one as Irish as Barack Obama” and now this Greek-born member of the British royal family will be immortalized on these hurleys, the sticks use to play the traditional Irish sport of hurling.
Following the huge success of “Camán Obamas" [Obama hurleys] its makers plan to release “The Prince Phillip Hurley” on July 1 to commemorate his visit to Ireland. It will carry a picture of the Prince, along with the dates he visited Ireland, and images of the Tower of London clock.
Tomás Ó Cadhain, creator of the Obama hurley told the Irish Examiner, “It will be mainly targeted at tourists from Ireland and Britain…In launching it early next month we plan to send Prince Philip the first one.
____________________
READ MORE:
Obama will use hurley stick to put manners on Congress
Guests of the nation: Queen Elizabeth, Obama, Ireland's history and its future
Queen Elizabeth II's historic visit to Ireland photo gallery
____________________
"We’re also going to suggest he pays another visit to Croke Park — this time to see the All-Ireland hurling final on the first Sunday of September next."
Their new invention is not likely to attract the same support as the Obama hurley. Last month the first Obama hurleys were bought from Flaherty’s shop in Moneygall by the White House security personnel. So far over 500 sticks have been sold with requests from Gaelic clubs in Ireland and US.
Ó Cadhain said “Our first sales for these Camán Obamas was an order for a dozen, for delivery to his security people…But sales are increasing all the time. We’ve now sold over 500 and I’d say most of these have been to US visitors,”
The Obama hurly included the phrase “Is feidir linn” (Yes We Can) along the side. As Prince Phillip is known around the world for his often un-politically correct and insulting gaffes it is not yet clear where some of these will be written up the side of the new hurley.
Comments