Barack Obama--or is it Barack O'Bama?--honored his Irish heritage and turned the water green in the White House fountains on the north and south lawns in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Obama's great great great grandfather, Falmouth Kearney, (on his mother's side, don't you know) hailed from the Irish village Moneygall. He immigrated to the United States in 1850 at age 19, sailing to New York on the S.S. Marmion, along with his sister Margaret Cleary and her husband, William. From there, Kearney moved to Ohio and later to Indiana. He married and had eight children.
Giving credit where credit is due, turning the White House fountains green was first lady Michelle Obama's idea. Spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld said the first lady was inspired by the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in her hometown of Chicago, where the city marks the holiday by dyeing the river green. "It's a little piece of home for our new home," said Lelyveld, who is also from Chicago.
This is the first time the water in the White House fountains has been dyed. The green hue will stay until the dye runs outs.
