Cloud hangs over Barack Obama's visit to Ireland next month amid opposition to Freedom of Dublin award

Sunday World

5 days ago

A move by the city's Lord Mayor Ray McAdam has sparked tensions as Dublin's most prestigious award overlaps with criticism of US foreign policy
Barack and Michelle Obama first visited Ireland in 2011. Photo bySinn Féin's Daithí Doolan says most of his party colleagues are opposed to the granting of the award
Lord Mayor Ray McAdam wrote to the Obamas, inviting them to accept the award. Photo: Gerry Mooney
Former president Barack Obama is due to speak at the 3Arena in Dublin in September. Photo: AP
In late September, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will make the transatlantic journey to Dublin for a much-publicised 3Arena show.
While event promoters promise a 'once-in-a-lifetime' chat, it's the story happening elsewhere in the city that's overshadowing proceedings.
A move by the city's Lord Mayor Ray McAdam has sparked tensions as Dublin's most prestigious award overlaps with criticism of US foreign policy.
In a praiseful letter last month, Mr McAdam invited the former US president and his wife to accept the Freedom of the Dublin award at the Mansion House.
The Lord Mayor references the Obamas and their connection with the capital, citing the 'fond memories' Dubliners hold of their visit back in 2011.
He said residents of the capital had 'long admired your leadership, your commitment to public service and your shared belief in the power of community, equality and democracy'.
Barack and Michelle Obama first visited Ireland in 2011. Photo byBut as news of the invitation percolated around City Hall, old opposition to US foreign policy reared its head again.
In 2017, when the matter of awarding the Obamas came to a vote by the council chamber, it passed by the not-so-comfortable margin of 30 to 23 votes, with four abstentions.
And it appears another wave of anger is brewing ahead of his next visit.
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'In the eight years since Barack Obama was first granted this symbolic honour, the world has become a far more dangerous place and all of these changes can be traced back to foreign policy decisions made by the Obama administration,' Dublin People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy said.
Former president Barack Obama is due to speak at the 3Arena in Dublin in September. Photo: AP
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'Obama is just as complicit in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as his successors – Biden and Trump. For this reason alone, he should receive no welcome in Ireland,' he added.
On top of his Middle East policy, Mr Reddy said Mr Obama expanded the use of drones substantially, ordering 'hundreds of strikes' across Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia and killing many civilians.
His party colleague, Cllr Hazel De Nortúin, sounded a similar tone, while opposition is also building in larger parties like Sinn Féin.
The party's leader on the council, Daithí Doolan conceded that Ireland has a 'unique and important' relationship with the US, but remained critical of its foreign policy and particularly its support of Israel.
Sinn Féin's Daithí Doolan says most of his party colleagues are opposed to the granting of the award
When the vote was put to the council eight years ago, Mr Doolan said most Sinn Féin councillors voted against the move. 'I don't think that will change,' he said.
'The US must begin to play a positive role in brokering a permanent ceasefire in Palestine and lay the foundation for a peace process that leads to a viable, independent Palestine,' he added.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr McAdam said the Obamas had not yet responded to the invitation, but he defended his decision to invite them to the Mansion House, saying it was a 'civic gesture, not a policy endorsement'.
It's not a blanket endorsement of his term of office
'I know President Obama is set to be here later this year. What I'm doing is simply inviting them now. What I'm trying to do is fulfil what was already democratically decided by city councillors. I don't think it would be in any way useful or helpful for the city council to reverse that decision,' he said.
He acknowledged the 'legitimate concerns' of some councillors, but saw the invitation as a 'symbolic gesture' that recognises shared values like 'hope, service equality and reconciliation'.
'It's not a blanket endorsement of his term of office, nor any aspect of US foreign policy,' he said.
Lord Mayor Ray McAdam wrote to the Obamas, inviting them to accept the award. Photo: Gerry Mooney
'Every term of office, be it a US president, or an Irish taoiseach, or whatever, those terms of office involve complex issues and therefore have complex legacies.'
He said Mr Obama was a 'moderating voice' for the world during his eight-year term, pointing out that he won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
One of the ancient duties of a recipient of the Freedom of Dublin award is the responsibility to join a city militia to defend Dublin at short notice if required.
While awardees are unlikely to be called upon any time soon, the battle over granting the Obamas with the city's most prestigious award is clearly set to heat up as September approaches.
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